Rafael Nadal (ATP 3) will not end the season unbeaten in Grand Slam. The man with 22 major titles was eliminated in the round of 16 of the US Open, defeated by a remarkable Frances Tiafoe (ATP 26). The American won 6-4 4-6 6-4 6-3 in 3:34 and will challenge Russian Andrey Rublev (ATP 11) on Wednesday.
Rafael Nadal did not play at his best, notably committing 9 double faults, but as always fought until the end. The 36-year-old Mallorcan even seemed able to turn things around when he broke the break to lead 3-1 in the 4th set.
Frances Tiafoe however never stopped believing in her star, winning the last 5 games of the match by being irresistible. The American made an almost perfect copy, constantly attacking his opponent by taking the ball very early. For his first quarter in New York, the right-hander will try to do even better against the Russian Andrey Rublev.
Crowned in January at the Australian Open then in June at Roland-Garros, forfeited before his Wimbledon semi-final due to an abdominal injury, Rafael Nadal therefore suffered his first defeat of the year in New York in a Major. But he remains ideally placed to recover 1st place in the world: Carlos Alcaraz and Casper Ruud must reach the final to climb to 1st place.
ats/nm