Juan Martin del Potro date with destiny ahead of US Open

Juan Martin del Potro must rouse himself for another physical and mental effort as he prepares to take on Rafael Nadal in the semi-finals of the US Open tonight.

The tennis gods appeared to have decided this would be the year that Nadal and Roger Federer finally met at Flushing Meadows, but Del Potro had other ideas. The Argentinian with the big forehand and even bigger heart defied fatigue and illness to defeat Federer 7-5 3-6 7-6 (10/8) 6-4 in a dramatic quarter-final.

Eight years ago, Del Potro won his only grand slam title in New York by beating Nadal in the semi-finals and Federer in the final.