Youzhny beat Wawrinka to reach semifinals
Stanislas Wawrinka played another protracted match at the US Open. Unfortunately for the Swiss, this time he didn't prevail.
Mikhail Youzhny rallied to beat Wawrinka 3-6, 7-6, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 in exactly four hours Thursday to reach a second US Open semifinal. As a bonus, the gifted Russian will now return to the Top 10.
"I was a little bit lucky," Youzhny said afterwards on court.
Youzhny saved a break point at 4-4 with a punishing forehand down the line, and a tiebreak was later needed.
Youzhny earned the first mini break for 5-4. Wawrinka saved three set points, but Youzhny earned a fourth by curling a forehand pass cross court. A devastating inside out forehand levelled proceedings.
Youzhny, in a highlight reel point, broke Wawrinka in the first game of the fifth with a dazzling backhand pass. Broken at 2-1, he called for the trainer, seemingly getting his right big toe taped. The delay cooled Wawrinka, and the 25th seed dropped serve. That was that.
Youzhny probably faces Rafael Nadal, who he toppled at the U.S. Open in 2006, on Saturday if the world No. 1 seed can take down Fernando Verdasco. He'll thus need as much rest as he can get.
Mikhail Youzhny rallied to beat Wawrinka 3-6, 7-6, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 in exactly four hours Thursday to reach a second US Open semifinal. As a bonus, the gifted Russian will now return to the Top 10.
"I was a little bit lucky," Youzhny said afterwards on court.
Youzhny saved a break point at 4-4 with a punishing forehand down the line, and a tiebreak was later needed.
Youzhny earned the first mini break for 5-4. Wawrinka saved three set points, but Youzhny earned a fourth by curling a forehand pass cross court. A devastating inside out forehand levelled proceedings.
Youzhny, in a highlight reel point, broke Wawrinka in the first game of the fifth with a dazzling backhand pass. Broken at 2-1, he called for the trainer, seemingly getting his right big toe taped. The delay cooled Wawrinka, and the 25th seed dropped serve. That was that.
Youzhny probably faces Rafael Nadal, who he toppled at the U.S. Open in 2006, on Saturday if the world No. 1 seed can take down Fernando Verdasco. He'll thus need as much rest as he can get.
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