JUBILANT: Richard Gasquet of France celebrates after defeating Milos Raonic of Canada at the U.S. Open tennis championships in New York. (Reuters)

AFP/New York


French eighth seed Richard Gasquet reached his first US Open semi-final on Wednesday with a rollercoaster 6-3, 6-1, 4-6, 2-6, 6-3 win over David Ferrer, the Spanish fourth seed.
Gasquet, whose only previous appearance in the last four at a major was at Wimbledon in 2007, is the first Frenchman to get to the semi-finals in New York since Cedric Pioline in 1999. It was only his second win in 10 meetings with Ferrer, a series which had also seen him claim just two sets out of 20.
Next up could be a clash with world number two Rafael Nadal, against whom he has lost all 10 meetings as a professional, although he did beat the great Spaniard in their junior days.
 “I beat him when I was 13 in a junior tournament. Rafa is a good friend of mine so if I play him it will be great,” said Gasquet, who is 2-2 against Robredo.
Gasquet had played the longest match of the tournament to see off Milos Raonic in the fourth round but he showed no ill effects from that four-hour-40-minute slugfest as he raced through the first two sets against Ferrer.
His majestic one-handed backhand was working overtime as Ferrer, a semi-finalist in 2007 and 2010, struggled.
But the 31-year-old Spaniard summoned up his trademark pugnacious instincts to claw his way back.
Ferrer, who has made at least the quarter-finals in his past eight majors, levelled the quarter-final, although Gasquet had his chances in a 13-minute sixth game where he carved out three break points.
But gallant Gasquet grabbed the crucial break in the sixth game of the decider when Ferrer double-faulted and took the match courtesy of a swinging forehand winner.
In a tight contest, Gasquet finished with 52 winners to Ferrer’s 40 with the 27-year-old Frenchman collecting just five points more.
“I played a great match at the start despite the wind in the stadium. But David is a great fighter and I was a little tired after a big match with Raonic,” said Gasquet.
“I got the break in the final set and it’s an amazing feeling to be in the semi-finals. I have played a lot of five sets in my career but I still needed to play big to get the victory.”
Gasquet’s win brought congratulations from compatriot Marion Bartoli, who won a surprise Wimbledon women’s title in July.
“What a match from Richard Gasquet @usopen, so pround of him!! What an effort to pull it out at the end in 5 !!!! Wowwwww letsgorich,” Bartoli tweeted.
Later, Rafa Nadal steamrolled compatriot Tommy Robredo 6-0, 6-2, 6-2 to move into the semi-finals.
The second-seeded Spaniard needed just an hour and 40 minutes to get the job done on Arthur Ashe Stadium against Robredo, who had upset Swiss master Roger Federer in the fourth round.
However, he was no match for Nadal, receiving an ironic cheer when he finally won a game at 0-2 in the second set.  
Nadal will play Frenchman Richard Gasquet in the semi-finals tomorrow.
Robredo won the first point with an unreturnable serve but that was about as good as it got for the 31-year-old, who was constantly on the back foot as Nadal dictated play with heavy forehands and only 15 unforced errors for the match.
Nadal has yet to lose his serve in the tournament and did not face a break point against Robredo. Robredo showed glimpses of form early in the third set but when Nadal broke in the fifth game the writing was on the wall.
Nadal broke serve for the seventh time before sealing the lopsided affair when Robredo sent a forehand long.
“I think I played my best match in the US Open this year,” Nadal said. “Playing a little bit better every day is great. I am in the semi-finals and very happy to be here.”
Earlier on Wednesday, Gasquet, who has a 0-10 record against Nadal, had recalled beating the Spaniard when they were 13-year-olds.  
“I think I lost 6-4 in the third,” confirmed Nadal.
“It was one of the first tournaments for me to play  internationally, under 14. Richard was unbelievable. He’s a nice guy and a good friend. We started together as kids and it’s great to see him in the semi-finals in the US Open.”