World number five Juan Martin Del Potro produced his best tennis at the semifinals of the Shanghai Masters on Saturday after the Argentine upset world number one Rafael Nadal 6-2, 6-4. The victory also secured Del Potro’s place at the year-end ATP World Tour Finals in London which will take place in November.
“I qualify for London. It’s amazing to close the year playing in London with the other seven guys.”
This is Del Potro’s first victory over Nadal in more than four years. Earlier this year, Del Potro was denied his first ATP World Tour Masters 1000 title in Indian Wells after Nadal stopped him in the final. He will have a chance to achieve this feat on Sunday as he faces defending champion Novak Djokovic in the title match.
“I played so solid all the time, hitting the ball so hard,” del Potro said. “I saw Rafa playing very far off the baseline, which is good for my game, for my serve, and confidence. That’s the way to beat this guy.”
“Always when you beat the No. 1 player of the world, you feel something special in your mind, feelings,” he added added. “It’s one moment so good to explain with words. I’m so happy, so excited to enjoy a little bit of this match.”
Nadal was gracious in defeat.
“He played amazing. I just congratulate him,” Nadal said. “Very few times I play against a player with a level like today…I really go home with the feeling that I didn’t play bad. That’s the thing. It is fair to say that. I am humble enough to say that I played well and I lost 6-2, 6-4.”
Del Potro has a 3-9 head to head series record against Del Potro with their most recent meeting taking place at the Wimbledon 2013 semifinals where the Argentine lost. Both players entered this week’s tournament having won their respective tournaments last weekend – Djokovic (China Open) and Del Potro (Japan Open).
The Shanghai Masters 2013 winner will receive $729,725 and 1,000 ranking points and the finalist gets $357,800 and 600 ranking points.
