Spanish tennis ace Rafael Nadal has set up a much-awaited men's singles final at the US Open against world No.1 Novak Djokovic with a 6-4 7-6(1) 6-2 victory over Frenchman Richard Gasquet in the semi-finals on Saturday.
According to Stuff.co.nz, the US Open final showdown between Nadal and Djokovic will be the third in four years at the US National Tennis Center after they advanced in the semis against Gasquet and ninth-seeded Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka respectively.
The report said that the Spaniard, winner of 12 grand slam titles, dismissed eight-seeded Gasquet to improve his career record to 11-0 against the Frenchman and his 2013 hard court record to 21-0, in a bid to win his second US Open crown after his 2010 win over Djokovic.
Stating that he did not have a chance to play on the court at New York last year, Nadal, who was sidelined seven months due to a knee injury, said that it is a dream for him to have the chance to play in the finals at the Flushing Meadows.
Praising Djokovic, Nadal also said that the Serb is an amazing competitor and one of the best players that he has ever seen, adding that he will have to face a tough final match against Djokovic.
The report mentioned that Djokovic and Nadal would be playing against each other for a tour record 37th time, in which Nadal leads 21-15.
Meanwhile, the women's final between Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka will follow a men's doubles final between the second-seeded team of Austria's Alexander Peya and Brazilian Bruno Soares and fourth seeds Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic and India's Leander Paes, the report added.