Rafael Nadal moved one win away from a third US Open title and 16th Grand Slam crown Friday when he defeated weary Juan Martin del Potro 4-6, 6-0, 6-3, 6-2.
The 31-year-old Spaniard, the 2010 and 2013 champion in New York, will be playing in his 23rd Slam final and third this year, looking to add the US title to his record 10th French Open.
In Sunday’s final, the world number one will face 32nd-ranked Kevin Anderson, the first South African in the championship match in 52 years but given the manner in which Nadal dominated Del Potro he will clearly start the match as a huge favourite.
Here are all the amazing numbers that emerged after the semi-final:
Of course, Anderson and Nadal do go back a long way. Nineteen years after Anderson and Nadal met as 12 year olds in ‘98 Junior Nike Masters in Stuggart, they’ll meet in #USOpen Final
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