Rafael Nadal cruised into the US Open last four and a possible meeting with Roger Federer after a 6-1 6-2 6-2 win over Russian teenager Andrey Rublev in one hour and 37 minutes.
The unseeded youngster set up the tie against Nadal in style, dropping only a single set in his journey to the last-eight encounter with the tournament’s top seed.
Rublev had become the youngest US Open quarter-finalist since Andy Roddick in 2001 with a superb effort, but his inexperience against the world number one showed throughout the tie.
The two-times US Open winner dominated all three sets thanks to a mix of skill, experience and composure that contrasted with the young Russian’s raw emotion and visible frustration.
The first set was over in just 23 minutes, with the tournament favourite barely breaking a sweat.
Rublev took an unexpected lead in the second set, but Nadal constantly took advantage of the naivety in the teenager’s play as he superbly fought back to clinch a 6-2 set win.
The 19-year-old showed glimpses of brilliance, but the Spaniard’s class and dominance continued as he clinched the third set 6-2.
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