‘Lucky’ Nadal books title berth after breezing past Berrettini

Rafael Nadal, of Spain, celebrates after defeating John Millman, of Australia, during the first round of the U.S. Open tennis tournament Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2019, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

NEW YORK—Rafael Nadal found himself trailing in a tight first set against a bigger, younger opponent who was finding ways to cause trouble in their US Open semifinal.

Never one to panic, never liable to have a letdown, Nadal hung tough, waited for 24th-seeded Matteo Berrettini to wilt ever so slightly and then pounced.

Nadal moved closer to a fourth US Open championship and 19th Grand Slam title overall—one away from Roger Federer’s record for men—by pulling away for a 7-6 (6), 6-4, 6-1 victory over Berrettini under the roof at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Friday night.

The second-seeded Nadal was down 4-0, then 5-2, then 6-4 in the opening tiebreaker before taking the next four points and was on his way.

“You don’t want to be in a tiebreak against a player like Matteo. I was a little bit lucky, no?” Nadal said. “I survived at that moment and … after that, the match completely changed.”

Sure did. Nadal broke once in the second set and three times in the third, while never facing a single break point in the match.

He will face No. 5 seed Daniil Medvedev of Russia on Sunday.

Medvedev advanced earlier on Friday by beating Grigor Dimitrov 7-6 (5), 6-4, 6-3 for his tour-leading 50th win of the season.

The 23-year-old Russian first made a name for himself at the US Open by earning the wrath of spectators. —AP