His tournament is already over. Rafael Nadal was beaten in the round of 16 of the US Open on Monday September 5, victim of the American Frances Tiafoe, in four sets and 3h33 of play (6-4, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3). The Spaniard was quite simply less strong than the seeded No. 22, over-motivated in front of his home crowd, and who will compete for the second quarter-final of his career in Grand Slam, against Andrey Rublev.
Rafael Nadal gave in, as much as Frances Tiafoe sublimated. The American undoubtedly signed the best match of his career, showing himself from start to finish as the player in control of the debates. Tiafoe, whose talent has been praised since his younger years on the circuit but who had always struggled to confirm, put together all the pieces of the puzzle until the end, which he so often lacked in major events. This feat took shape as logically, from the first set.
FRANCES TIAFOE HAS DONE IT pic.twitter.com/V0dnN5eXHz
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 5, 2022
For Rafael Nadal, trailing a set was nothing new at Flushing Meadows this year with a third game to topple since the start of the tournament. But this Tiafoe was of a completely different wood than Rinky Hijikata or Fabio Fognini, beaten last week after having fleetingly hoped. Boosted, offensive to hell, the 24-year-old American attacked the match without asking the slightest question. The explosiveness of the 26th player in the world seriously contrasted with a Nadal not yet at his physical peak as a tennis player. And against such a well-tuned and consistent opponent, it just wasn’t enough.
The Mallorcan tried hard to contain the repeated assaults from his vis-à-vis, when the latter did not strike down lightning on his face-off (18 aces, 76% points on his 1st serve). But he never knew how to find the parade to doubt an insatiable Tiafoe, capable of taking Nadal’s service twice in the third set. The hot and humid conditions probably did not help the Spaniard either, less at ease, especially when the roof of the New York central is closed.
MONUMENTAL
Majestic feat by Frances Tiafoe, who took out the big favorite Rafael Nadal in four sets (6-4, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3). What a game, friends, what a game… #USOpen pic.twitter.com/NteIRL89ta
— Eurosport France (@Eurosport_FR) September 5, 2022
This setback, the fifth of the season and the first in a Major, resounds like a clap of thunder, status of the victim of the evening obliges. But there is nothing unpredictable about it, with minimal preparation – just one tournament and elimination in the first round after six weeks out through injury – and a rise in power that could still be improved over the first few rounds. There will be no treble, after the Australian Open and Roland-Garros and this defeat could pave the way for a new world No. 1, as the Spaniard was best placed to take over from Daniil Medvedev , guaranteed to fall from his throne with his loss to Nick Kyrgios in the round of 16.
“He’s the greatest player in the world, I don’t know how I did it“Reacted Tiafoe, blown away by his own performance. Here he is in the quarter-finals for the second time in his career, after the Australian Open 2019 during which he fell to a certain Rafael Nadal.
Rafael Nadal eliminated, scenario update:
Nadal N°1 if neither Alcaraz nor Ruud reach the final.
Alcaraz N°1 if he wins the tournament or if he loses in the final without facing Ruud.
Ruud N°1 if he wins the tournament or if he loses in the final without facing Alcaraz. pic.twitter.com/NS9ROSFU6S— Game, Set and Maths (@JeuSetMaths) September 5, 2022