Rafael Nadal’s hopes to run a treble this year were hampered last night when he lost to Frances Tiofoe in the US Open. The 24-year-old defeated Nadal in the four sets played 6-4 4-6 6-4 6-3, in a terrific victory that has seen him reach the US Open quarter-finals for the first time. Nadal who was chasing his 23rd grand slam in history had previously withdrawn from the Wimbledon semi-final around July this year due to abdominal distress. The loss to 22nd seed Tiafoe was Nadal’s first defeat in a Grand Slam this year.
Tiofoe made it to his second quarter-final in the grand slam after the 2019 Australian Open, and will now battle Andrey Rublev after the Russian knocked out British No 1 Cameron Norrie in straight sets earlier on Monday.
Tiafoe who is through to a Grand Slam quarter-final for just the second time in his career said:
“I’m beyond happy, I’m almost in tears. I can’t believe it,” Tiafoe said on the court in his post-match interview. “He’s one of the greatest of all time. I played unbelievable tennis today, but I don’t know what happened.
“I came out not giving Rafa all the respect, I came out to win a tennis match in front of you guys.”
“When I first came on the scene, I felt like plenty of people had many expectations of me of how I would do and stuff like that,” the 24-year-old said. “I wasn’t ready for it, mentally I wasn’t mature enough for those moments, and these last couple of years when it hasn’t been on me, I’ve been able to develop.
“I have a great team behind me, and I’ve been putting my head down. I’m happy where I am in life in general. I’m able to do it my way, and enjoy the game I love.”
Nadal, who is scheduled to play in the Laver Cup, alongside Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray, in London from 23-25 September said he has not returned to Tennis following his loss to the American.
“I need to go back. I need to fix things, life, then I don’t know when I’m going to come back,” said the 22-time Grand Slam champion.
“I’m going to try to be ready mentally. When I feel that I will be ready to compete again, I will be there.”
“The difference is easy: I played a bad match, and he played a good match,” said Nadal, who won the Australian Open and French Open titles this year.
“I was unable to hold a high level of tennis for a long time. I was not quick enough with my movements. He was able to take the ball too many times very early, so I was unable to push him back.
“Tennis is a sport of position. You need to be very, very quick and very young. I am not at that moment anymore.”
Tiofoe vs Nadal: Match Stats according to Sky sport.
18 Aces 9
4 Double Faults 9
50% 1st serve in percentage 52%
76% 1st serve win percentage 73%
60% 2nd serve win percentage 56%
4/7 Break points won 2/6
49 Total winners 33
28 Unforced errors 26
119 Total points won 110
