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Nadal Comes Back After Losing First Set To Beat Fish
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Published: September 5, 2008
NEW YORK - It sure took a while, but Rafael Nadal is a U.S. Open semifinalist.
The No. 1-ranked Nadal beat Tampa's Mardy Fish 3-6, 6-1, 6-4, 6-2, getting past the quarterfinals for the first time in six trips to Flushing Meadows with a victory that ended with the scoreboard showing 2:10 a.m. Thursday, making it the third-latest finish in tournament history.
"This is one of the things that we players discuss all the time," Nadal said. "There should be a limit on when to start. But we know that the TV rules in this."
The unseeded Fish took the opening set on the strength of a 23-6 edge in winners, some gutsy serving and one service break. But Nadal never faced a break point the rest of the way.
They approached the latest finish in the tournament's history - Mats Wilander defeated Mikael Pernfors at 2:26 a.m. in 1993.
"It's not ideal starting that late, but I was ready," Fish said. "The first set couldn't have gone better for me."
The Associated Press
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