Rafael Nadal advanced to the finals of the 2013 U.S. Open with a decisive victory over Richard Gasquet. Nadal took the win in straight sets, 6-4, 7-6, 6-2 in two hours, 21 minutes. While Gasquet made Nadal work for the victory early, there was little doubt of the outcome. Nadal was a little taller, a littler faster and a little stronger the whole way through, and after taking the second set it seemed academic.
2013 U.S. Open bracket update: Nadal posts dominant win over Gasquet
Rafael Nadal defeated Richard Gasquet in straight sets, meaning he and Novak Djokovic will write another chapter in their rivalry.
Elsa
Gasquet’s only real momentum came towards the end of the second set, but it didn’t last. The two exchanged the longest volley of the match in the tiebreaking game but Nadal took the point, leaving Gasquet visibly dispirited. Nadal went to win the tiebreaking game, 7-1.
From there Nadal seemed to cruise to the finish -- his shot placement precise and even, as the announcers put it, “mean-spirited.” He had only two unforced errors in the final set, compared to 12 for Gasquet.
Nadal will face Novak Djokovic in the final, a match between the top two seeds with a long-running rivalry. Nadal is the overall leader, having won 21 of the 36 matches between the two men. The match is scheduled for Monday at 5 p.m. ET.
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