For most of Juan Martin del Potro’s career, his greatest nemesis was not another player. It was his own body. But over the last year, del Potro’s fragile wrists have given way to a more traditional adversary: Rafael Nadal.
It’s not a rivalry, exactly. But Nadal and del Potro, two of the tour’s most exhilarating competitors, have become familiar foes at Grand Slams.
On Friday, Nadal and del Potro will meet in the U.S. Open semifinal, marking their fourth meeting over the last five major tournaments. At last year’s U.S. Open, Nadal beat del Potro in a four-set semifinal.