Juan Martin del Potro made sure there will be no US Open matchup between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal this year with the Argentinian winning their quarter-final in four sets at Flushing Meadows.
Del Potro ended Federer's 18-match Grand Slam winning streak with a 7-5 3-6 7-6 (10-8) 6-4 victory over the current Wimbledon champion.
Juan Martin del Potro is through to the semi-finals of the US Open where he will play Rafa Nadal. Photo: Photosport
The result prevented Federer and Nadal from meeting in the semifinals, which would have been their first head-to-head showdown at Flushing Meadows.
It's the only major tournament where the longtime rivals have never faced each other.
Instead, it will be 2009 champion del Potro against two-time winner Nadal in Friday's semifinals.
Roger Federer Photo: Photosport
Earlier, world No.1 Nadal gave Russian teenager Andrey Rublev a tennis lesson to race into the semi-finals of the US Open.
The 19-year-old, who grew up idolising Nadal and had the Spaniard's poster pinned up on his bedroom wall was smiling from ear-to-ear as he posed for pre- match photos with his hero.
That would be the highlight of an eye-opening afternoon for the Russian youngster as Nadal showed no mercy during a one hour, 37 minute thrashing.
