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The grimaces on Rafael Nadal's face were the first indication that something was wrong. Then he asked the coach to stick his right knee. Then, in the greatest sign, he let a ball pass without even running after him.
Then, in a stinging moment with the chair umpire in the second set, Nadal told him that he was going to retire.
A few games later, Nadal did it. After spending more than 17 hours on the court during the US Open, his 32-year-old body gave way.
Nadal, seeded No. 1 and defending champion, retired after losing the second set of his semi-final to No. 3 Juan Martín del Potro, who reached his first Grand Slam final by beating Roger Federer for win the US Open in 2009..
Nadal lost the first set, 7-6 (3) and the second, 6-2, before packing. He removed his blindfold and bracelets and went to del Potro to explain his decision. The two men, both big competitors, hugged each other and Nadal walked quickly off the field.
"Of course, this is not the best way to win a match," Del Potro said in a field interview. "I like playing against Rafa because he is the greatest sports fighter, and I do not like to see him suffer like that on the court. I am sad for him, but I am also happy for myself.
It was a cruel fate for Nadal, who defeated Kevin Anderson in the final a year ago and was aiming for his 18th major title.
Del Potro, 29, knows the feeling of losing trophies because of injuries. He has undergone several wrist operations after winning the Open in 2009, but he finally returns to his form of almost ten years ago.
He will face the winner of the second semifinal between Novak Djokovic (No. 6) and Kei Nishikori (No. 21).
The key to the first semifinal, said Del Potro, was the first run that lasted over an hour. It was the last thing Nadal needed.
The quality of the game in the first set was uneven, never more so than when Del Potro made his first opportunity to win the set of his own service. Leading by 5-4, he tightened and lost two points of adjustment. In the second round, Del Potro hit the forehand in goal for a non-expelled error, then twice, he hit a forehand. Finally, on the first breaking point of Nadal, del Potro hit a backhand in the net for another unforced error.
He needed to raise his game quickly, and he did it. He held his serve to force the tie-break and immediately put pressure on Nadal. With Nadal at 3-5 in the tiebreaker, Del Potro pushed Nadal to his forehand, forcing him to fetch the winner. But Nadal did not have enough effects on the ball and he stayed wide.
On this point, del Potro did not let his nerves run him. It was Nadal who curled a backhand while Del Potro won the set. It's the third time Nadal has lost the first set.
Nadal had difficulties with his knee early. In the first game, he had recorded it, and then removed the tape after the next change. Then, after the third game of the second run, he recorded it again.
He spent 15 hours and 54 minutes on the field before the semi-final, and much of that match came in his epic quarter-final victory against Dominic Thiem, which lasted 4:49.
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