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SPORTS Friday 8 June 2018

Nadal into 11th French Open

semi; del Potro in 1st since '09

By HOWARD FENDRICH steady in a 7-6 (5), 5-7, 6-3, Wednesday when it did
AP Tennis Writer 7-5 win over No. 3 Marin Cilic seem as if Schwartzman
PARIS (AP) — That Rafael in a matchup between two might have a chance to
Nadal would reach a past U.S. Open champions. become only the third
record 11th French Open The other men's semifinal man to beat Nadal at the
semifinal, closing in on is No. 7 Dominic Thiem French Open, joining Robin
his 11th championship at of Austria against 72nd- Soderling (fourth round,
Roland Garros, was hardly ranked Marco Cecchinato 2009) and Novak Djokovic
surprising. of Italy, who never won a (quarterfinals, 2015).
That he trailed by a set and Grand Slam match until last Nadal had not even
a break before rain delays week and was cleared of a dropped a set in the
allowed him to change match-fixing charge on a tournament since that
tactics and recover to get technicality in 2016. match against Djokovic,
there? Now that, certainly, After del Potro served out a run of 37 in a row that
was unusual. his victory at love to get ended in the opener
His opponent Friday will to his first semifinal at the against the 5-foot-7
be Juan Martin del Potro, clay-court Grand Slam (1.70-meter) Schwartzman,
who got choked up after tournament since 2009, he an Argentine eyeing his
waiting nearly a decade sat in his changeover seat, first appearance in a major
to return to the final four in chest heaving. semifinal.
Paris — and dealing with The 6-foot-6 (1.98-meter) Schwartzman compiled a
three wrist operations in the Argentine wiped away 20-4 edge in winners in that
interim. tears during his on-court first set, then broke Nadal
Both men advanced interview, telling fans who for the fifth time in eight
by winning quarterfinals chanted his nickname, service games and was
suspended the night "delPo": "It has been a long ahead 3-2 in the second
before because of rain. time without good feelings when a rain delay of just
The No. 1-ranked Nadal on my body. ... I was close under an hour arrived.
quickly announced to quit this sport. And now "I was a bit lucky," said
Thursday that he was not I don't have any words to Nadal, who is 10-0 in
going to be as passive as describe this moment. It's so French Open semifinals
he was in the early going good for me, for my team, and 10-0 in finals at the
against 11th-seeded Diego for my family." tournament. "Gave me
Schwartzman, seizing 12 Now comes what del Potro time for reflection, to calm
of the initial 13 points after called "the challenge my nerves and to see how I
they stepped out under a that every player wants to needed to change things."
blue sky and pulling away have" — taking on Nadal at When they returned to the
for a 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 victory Roland Garros. The 32-year- court, Nadal used a burst of
at Court Philippe Chatrier. old Spaniard is 84-2 for his three straight games — and
"Totally different guy career at the French Open, 13 of 15 points — to close in
yesterday," Schwartzman winning four consecutive on taking the second set.
said. "Maybe the day when titles from 2005-08, another He was serving for it at 5-3,
you can beat Rafa was five consecutive from 2010- 30-15 when a new shower
yesterday." 14, and No. 10 a year ago. ended play for the day. Spain's Rafael Nadal returns a shot against Argentina's Diego
Schwartzman during their quarterfinal match of the French
Across the way at Court Broaden the scope to all Nadal wrapped up that Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris,
Suzanne Lenglen, No. 5 best-of-five-set matches on set by winning the first two France, Thursday, June 7, 2018.
del Potro got distracted red clay, and his record is points played Thursday and Associated Press
by a spectator right before 109-2. he was on his way, never
a key double-fault, then And yet, insists Nadal: "I just relenting. usual, and he was able to And after the rain?
marched over toward the go on court knowing that "He was playing great, and I take control of the point "I played more aggressive,"
stands to try to figure out every match is difficult, and was playing too defensive. I too many times," Nadal Nadal said, adding: "In
who it was. I can lose and I can win." felt that I was playing a little said about the match's my opinion, the match
Otherwise, he stayed There was a stretch bit under more stress than start. changed, no?"q