Juan Martin del Potro overcomes injury scare to set up Shanghai Masters semi-final with Roger Federer
Del Potro’s victory maintains his hopes of qualifying for the ATP Finals in London, although first he will have to sweat over the results of an MRI scan on his troublesone left wrist
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Your support makes all the difference.Juan Martin del Potro overcame falling a set behind and hurting his surgically-repaired left wrist on Friday, as he battled his way to an admirable 4-6 6-1 6-4 victory over Viktor Troicki in the quarter-finals of the Shanghai Masters.
Del Potro’s victory maintains his hopes of qualifying for the ATP Finals in London, although first he will have to sweat over the results of an MRI scan on his hurt wrist. At 2-2 in the final set he tripped as he attempted to run around his backhand to hit a forehand, falling onto the wrist that has been a problem throughout his career.
“I'm glad to reach semi-finals in this tournament, but to be honest now, as I say always, my health is the most important aspect of my life,” he said in his post-match press conference after extending his head-to-head record against Troicki to 7-0.
“I have been dealing with a lot of injuries in the past and now it is time to really take care of my body and to see what the MRI scan or the doctor says. But if nothing dangerous happens, I will be here to play tomorrow and I will try my best.”
The injury scare soured what was an impressive performance for Del Potro, who fought back from losing the first set to wrap up victory in 72-minutes. He raced into a 3-0 lead in the second set and held his nerve in the third, despite a lengthy delay while his trainer inspected his injury.
Del Potro will now play Roger Federer for a place in the final, who cruised past France’s Richard Gasquet 7-5 6-4.
Federer broke Gasquet at 5-5 to gain the advantage and went on to take the first set. The world number two claimed two more breaks in the next to seal the deal in an hour and 18 minutes.
“I thought it was a really good match,” Federer said following his win, his 16th over Gasquet. “There were some big points, important shots at the right time for both guys and we both created chances.
“I thought we were able to keep up the level from the beginning until the very end. I enjoyed it because there were a lot of slices and topspins, angles, power and finesse. I think the match had a bit of everything.”
World number one Rafa Nadal meanwhile fought his way past an inspired Grigor Dimitrov, to book a semi-final against Wimbledon runner-up Marin Cilic with a determined 6-4 7-6(4) 6-3 win.
Nadal, who beat the Bulgarian in three sets in the China Open semi-finals last week, fired 32 winners and won two crucial breaks to prevail in two and a half hours at the Qi Zhong Centre.
But the Bulgarian, who sent down 13 aces in the match, took the fight to the Spaniard in the second set, coming from 3-0 down in a tie-break to level. Ultimately however he was unable to hold back the tide for long, and a forehand error at 3-2 in the decider handed Nadal the match-winning break he needed.
“It was a very tough match,” Nadal said. “I think both of us, we played at a very high level of tennis. The conditions have been different today than my two previous matches.
“I think (it was) a great battle between two players who are playing all the time very focused, very intense points... Both of us served well during the whole match, so yeah, it was decided on just a few balls, and anything can happen.”
Few would bet against Nadal making it sixteen wins in a row when he takes on Cilic on Saturday, but the Spaniard was keen to stress that there was precious little chance of him underestimating the big-serving Croat.
“He always is very dangerous opponent, and I think this surface, this court helps him,” Nadal added. “It's a very fast court. He's able to go for the shots from the baseline.
“It will be a tough one. I know that I need to be focused with my serve again, and I need to play aggressive and don't let him play from comfortable positions. If not, I will be almost dead because he is going to go for the shots.”
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