Nadal survives injury scare to make it through to US Open semis after beating Schwartzman in front of Pique and Shakira
RAFAEL NADAL took another big step towards his fourth US Open title - by putting on a show for Gerard Pique and Shakira.
The Spanish No2 seed, 33, is the red-hot favourite to reign supreme in New York come Sunday evening with rivals Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer already out.
And it is easy to see why with yet another dominant performance to see off his close friend and regular hitting partner Diego Schwartzman in the last eight.
Rafa was pushed hard by the gritty 5ft 7ins Argentine - the shortest male quarter-finalist at Flushing Meadows for 25 years - but prevailed 6-4 7-5 6-2 in two hours 46 minutes on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Celebrity couple Pique and Shakira clearly enjoyed their evening of entertainment in New York.
Barcelona defender Pique's Kosmos company are the firm investing heavily and reforming the Davis Cup, which will be played in a World Cup-style format in Madrid in November.
Nadal said: "I had some mistakes of course but I am super happy the way I accepted the challenge.
"I just keep going point-by-point and here I am in the semi-finals and that is super important for me. It means everything.
"He is one of the best players in the world and when he is playing well he is able to win against anybody. Tonight was for me, a tough match and I am very happy for the victory."
Knowing he will move within one Grand Slam title of Federer's record haul of 20 by winning his next three matches, Nadal came flying out of the blocks, racing into a 4-0 lead in the opening set.
Schwartzman is a fighter, though, and responded by remarkably levelling it up at 4-4 before Nadal got the pivotal break.
It was a similar story in the second set as Nadal opened up a 5-1 lead.
Again his opponent clawed his way back to level it up.
And again Nadal broke at the crucial moment to secure the set, helped by ripping a trademark forehand up the line.
The Spaniard - who did receive medical treatment for an arm issue - broke in the sixth game of the third set to take a 4-2 lead, held and then broke again to close out the win.
He will now face Matteo Berrettini in the semi-finals.
The Italian 24th seed fought from behind to win a five-set marathon against Gael Monfils 3-6 6-3 6-2 3-6 7-6 in just shy of four hours.
In the other semi-final, Daniil Medvedev takes on Grigor Dimitrov.
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The final four have reached 26 Grand Slam finals between them... Nadal alone has reached all 26.
And he will be desperately hoping that experience and his current form will see him over the line in Flushing Meadows.
After all, there will not be many other chances to reach a Grand Slam final without playing any of the world's top 20 players as is the case this fortnight.
