Del Potro powers past Cilic to set up Rafa clash

PARIS (Reuters): Argentina’s Juan Martin Del Potro felled Marin Cilic in a French Open clash of the titans, winning 7-6(5) 5-7 6-3 7-5 yesterday, and will now aim his heavy artillery at 10-time champion Rafael Nadal in the semi-finals.

Del Potro has looked to be one of the biggest threats to Nadal’s domination this year, with his pulverising forehand dismantling everyone in his path on the Parisian clay.

After dropping the opening set of his first round match, he won the next 12. Cilic, who like Del Potro stands 1.98m tall, owns a US Open title, has a beast of a serve and always looks like it is his first serious test, and so it proved.

Returning to a sunny Court Suzanne Lenglen locked at 5-5 in the first set tiebreak after the battle was halted because of rain on Wednesday, Del Potro flirted with danger before racking up an eighth win in succession against Cilic.

He appeared almost overcome with emotion after reaching his first French Open semi-final since 2009, when he was beaten by eventual champion Roger Federer.