Wednesday 5 September 2018 16:40, UK
Rafael Nadal survived an onslaught from Dominic Thiem to eventually make the US Open semi-finals on Wednesday morning.
Defending champion Nadal suffered a 'bagel' in the first set but still won 0-6 6-4 7-5 5-7 7-6 to avoid the same fate as Roger Federer.
Nadal will next play third seed Juan Martin Del Potro for a place in the final.
The conclusion to the near five-hour quarter-final, which ended after 2am local time, came in a tie-break.
The opening set was only the fourth time in 282 career Grand Slam matches that Nadal lost a set 6-0 and this was the first time he had been victorious after doing so.
Thiem blasted 13 winners, made only two unforced errors and allowed Nadal just seven points in winning an extraordinary opener.
Nadal trailed by a break in the third set before taking it. The fourth was a wild 81-minute ride that began with Thiem facing break points, saw the Austrian threaten a double break before being pegged back and then a weary Nadal miss a chance to win the match.
With Thiem serving at 5-6 30-30, a desperate lunging forehand looked to be easy pickings for Nadal only for the 32-year-old to net it.
Thiem held on for the tie-break, where another unexpected Nadal error, this time a short forehand into the net, sent the match into a deciding set.
Eventually, the world No 1 persevered to keep his challenge for an 18th Grand Slam alive.
"I suffered, that's the right word," said Nadal after playing his longest ever match at the tournament.
"I said to Dominic I am sorry. He's a great guy, a close friend who will have many more opportunities to win the big titles.
"He has a great attitude and is a great fighter."
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Tennis is back on Sky Sports screens with the Laver Cup in September while we will also have coverage of the ATP Finals in November with every match live on Sky Sports. But first, we will be across the final major of the year in New York as the US Open right through to the final with live blogs, reports, features and reaction.
