7 Sep 2013

Nadal mercilessly advances

5:59 am on 7 September 2013

A merciless Rafael Nadal has trounced Spanish compatriot Tommy Robredo, the surprise winner over Roger Federer, 6-0 6-2 6-2 to reach a fifth semi-final at the US Open tennis tournament.

The 12-time grand slam title winner will play French eighth seed Richard Gasquet for a place in the final in New York, after Gasquet clinched a rollercoaster five-set win over David Ferrer, the Spanish fourth seed.

The world No.2 Nadal, who won the title in 2010, is now unbeaten in 20 hardcourt matches this year.

Gasquet, whose only previous appearance in the last four at a major was at Wimbledon in 2007, is the first Frenchman to get reach the semi finals at Flushing Meadows since Cedric Pioline in 1999.