Rafael Nadal’s dream of the title in New York burst in the round of 16. But the Spaniard had more important things on his mind at the moment of the defeat – and just wanted to go home.
“I have to devote myself to more important things than tennis,” said the Grand Slam record champion when his title mission at the US Open failed.
Now the only thing that counts is the birth of his first child, which is due to be born at the end of October. Nadal bid farewell to center courts indefinitely.
“I currently have no idea what my schedule looks like,” said the 36-year-old Mallorquin: “Private life is always much more important than my job. It’s time for a new start. It’s been a tough few months.” Which ended in a sportingly disappointing way for him.
The 4: 6, 6: 4, 4: 6, 3: 6 defeat against the American Frances Tiafoe not only meant that Nadal had to check off the 23rd major title at least for the time being.
Tennis star Nadal on the end of the US Open: “Shows that the years are passing”
There is also a big question mark over the Spaniard’s potential jump to the top of the world rankings. The Norwegian Casper Ruud and Nadal’s compatriot Carlos Alcaraz could outperform the veteran with a final in New York.
“It shows that the years go by. This is the circle and the reality of life,” said Nadal at the prospect of a new face at the helm.
He himself had no chance against the great Tiafoe, who received congratulations from basketball star LeBron James, among others. “The difference between us is easy to explain,” said Nadal: “I played a bad match and he played a very good one. I wasn’t able to push him back. The quality of my shots and my understanding of the game were bad.”
The result was the end of his impressive streak of 22 match wins in Grands Slams that year. The left-hander won the title in Melbourne and Paris, and was unable to play in his semi-final match at Wimbledon due to an abdominal muscle injury.
US Open: Statistics show generation change
With the end of the Grand Slam year, he still ranks with 22 major titles ahead of Serbian Novak Djokovic (21) and Swiss Roger Federer (20).
A change of generations is becoming more and more apparent, which is proven by an astonishing statistic. At the US Open it is the first time since 2003 that neither Nadal nor Djokovic, Federer or Serena Williams are in the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam tournament.
For the third time in a row, none of the “big three” will win the title at the US Open. Dominic Thiem and Daniil Medvedev triumphed in 2020 and 2021.
The triumphant Tiafoe would be only too happy to become her successor. At 24, he is the youngest American to reach the quarterfinals of the US Open since Andy Roddick in 2006.
“Now I can tell my children and grandchildren: Yes, I beat Rafa,” said Tiafoe, who now meets Russia’s Andrei Rublev.