Rafael Nadal vs Matteo Berrettini LIVE updates: Three-time US Open champs leads 7-6 6-4

RAFAEL NADAL VS MATTEO BERRETTINI LIVE

THIRD SET (*denotes server)

NADAL 7-6 6-4 1-0 BERRETTINI*

Important service game for Berrettini here. Has to hold. Break point Nadal after good hustle. And he breaks through when Berrettini’s forehand is wide.

A mountain to climb now for the Italian.

SECOND SET

*NADAL 7-6 6-4 BERRETTINI

Berrettini backhand into the net, three set points. Berrettini forehand long, second set to Nadal.

NADAL 7-6 5-4 BERRETTINI*

Berrettini nets a forehand, 30-30. Nadal backhand into the tramlines. The Italian holds. Can he finally do something on Nadal’s serve?

*NADAL 7-6 5-3 BERRETTINI

Nadal double fault, 40-30. Then a backhand wide from the Spaniard, deuce. Huge forehand from Nadal to hold.

NADAL 7-6 4-3 BERRETTINI*

Berrettini nets a half volley, 0-30. Berrettini drop shot into the net, 15-40. Berrettini backhand slice in the net. Nadal breaks for the first time. Huge moment in the match.

*NADAL 7-6 3-3 BERRETTINI

Berrettini making little impact on Nadal’s service game. Nadal holds to love. He’s won a staggering 93 per cent of points on his first serve.

NADAL 7-6 2-3 BERRETTINI*

Nadal forehand long, 15-15. Nadal forehand return long, 40-15

Berrettini holds. 

*NADAL 7-6 2-2 BERRETTINI

Berrettini backhand just wide, 30-15. Big Nadal forehand draws the error from Berrettini. 

NADAL 7-6 1-2 BERRETTINI*

Berrettini nets a forehand, 30-all. And then a backhand after relentless attack from Nadal. Break point. Berrettini forehand winner. Deuce. 

And he holds when Nadal nets a return. 

*NADAL 7-6 1-1 BERRETTINI

Nadal holds to love comfortably. 

NADAL 7-6 0-1 BERRETTINI*

Berrettini backhand into the net, break point. Nadal nets a defensive backhand. Second break for Nadal. Saved with a forehand winner. 

And he holds with another forehand winner. 

FIRST SET

NADAL 7-6 BERRETTINI – TIEBREAK

Nadal double fault, 0-1. Berrettini forehand winner, 0-2. Nadal forehand mis-hit, 0-3. Berrettini backhand winner, 0-4.

Berrettini backhand return error, 1-4. A Berrettini forehand long, 2-4. Nadal backhand return error, 2-5. Berrettini lob goes long, 3-5.

Nadal forehand winner, 4-5. Brilliant drop shot from Berrettini and he puts away the volley into the open court, 4-6. Berrettini volley into the net, 5-6.

Berrettini drop shot into the net, 6-6. Berrettini backhand into the net, 7-6. Berrettini forehand long, 8-6.

NADAL 6-6 BERRETTINI*

More drop shot brilliance from Berrettini and he holds to love. Tiebreak time!!

*NADAL 6-5 BERRETTINI

Nadal holds to love. Pressure back on the Italian.

NADAL 5-5 BERRETTINI*

Berrettini backhand error, 0-30. Berrettini ace, 30-all. Berrettini backhand long, set point Nadal. Saved with a big wide serve.

Another Berrettini drop shot winner. And he holds when Nadal’s backhand drifts wide.

*NADAL 5-4 BERRETTINI

Berretini forehand pass winner but he follows up with a backhand return into the net, 40-30. Nadal holds.

NADAL 4-4 BERRETTINI*

Stunning forehand passing shot from the back of the court by Nadal, 15-30. Berrettini double fault, two break points. 

Berrettini ace. Nadal forehand return into the net. Third break point chance after a big Nadal forehand. Nadal just wide with a backhand.

Berrettini smash winner. And a big serve to hold. Berrettini escapes again.

*NADAL 4-3 BERRETTINI

Nadal double fault, 30-30. Half chance for Berrettini. But he nets a very makeable forehand, 40-30. And Nadal punishes Berrettini with a forehand winner off the return.

NADAL 3-3 BERRETTINI*

Nadal forehand winner, 15-15. Blistering forehand winner from the Italian to hold.

*NADAL 3-2 BERRETTINI

Nadal races to 40-0. A big Nadal cross-court backhand draws the error from Berrettini to hold.

NADAL 2-2 BERRETTINI*

Clear game plan from Nadal to attack Berrettini’s backhand. And it is working so far. Eight errors already in the match.

But he holds with his fifth forehand winner of the match.

*NADAL 2-1 BERRETTINI

Another routine hold for Nadal after Berrettini’s forehand goes wide.

NADAL 1-1 BERRETTINI*

An ace and then a drop shot winner to start from Berrettini. But he places a forehand just wide, 30-30.

Another forehand error from Berrettini, deuce. Berrettini backhand long, break point. Saved with a 96mph forehand winner.

Second break point as Berrettini nets a backhand. Nadal nets a defensive forehand. And he holds after a drop shot winner.

*NADAL 1-0 BERRETTINI

Berrettini forehand winner, 30-15. Big serve from Nadal to hold.

00:26: Nadal will serve first.

00:23: Nadal and Berrettini walk out to massive ovations from the crowd. The atmosphere is building nicely.

00:15: Before the match starts, there is a presentation with tennis legend Rod Laver. It is 50 years since his second career Grand Slam.

00:01: Nadal and Berrettini will be on court shortly.

23:55: It is all over in the first semi-final and Medvedev will play in a first Grand Slam final after beating Dimitrov 7-6 6-4 6-3.

23:45: Nadal and Berrettini will be on court following the conclusion of the first semi-final between Daniil Medvedev and Grigor Dimitrov.

Medvedev leads 7-6 6-4 5-2 on Arthur Ashe.

23:30: Hello and welcome to LIVE coverage of Rafael Nadal’s semi-final clash against Matteo Berrettini at the US Open.

source: express.co.uk