Rafael Nadal Gets Past Diego Schwartzman while Matteo Berrettini Survives in Five Against Gael Monfils
(September 4, 2019) FLUSHING MEADOWS, NY – Matteo Berrettini, 23 from Rome, became the first Italian man to make the final four of the US Open since 1977, coming back against 13th seed Gael Monfils in a nail biter 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 7-6 (5). The Italian double faulted on his first match point and needed four more to secure the win.
He said that his mental coach has helped him to rise in the rankings.
“Today was a very bad day for me serving,” said Monfils who hit 17 double faults.
The 24th seed will be taking on former champion and second seed Rafael Nadal who beat Diego Schwartzman 6-4, 7-5, 6-2 in the night session.
“I know Rafa, also, really well, “said the Italian. “I mean, I saw, like, a hundred of his matches. Who in this tour doesn’t know Rafa? It’s going to be tough, for sure, against him.”
Berrettini will move up in the race to London from 14th to 9th.
Nadal, despite the straight sets win, did not have an easy time with Schwartzman. He gave up leads in the first two sets to his Argentina opponent, the Spaniard led 4-0 before Schwartzman bounced back to 4-4. In the second, Nadal jumped out to 5-1 before Schwartzman came back to level the set at 5-5.
For Nadal this will be his eighth US Open final four and the 33rd semifinal of his major tournament career.
More to follow….
