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Rafael Nadal failed to reach his second Shanghai Masters final in 2013, falling to Juan Martin del Potro in straight sets in the semi-final. The Spaniard suffered early Shanghai losses in 2010 and 2011, skipping the event in 2012 and reaching the semi-final a year later.
Nadal took down Alexandr Dolgopolov, Carlos Berlocq and Stan Wawrinka to set the semi-final clash against Juan Martin del Potro. It was their 12th meeting, and the Argentine produced his fourth victory over the Spaniard, beating Rafa 6-2, 6-4 in an hour and 46 minutes.
Del Potro prevailed against Philipp Kohlschreiber in the first match. He took down Nicolas Almagro in the quarter-final to arrange the Nadal clash, beating the 2nd seed for the first time after three consecutive triumphs in 2009.
Del Potro served at 80% and fended off all six break chances, mounting the pressure on Nadal. The Argentine produced three breaks from 11 opportunities and secured a place in his third Masters 1000 final, the second of the season.
Juan Martin del Potro defeated Rafael Nadal in straight sets in Shanghai 2013.
Juan Martin controlled the rallies after hitting more winners and unforced errors, overpowering the better-ranked opponent in the crucial moments to seal the deal in straight sets.
Nadal got broken in the encounter’s first game when his forehand found the net. He bounced back and created a break chance in game two, eager to erase an early deficit. Del Potro repelled with a forehand winner to cement the lead and open a 2-0 gap.
Rafa fended off three break chances with winners in game three. Juan Martin fired a forehand crosscourt bullet on the fourth, forcing an error from his opponent and moving 3-0 in front. Nadal netted a backhand in game four to fall 4-0 down, struggling to impose his strokes.
He finally got his name to the scoreboard when del Potro missed a backhand in the next one to reduce the deficit. The Argentine saved a break point in game six with another powerful forehand. He wasted a set point on the return a few minutes later, keeping Nadal in the set.
Serving at 5-2, Juan Martin fired four aces to wrap up the opener in style after 46 minutes, hoping for more in set number two. Rafa held at love in the second set’s first game for an injection of pace. He squandered two break chances in the next one as del Potro closed the game with a forehand winner for 1-1.
Juan Martin grabbed a break with an incredible volley at 1-1, forging the advantage and fending off a break chance with a forehand winner to open a 3-1 gap a few minutes later. Nadal wasted another break opportunity in game six to stay behind, and del Potro hit a service winner at 4-3 to extend the gap.
Serving for the triumph at 5-4, the Argentine sealed the deal with an unreturned serve, celebrating his first victory over Nadal since 2009 and advancing into his third Masters 1000 final.