The scowl on Rafael Nadal’s face and his low mutterings directed toward his coaches in the stands were the first indications on Friday night that something was wrong. When he asked for a trainer to tape his right knee, the level of concern elevated. And a few games later, he did, putting an end to what had developed into a disappointing semifinal match at the United States Open. After spending more than 17 grueling hours on court in the tournament, Nadal’s 32-year-old body — specifically his chronically injured right knee — gave way. The beneficiary was third-seeded Juan Martín del Potro, who advanced to his first Grand Slam final since he upset Roger Federer to win the U.S. Open in 2009.

Source: New York Times September 07, 2018 22:57 UTC