Nadal secured a place in the US Open final and is on the brink of a 16th Grand Slam after going for Del Potro’s backhand like there was no tomorrow.
Nadal came through after losing the first set and ended up winning 4-6 6-0 6-3 6-2 in two and a half hours.
And Del Potro admits he was struggling to keep it competitive against the world no.1.
“Rafa just played even better the last three sets of the match and I couldn’t hit my backhand as good as I did in the beginning of the match,” Del Potro said.
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“I feel better with my backhand, but it’s not good enough to win a title like this or to win the top guys in a row.”
Del Potro’s backhand has been hindered by a series of surgeries to repair problems with his left wrist.
He knew it would be Nadal’s strategy going into the match.
“He was playing me all the time to my backhand,” he said.
“When you don’t have that confidence to play three, four hours with a good backhand against Rafa, is just matter of time to get down your game.”
Nadal insists he woke up knowing he had to play. He had cruised through the previous rounds but treated Del Potro like a huge step up.
“Today was the day to play well,” said Nadal, a twice U.S. Open champion. “I was playing so-so at the beginning of the tournament, and I have been playing better and better every day.
“Today was the day to play the best match of the tournament since that moment, because I (was) going to play against the toughest opponent in that moment, and that opponent, as I said before, coming with big confidence.
“I wake up today and say to myself, ‘Today is the day that I’ll play’. I need to play with the right energy, and I need to increase the level of my game.”
Nadal faces Kevin Anderson is the final and is looking forward to the contest with the South African.
“It will be a very tough one. He’s a huge player with an unbelievable serve,” Nadal said.
“He’s had some injuries. So he’s a big example for the kids and tour to come back to the circuit.
“He’s playing the best tennis now in his career.
“I’m happy for him and I have known him since he was 12.
“It’s great to see him in the final of one of the most important events of the year.
“It will be a tough one. I need to play at my best and I look forward to play with full energy and full motivation to try and play the best tennis I can.”