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By Mike Dickson
Up and away: Novak Djokovic
Another Grand Slam, another place in the last four for Novak Djokovic, who maintained his admirable consistency by disposing of France's telescopically-limbed Gael Monfils in the quarter final of the US Open last night.
Not even the presence of his friend Thierry Henry in his players' box could stop the Frenchman folding after getting a break up in the first set and he went down 7-6, 6-1, 6-2 to Djokovic.
*** Video: The best match point ever? ***
But it should be a matter of some alarm to Djokovic or anyone else left in the field that Rafael Nadal believes Flushing Meadows has still not seen the best of him.
The Spaniard looks in irresistible form and few now doubt that he can make history on Sunday night and become the youngest player in history to win all four Grand Slam titles.
Only six men, the most recent being Federer and Andre Agassi, have won on all four of the game's biggest stages and at 24 the Spaniard is three wins from emulating them.
Power pack: Rafael Nadal
He has reached the quarter finals not just without dropping a set but without even losing serve, belying his reputation of vulnerability on the relatively quick cement mix at Flushing.
'To get this far two things have to be working really well, the concentration and the serve. I am playing well but I am not at my highest level yet,' said Nadal, who beat Feliciano Lopez 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.
A major reason for his suddenly invincible look at a Grand Slam venue where he has never even made the final is the development of his serve, in which he has found an extra 5-8 mph.
Nadal's next opponent will be Fernando Verdasco, who fought out an epic five set win over compatriot David Ferrer with an astonishing forehand pass on match point in the deciding fifth set tiebreak.
source: dailymail
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[starttext]
By Mike Dickson
Up and away: Novak DjokovicAnother Grand Slam, another place in the last four for Novak Djokovic, who maintained his admirable consistency by disposing of France's telescopically-limbed Gael Monfils in the quarter final of the US Open last night.
Not even the presence of his friend Thierry Henry in his players' box could stop the Frenchman folding after getting a break up in the first set and he went down 7-6, 6-1, 6-2 to Djokovic.
*** Video: The best match point ever? ***
But it should be a matter of some alarm to Djokovic or anyone else left in the field that Rafael Nadal believes Flushing Meadows has still not seen the best of him.
The Spaniard looks in irresistible form and few now doubt that he can make history on Sunday night and become the youngest player in history to win all four Grand Slam titles.
Only six men, the most recent being Federer and Andre Agassi, have won on all four of the game's biggest stages and at 24 the Spaniard is three wins from emulating them.
Power pack: Rafael NadalHe has reached the quarter finals not just without dropping a set but without even losing serve, belying his reputation of vulnerability on the relatively quick cement mix at Flushing.
'To get this far two things have to be working really well, the concentration and the serve. I am playing well but I am not at my highest level yet,' said Nadal, who beat Feliciano Lopez 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.
A major reason for his suddenly invincible look at a Grand Slam venue where he has never even made the final is the development of his serve, in which he has found an extra 5-8 mph.
Nadal's next opponent will be Fernando Verdasco, who fought out an epic five set win over compatriot David Ferrer with an astonishing forehand pass on match point in the deciding fifth set tiebreak.
source: dailymail
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