US Open 2017 LIVE updates: Women's semi-final results and Nadal vs Del Potro preview

Roger Federer bowed out to Martin del Potro overnight with Rafa Nadal on course for another Grand Slam after beating young Russian Andrey Rublev.

Sloane Stephens beat Venus Williams on the Arthur Ashe, while CoCo Vandeweghe was on the receiving end of a Madison Keys drubbing in the other all American semi-final.

US Open 2017 live updates: Follow all the latest news from Flushing Meadows

Friday September 8

Nadal vs Del Potro

09:12: Here’s how Nadal vs Del Potro matches up head to head.

1-Rafa Nadal

The 31-year-old Spaniard has won more matches than anyone else on tour this year and lifted four titles, including a record-extending 10th French Open.

Following a lacklustre show in the hardcourt warm-up events, Nadal is yet to be tested at the U.S. Open, with his first five wins coming against players ranked outside the top 50.

He holds a 8-5 win-loss record against Del Potro but he lost their only previous meeting at the U.S. Open in 2009.

24-Juan Martin del Potro

After a dominant display to see off Roger Federer, the Argentine will be confident on reaching his first grand slam final since winning the title at Flushing Meadows in 2009.

Having played nine sets over the last two matches, the Argentine admitted he may not be in the best shape for the semi-final on Friday.

“Physically I’m not in the perfect conditions, but when you play semi-finals of a grand slam, everything can happen, so you must be ready for the chance,” said Del Potro, whose career has been hampered by injuries and surgeries.

“Playing against Rafa in my favourite tournament, I will try to enjoy the atmosphere and the game.”

07:37: Sloane Stephens has been discussing her progress to the US Open final.

“Having four Americans in the semi-finals, I think that says a lot about American tennis and where we are right now,” said Stephens.

“I don’t think I would have had it any other way. I’m just super proud and honoured to be a part of what these four girls were, what we did tonight.

“I have no words to describe my feelings and what it took to get here. I have no words.

“I have no idea how I have done it. Your guess is as good as mine.

“If someone had told me when I started my comeback that I would make two semi-finals and a Grand Slam final I would have passed out. I don’t know how I did it. Just hard work.”

07:14: Madison Keys suffered a thigh problem during her 6-1 6-2 victory over Coco Vanderweghe.

“I definitely started to feel it and was worried something more serious could happen,” she said.

“I felt like I needed it worked on sooner rather than later. I feel great right now, I don’t think I could feel better than I do right now.”

04:04: KEYS WINS!

Madinson Keys 6-1 6-2 and is comfortably through to the final.

04:03: Time to put the finishing touches on the match.

Keys to serve for the match.

03:50: Keys has asked for a medical time-out.

She’s gone off to see her trainer as her right leg has been causing her discomfort.

She’s had it strapped and she’s just a couple of games away from reaching the final.

03:25: Keys didn’t need too long to take the opening set.

She’s outplayed Vandeweghe in every department and is deservedly a set up 6-1.

03:07: The Flushing Meadows crowd has just about had time to regain their breath after that epic Williams v Sloane semi-final.

Madison Keys has made an electric start to her match.

She’s 3-0 up in the first set against CoCo Vandeweghe inside seven minutes!

02:30: Sloane Stephens has done it!

She’s through to her first Grand Slam final and she’s only gone and beaten Venus Williams – it’s the biggest win of her career!

02:05: So many twists and turns in this match.

A short while ago, Stephens broke back and Williams has raced into a 30/0 lead on her serve.

What a cracking semi-final so far!

01:15: The match has been turned on its head.

Venus Williams has cruised through this set.

Sloane Stephens makes too many unforced errors, and Williams wins the set to love.

00:45: Sloane Stephens has looked imperious against the No.9 seed Venus Williams.

And after just 24 minutes, she has taken the first set – 6-1.

Williams is notoriously a slow starter, but will she pay the price?

00:10: Two-time Grand Slam champion Mary Pierce is excited about the two Grand Slam semi-finals that will unfold.

She said: “It is fantastic for the tournament that there are four American women in the semi-finals and for the country too.

“It is going to be a great night of tennis.”

Thursday September 7

23:45: Sloane Stephens believes her semi-final against Venus Williams is fantastic for African-American women.

She said: “It’s great for American tennis.

“It’s great for African-American women. I hope that we keep it going.”

22:35: Not long to go now before Venus Williams and Sloane Stephens take to Arthur Ashe Court for the first semi-final.

We are expecting them on court at 00:00 BST.

Williams and Stephens both won final-set tie-breaks to reach this stage, against Petra Kvitova and Anastasija Sevastova respectively.

21:40: The order of play for Day 12 has been released with court times for the men’s semi-finals now available.

US Open order of play Day 12: Rafael Nadal v Juan Martin del Potro here

19:46: Sloane Stephens has the utmost respect for her opponent Venus Williams.

Stephens, 24, said: “Making the semi-finals of a Slam is a complete neutraliser, anybody’s game. I just have to focus on myself.

“Venus is just our leader, everyone looks up to her. She’s a great player, a great person. She’s a great leader.”

Ninth seed Williams, 37, is the oldest semi-finalist at any Grand Slam since Martina Navratilova at Wimbledon in 1994.

17:00: In case you didn’t already know, it’s an all-American affair this evening with the two semi-finals of the women’s matches taking place.

And ninth seed Venus Williams is delighted to see her fellow Americans all in the semi-finals of the US Open.

“It’s such a wonderful feeling, because you put in so much work to be able to succeed at these moments,” said Williams.

“It has been a great two weeks for American tennis, seeing all the American players in the draw and all of them advancing so deep and competing so well.”

14.45: Juan Martin Del Potro may be struggling for fitness but what’s bank balance like?

In the second installment of our net worth series we check the Argentine out.

Juan Martin Del Potro net worth

13.20: Juan Martin del Potro is hoping he can recover from his brutal quarter-final in time to face Rafael Nadal in the US Open semi-finals.

Del Potro stunned Roger Federer in four sets and takes on Nadal for a place in the final on Sunday night.

But he admits he’s not in the best shape.

Del Potro said: “I think I am recovering well. I did what the doctor says, all the treatments, and I played just free. I didn’t have anything to lose against Federer, so I did my best match of the tournament.

“I played a very smart game during the whole match. It’s so important to me to beat him another time in this amazing tournament.

“Now is still a harder match. Physically I’m not in the perfect conditions, but when you play semi-finals of the grand slam, everything can happen.

“So you must be ready for the chance and playing against Rafa in my favourite tournament, I will try to enjoy the atmosphere, the game, and I know if I play my best tennis, I could be a danger for him.

“I like to play against him when I’m in good conditions. But it’s not the case at this moment. For sure I will try to make winners with my forehands and don’t run too much, because my legs are tired.”

12.45: Roger Federer conceded he was not in the right shape to challenge for another Grand Slam title as the elusive US Open clash with Rafael Nadal slipped away again.

Federer was beaten by Del Potro last night and missed out on the chance to face Rafael Nadal in the semi-finals.

And he admits he’s not in the right shape.

He said: ”In some ways I’m actually happy I made the quarters, so I’m not disappointed, because it’s been a good run this year already. Unfortunately I ran into a guy who was better than me today.

“Juan Martin deserves it more. I feel I have no place in the semis and he will have a better chance to beat Rafa.

“The way I played or am playing right now, it’s not good enough in my opinion to win this tournament. It’s better I’m out and somebody else gets a chance to do better than me.”

11.30: We take a look at the semi-finalists – first up Rafael Nadal and his net worth.

How much has Nadal earned this season and through his career? It’s quite staggering.

Rafael Nadal net worth

10.05: The stars and Stripes will be flying proudly over the US Open on women’s semi-final Thursday with four Americans stepping into the Arthur Ashe Stadium cauldron chasing a place in the final.

The stars and Stripes will be flying proudly over the US Open on women’s semi-final Thursday with four Americans stepping into the Arthur Ashe Stadium cauldron chasing a place in the final.

Venus Williams will be the sentimental favourite when the 37-year-old takes on Sloane Stephens in one semi-final before Madison Keys battles it out with CoCo Vandeweghe in the other.

It is the first time since Wimbledon 1985 that four American women have featured in a grand slam semi-finals, and the first time since 1981 at the U.S. Open.

“It’s been a great two weeks for American tennis,” said Williams. “Seeing all the American players in the draw and all of them advancing so deep and competing so well.”

Read the full preview here

09.03: A look at the form and records of Americans Venus Williams and Sloane Stephens ahead of their semi-final at the US Open

9-Venus Williams

The only remaining former U.S. Open champion in the women’s draw, Venus Williams remains a hot favourite to claim her first grand slam title in nine years.

Venus, who reached the final in both the Australian Open and Wimbledon this year, appeared to have rediscovered her touch at Flushing Meadows after battling past Petra Kvitova over three sets in the quarter-finals.

Sloane Stephens

Stephens is set to leap over 900 spots in the world rankings next week on the back of a phenomenal run to her first U.S. Open semi-final.

The 24-year-old returned from a long-term foot injury at Wimbledon before reaching the final four at the hardcourt events in Toronto and Cincinnati.

08.22: Facts and figures ahead of the Thursday’s semi-final match between Americans Madison Keys and CoCo Vandeweghe at the U.S. Open 

Seedings: 15-Keys 20-Vandeweghe

Head-to-head: 2 0

WTA world ranking: 16 22

Age: 22 25

Height: 1.78 metres 1.85 metres

Plays: Right-handed Right-handed

2017 WTA win-loss record: 16-8 29-14

2017 WTA singles titles: 1 0

07.30: The US Open boasts four American women in the semi-finals for the first time in 36 years after Keys completed the clean sweep with victory over Kaia Kanepi.

Not since Tracy Austin, Martina Navratilova, Chris Evert and Barbara Potter reached the last four in 1981 has the host nation managed such dominance.

And the fact they have achieved it despite the absence of new mother Serena Williams is a tremendous testament to their strength in depth.

Keys was the banker of the four and the 15th seed never looked like letting the side down, needing just 69 minutes to defeat qualifier Kanepi 6-3 6-3.

It has been a tremendous tournament for the Estonian, so troubled by injuries in recent years, and her ranking will climb from 418 to the brink of the top 100.

But this day and this tournament belonged to America as Keys joined her semi-final opponent Coco Vandeweghe, who upset top seed Karolina Pliskova earlier, Venus Williams and Sloane Stephens in the last four.

Keys has struggled with injuries since reaching her first slam semi-final in Australia two years ago and underwent her second wrist operation after the French Open in June.

The 22-year-old said: “This means the world to me. If someone told me this is where I would be right before Wimbledon I wouldn’t have believed you.”

07.10: Juan Martin del Potro ended Roger Federer’s hopes of a third major this year and a dream semi-final with Rafa Nadal, stunning the Swiss at the U.S. Open on Wednesday.

The Argentine, who beat Federer in the 2009 final at Flushing Meadows for his only grand slam, produced a gritty repeat show to prevail 7-5 3-6 7-6(8) 6-4 in under three hours.

Federer and Nadal have played 37 times but never in New York and all eyes were on the 19-times grand slam winner after the Spaniard cruised past Russian teenager Andrey Rublev 6-1 6-2 6-2.

However, Del Potro had other ideas, pulling off big forehands and booming serves to unsettle his rival to set up a semi-final with world number one Nadal.

“Of course it is a pity but, you know, Juan Martin deserves it more. I feel I have no place in the semis and he will have a better chance to beat Rafa, to be honest,” Federer said

03:15: Well that set breezed by and it was Federer who took it. 

Del Potro looked like he was in the driving seat, but the Swiss legend broke back in the fourth game to make it 3-1. 

This was the turning point as Del Potro proved to be no match for Federer in the second set as he took it 6-3. 

02:45: Are the 2009 demons coming back to haunt Federer? 

It certainly seems like it so far as Del Potro is a set up after breaking Federer late on to take it 7-5.

02:00: Federer and Del Potro are underway – can the Swiss maestro get revenge for his 2009 US Open final defeat to the Argentine?

The world No. 3 beat beat Philipp Kohlschreiber in straight sets to book his place in the round. 

While Del Potro came from 2-0 down in sets to win against Dominic Thiem. 

The winner of this will face Rafael Nadal in the semi-finals. 

01:00: Former world No. 1 Mats Wilander reckons Juan Martin del Potro stands no chance of beating Roger Federer in the quarter-finals of the 2017 US Open. 

“Obviously (del Potro) has everything to win and nothing to lose,” said Wilander.

“Del Potro is one of these miracle men he can come up with these matches where you least expect it and he pulls something out of the bag.

“I have no idea what it is but he becomes a magician.

“He can do just about anything except beat Roger Federer in the quarter-finals here. I don`t think he has a chance, I really don`t think so.”

00:20: Coco Vandeweghe has given her two cents on who she would back if Roger Federer was to play Rafael Nadal in the semi-final.

The 25-year-old maintained America’s dominance in the women’s singles by becoming the third women through to the last four.

Madison Keys can complete the set if she beats Kaia Kanepi in her quarter-final match but all focus will switch to Federer’s match against Juan Martin del Potro.

And Vandeweghe admits she has always been a big fan of the Swiss legend.

“This will give me cr*p, but I was a Federer person more than a Nadal person”

22:20: So all eyes will now be on Federer and Del Potro with their match expected to start around 1.15am BST.

Who do the bookies think will win?

Sky Bet are offering 1/6 on Federer to win the match, while you can get the Argentine to cause an upset at 4/1.

And with Federer in fine form you can get odds of 6/1 for Federer to come flying out the blocks and take the first set 6-2, 6-1 or 6-0.

21:15: Nadal is through to the semi-final with either Roger Federer or Juan Martin del Potro set to be his next opponent.

Nadal made light work of Rublev – winning 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 without breaking sweat.

20:35: Should Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal meet in the semi-final it will be first time they’ve played each other at the US Open.

The crowd at Flushing Meadows will be desperate to see two of tennis’ biggest names going head-to-head on court and Nadal already looks to have one foot in the semi-final.

He has taken the first two sets 6-1 6-2 against Andrey Rublev.

19:15: Elsewhere, on Arthur Ashe, Coco Vandeweghe has defeated Karolina Pliskova 7-6, 6-3.

The American is into her first semi-final at her home slam while Pliskova loses her No 1 ranking.

Spain’s Garbine Muguruza is the new No 1 in women’s tennis.

Next up on Arthur Ashe: Rafael Nadal versus Andrey Rublev.

18:20: Not long now until Rafa Nadal’s quarter-final gets underway against Andrey Rublev.

It’s sure to be an interesting match up with 19-year-old Rublev taking on the experienced 31-year-old Spaniard.

And you can follow all the action with Express Sport.

17:00: Roger Federer is the “greatest player in history,” according to Juan Martin del Potro.

That’s what Rafa Nadal will have to come up against if he beats Andrey Rublev and Federer overcomes Del Potro in the quarter-finals.

“Well, of course, I admire him, too. Everybody loves him,” Del Potro said.

“It’s going to be interesting match for play. It will be after eight years again in the central court of this tournament.

“I know how to play if I want to win, but I will see how physically I feel after this battle.

“But it always is a pleasure to play the greatest guy in the history.”

14.30: Rafa Nadal remains the bookmakers’ favourite to win his third US Open title.

Betway have priced him at 6/4 with Roger Federer at 13/8.

Both men are in action tonight and will face each other in the semi-final if they progress.

Kevin Anderson is priced at 7/1 while Juan Martin Del Potro is 12/1.

13.40: Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal are just one step away from a U.S. Open semi-final clash but both face tricky challenges to set up what would be their maiden encounter at Flushing Meadows. 

Swiss Federer, chasing a record-extending 20th grand slam title, takes on Argentine Juan Martin Del Potro, the man who beat him in the 2009 final in New York.

While Federer eased into the fourth round, 24th seed Del Potro battled through five sets against Austrian Dominic Thiem and his flat forehand could prove lethal against the former world number one.

Current world number one Nadal faces the impressive Russian 19-year-old Andrey Rublev, a player who has shown no fear in his run to the quarter-finals.

“I have a good shots. I can play really fast,” the teenager warned his 31-year-old opponent.

The first match of the day will see women’s world number one Karolina Pliskova, who demolished Jennifer Brady 6-1 6-0 in the previous round, face off against another American when she plays 20th seed Coco Vandeweghe.

Madison Keys, one of four Americans in the quarter-finals this year, plays Estonian qualifier Kaia Kanepi, who is back to her best after almost two years off the courts because of an injury and a virus.

12.40: The US Open twitter feed is looking back at the 2009 final between Federer and Del Potro.

Federer came into that match having won the US open five times in a row and 41 straight matches.

But he was beaten by Del Potro over five sets who took his first ever Grand Slam title.

“I felt like that I left that match with a lot of regrets,” Federer said.

“Probably feels like one of those matches I would like to play over again. Feel like I would probably win it somehow because I should have been up maybe two sets to love or should have been up two sets to one. I don’t remember if I was.

“I just had all these chances in multiple moments. The only time when he was really better, in my opinion, was the fifth set.

“Obviously that was good enough to beat me that day. It was a good match. A lot of back and forth. 

“The crowd was really into it. Started in the day, finished in the night.

“I guess I was a bit disappointed, you know. But Juan Martin did play extremely well.

“He beat Rafa and me back-to-back, so I felt like he deserved it at the end.”

11.30: Andy Murray has announced his intention to withdraw from competitive tennis for the rest of the season in the hope of avoiding surgery on his troublesome hip.

The former world no. 1 has been nursing the injury since the week before Wimbledon having previously this year suffered from illness and an elbow injury.

After consulting with experts in Switzerland, he considered undergoing surgery immediately after the grass court season but instead opted to try to manage the injury in the hope of making it to the US Open.

Despite not having to withdraw from all competitive tennis in the build-up to the event at Flushing Meadows, he remained confident that he could play. But 24 hours before the tournament started, he decided that with no chance of emulating his 2012 success, there was little point even entering.

Since then, he has been mulling over his options – to continue battling on, take a rest or undergo surgery.

“Unfortunately, I won’t be able to compete in the upcoming events in Beijing and Shanghai, and most likely, the final two events to finish the season in Vienna and Paris due to my hip injury which has been bothering me the last few months,” he said.

10.55: Federer v Del Potro: How they match up

US Open seeing: 3-Federer 24-Del Potro

Head-to-head 16 5

ATP world ranking 3 28

Age 36 28

Height 1.85 metres 1.98 metres

Plays Right-handed Right-handed

2017 ATP win-loss record 39-3 22-11

2017 ATP singles titles 5 0

10.00: Andrey Rublev admits he’s lucky to be into the quarter-finals but can’t wait to have a go at Rafa Nadal.

The Russian beat David Goffin to become the youngest man to reach the last eight since Andy Roddick in 2001.

“I’m a little bit lucky to be in the quarter-final but of course I’m enjoying it, and I will try to do my best in the next match,” said Rublev.

“Rafa is the real champion and I’m just going to try to enjoy it – this is the quarter-final and I have nothing to lose.”

09.45: Venus Williams has credited Serena Williams with carrying the American flag.

The US Open could see all four semi-final slots go to Americans this year.

Venus Williams takes on Sloane Stephens after both coming through quarter-finals yesterday.

And Maddison Keys and Coco Vandeweghe are in action today and could make it a clean sweep.

And Venus was quick to praise her sister who is out of action after giving birth over the weekend.

“I think we have to give some credit to Serena,” Venus said.

“There was a time in tennis when all my rivals were American.

“So I love seeing these young American’s coming up and playing big and focussed and I would love that again.

“The top four, top five in the world all playing each other in semi-finals – that would be huge. I would love that.”

09.30: Juan Martin del Potro is excited to come up against Roger Federer again.

Del Potro beat Federer in the US Open eight years ago but knows the 19-time Grand Slam winner is back towards the top of his game.

“It’s always a pleasure to play the greatest guy in history,” Del Potro said.

“I admire him, too. Everybody loves him. It’s going to be an interesting match to play.”

09.05: Kevin Anderson believes he was able to reset his game during the intense second set tie-breaker against local favourite Sam Querrey which eventually helped him prevail in the four-set thriller in the U.S. Open quarter-final on Tuesday.

The 28th seed, who had taken the first set also in a tiebreak, benefited from his opponent’s meltdown to set up a set point at 8-7 after falling 6-1 down, but Querrey saved it and eventually levelled the tie.

“You know, those matches are tough. I feel like I just try to play each point as best as I can,” Anderson said.

“I felt in the second set, after being 6-1 down and the next minute it’s 6-All, obviously a very tough point to lose that 6-All point. I don’t want to play too many points like that.

“But I feel like that’s where I was able to really reset. It’s almost tougher, it would have been better off losing that tiebreak almost 7-1 than coming so close to actually being two sets to love up.

“I felt I did a fantastic job resetting. These matches, it just comes to a point here and there. Fortunately, I was able to win a couple more points than him tonight.”

08.40: Sam Querrey insists he’s happy to have reached the quarter-finals despite defeat to Kevin Anderson last night.

Anderson beat the last home hope in the men’s draw leaving Venus Williams and Sloane Stephens in the women’s draw.

But Querrey still thinks he had a good tournament.

(I’m) pretty happy,” Querrey said. “At the beginning of the week, if you said I would have made quarters, I probably would have signed up for that.

“I know that bottom half of the draw was open, but you can’t say 63 guys blew an opportunity. Only one guy can go through, and Kevin’s pretty tough.”

8.15: Martin Del Potro has had a sickness scare ahead of his quarter-final with Roger Federer.

The Argentine admits he hasn’t been feeling well this week but hopes to be in a better condition for tonight’s game.

He said: “Hopefully my day off [Tuesday] I can recovery a little bit more.

“Then I will see if I’m ready to play in good conditions against Roger.”

7.45: Kevin Anderson spoiled the American party in the men’s draw though by beating Sam Query 7-6, 6-7, 6-3, 7-6.

Anderson’s win ended the U.S. presence in the men’s draw while Sloane Stephens and Venus Williams have both qualified for the last four in the women’s draw.

The 17th-seeded Querrey can blame himself for a meltdown in the first set tiebreak, where he lost five points in a row to allow Anderson into the lead under the lights on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

The 31-year-old Anderson, seeded 28th, will face Spanish 12th seed Pablo Carreno Busta for a spot in Sunday’s final.

7.35: Venus Williams stayed on course for her third US Open title by beating Petra Kvitova overnight.

Williams faces fellow American Sloane Stephens in the last four.

7.30: Welcome to the US Open live updates page. This page will be updated throughout the day with all the latest news and information from Flushing Meadows.