NEW YORK _ Go spelunking inside Matteo Berrettini's head and you will get an idea how appreciative three-fourths of the U.S. Open men's semifinalists feel about the current state of affairs.
"I'm in the semis," marveled Berrettini, a 23-year-old Italian in only his eighth Grand Slam tournament and enjoying his first summer ranked in the world's Top 25. "Why not? I'm going, trying to keep going, and I'm dreaming as well, why not?"
His opponent on Friday is Rafael Nadal, 18 times a major-tournament champion and playing is his 33rd major-tournament semifinal. Something of a foregone conclusion. But the others?