Rafael Nadal reveals that by the time he lost to eventual-champion Juan Martin del Potro in the 2009 U.S. Open semifinals the abdominal injury he came into the tournament with had worsened significantly.
“In that match I had 26 millimeters abdominal break [1.02 inches],” Nadal told reporters after his straight set loss to the Argentine in Shanghai on Saturday. “So we cannot count about that match. I lost 6‑2, 6‑2, 6‑2. For me it was miracle to be in that semifinal, because I started the U.S. Open with six millimeters tear."
"Being in the semifinal was one of the greatest results I had because of my conditions and no possibility to play with my condition to play against a player like Juan Martin in those moments. In my opinion, he played much better tonight than he did in that match.”