Matteo Berrettini outlasts Gael Monfils in US Open epic to reach semis6Photo© firstpost.com

Matteo Berrettini outlasts Gael Monfils in US Open epic to reach semis

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Matteo Berrettini became the first Italian man to reach the US Open semi-finals in 42 years on Wednesday to set up a potential showdown with title favorite Rafael Nadal, who resumes his quest for a 19th Grand Slam crown.

Berrettini, the 24th seed, matched Corrado Barazzutti’s run to the last four in 1977 after outlasting 13th-seeded Frenchman Gael Monfils 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 7-6 (7/5) in three hours and 57 minutes.

He will meet the winner of a later match between Spanish three-time US Open champion Nadal and Argentina’s Diego Schwartzman for a place in Sunday’s final at Flushing Meadows.