It is the first time the United States (or any country) has claimed all four semifinalists at a women’s Grand Slam event since Wimbledon in 1985, when Martina Navratilova, Chris Evert, Zina Garrison and Kathy Rinaldi were the last four.

It has been a stellar year for American women’s tennis, even with the country’s best player, Serena Williams, going on maternity leave after winning the Australian Open in January.

From a very early stage, it was clear that Rublev, a 19-year-old with a lightweight frame, did not have the requisite consistency and staying power to keep pace with Nadal, his childhood idol.

Nadal broke Rublev’s serve seven times, won 92 total points to Rublev’s 53 and was very soon answering questions about whether he and Roger Federer will finally get to play at the United States Open.

It has been a breakthrough season even if it has included pronounced dips in form and a coaching change: Craig Kardon resigned in the spring and has been replaced by the former Wimbledon men’s champion Pat Cash.