When it seemed certain that Rafael Nadal would be his round of 16 rival at the US Open, the American Frances Tiafoe did not look at history, where the one from Manacor occupies an unequaled place with its 22 great ones. Tiafoe did not look at the ranking where Nadal arrived at number 3 compared to his number 26. Nor did he think about his previous meetings with the Balearic champion, two defeats in 2019, including in the quarterfinals of Australia, the best result of the Maryland until now in a Grand Slam. “Now I think I can beat him & rdquor ;, he said. “Definitely I’m going to go for him & rdquor;.
It was a premonition, an announcement. and she has cashed Painful form for Nadal this Monday at Arthur Ashe, where Tiafoe has prevailed in three and a half hours and four sets 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 and 6-3, getting off the Spaniard, that the last time he fell in the fourth round in New York was in 2016 and in his great career in 2017 at Wimbledon.
“I can’t believe it, I played incredible, I dont know what has happened” Tiafoe said in ecstasy in Arthur Ashe, even somewhat surprised at himself by the quality of a game that has exceeded his own expectations and, also, those of Nadal.
defeat is the first of the Spanish this year in a big (at Wimbledon he retired due to an abdominal injury), it relieves him of his fight for his fifth New York title, his great 23. And although at the moment it is virtual number 1, that he stays in it once the tournament in Flushing Meadows is decided on Sunday will no longer depend on him, but on the performances of Carlos Alcaraz and Casper Ruud, that they have options to overtake him if they win and also in some other case.
Without excuses
Tiafoe he has shown in the match why he had that level of self-confidence. He has exploited a powerful service and has been fast and aggressive. He has scored 17 aces, hit 48 winners and has scored 75% of his first serve points.
In front of him, on the other hand, and although without reaching the “disaster & rdquor; that he experienced in the second round match against Fabio Fognini, Nadal has been blurred again, slow. “Nor are there excuseshas been much better than me, and I have to analyze myself more than the opponent & rdquor ;, he later assumed before the press.
“It’s time to have the first child & rdquor;
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“I’ve got much more important things than tennis to attend & rdquor ;, Nadal has also explained to the journalists, before whom a few days ago he already confirmed that his wife “is fine & rdquor; after press reports about a hospital admission that occurred when he was already in the US. “Is he time to have the first child and trust that everything will turn out well”.
Only from then on, with that peace, as Nadal has said, will he make the “appropriate decisions & rdquor; about tennis according to “how everything is going” in his personal life. “I had to make an effort here and I did. It hasn’t turned out the way I would have liked. It is moment of resetr. It’s been a tough few months. touch start again professionally speaking & rdquor ;.