09 September,2016 08:28 AM IST | | IANS
Fifth-seeded Stan Wawrinka reached the US Open semi-finals for the third time with a 7-6(5), 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 victory over 2009 champion Juan Martin del Potro
Juan del Potro
New York: Fifth-seeded Stan Wawrinka reached the US Open semi-finals for the third time with a 7-6(5), 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 victory over 2009 champion Juan Martin del Potro.
Juan Martin del Potro
The Swiss, who hit 53 winners including 10 aces on Wednesday, will now face sixth seed and 2014 finalist Kei Nishikori, who beat Andy Murray, the second seed and 2012 winner, earlier in the day. "It's going to be interesting for sure," said Wawrinka after the match, looking forward to playing Nishikori.
"We have played many times against each other. He beat me a few years ago here in the quarter-finals. He beat me in Toronto and I beat him in Australia. I saw him play today.
He was playing really well. We will see also how I'm going to feel physically in two days to get ready for that. I'm ready for a match against Kei."
Played in humid conditions, the Argentine raced to a 3-0 lead in the first set, but Wawrinka's precise baseline patterns and finishing power from the backhand side allowed him to regain the initiative.
Wawrinka started the fourth set with a break and held his nerve to record his 37th match win of the season. "It was important to stay there, to stay tough.
I knew before the match that against del Potro it's a tough challenge. He's strong mentally. He doesn't give you much," said Wawrinka. Wawrinka has a 3-2 advantage over Nishikori in their head to head record.
