Nadal, Anderson to play US Open men's singles final

Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-09 14:37:39|Editor: Liangyu

(SP)US-NEW YORK-TENNIS-US OPEN

Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates after winning the men's singles semifinal match against Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina at the 2017 U.S. Open in New York, the United States, Sept. 8, 2017. Rafael Nadal won 3-1 to enter the final. (Xinhua/Wang Ying)

NEW YORK, Sept. 8 (Xinhua) -- World No. 1 Rafael Nadal of Spain and Kevin Anderson of South Africa both defeated respective opponents to advance into the men's singles final at the US Open on Friday.

Nadal fought back from one set down to claim the 4-6, 6-0, 6-3, 6-2 win against Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina. while Anderson, a first time semifinalist at Grand Slam level, defeated Pablo Carreno-Busta of Spain 4-6, 7-5, 6-3, 6-4.

The 31-year-old Nadal, the 2010 and 2013 champion of the US Open, will be playing in his 23rd Slam final and third this season, looking to claim the 16th Grand Slam crown on Sunday.

"I have had an amazing season after some tough moments with injuries in recent years," said Nadal. "It's a very emotional year for me. I am in the final again and get the chance to fight for another title which is very important."

Anderson is the first South African to advance this far at Flushing Meadows since compatriot Cliff Drysdale in 1965.

"I have worked very hard to get here. It feels great to be in the stage I'm in," Anderson said.

"I've given myself a shot at being in the finals, and I'll be playing for a grand slam trophy. That's an amazing feeling," he added.

Despite a 4-0 winning record over Anderson, Nadal said he has to get ready for the upcoming duel.

"He is a very dangerous player with a big serve and plays very well on this surface. I have known him since we were 12," said Nadal.

In the men's doubles final, Jean-Julien Rojer of the Netherlands/Horia Tecau of Romania defeated Spaniards Feliciano Lopez/Marc Lopez 6-4, 6-3 for the title.

It is the climax of a 10-match winning run for the duo, who came into the US Open on the back of their 15th team title at the Winston-Salem Open. They have only dropped two sets during that period.

"The key to the whole thing is you need to communicate and be out there and fight together," said Rojer after the match. "These are pressure-packed situations. We've had a great two weeks. We played well in all the matches and we did so again today."

"Congratulations to Marc and Feliciano, they are very good friends of ours. They had a great week and they were very deserving. It came down to a few points and it was a very close match," added the Dutchman, who won the first major trophy at Wimbledon two years ago with Tecau.

"We were just focusing on trying to get one more point, don't focus on the title and see what happens," added Tecau.

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