Rafael Nadal loses to Frances Tiafoe within the US Open spherical of 16

American Frances Tiafoe performed the match of his life to defeat second seed Rafael Nadal 6-4 4-6 6-4 6-3 within the fourth spherical of the US Open on Monday.

It was the primary time this 12 months that Nadal, who was chasing his twenty third Grand Slam title, had misplaced at a serious.

Tiafoe lined his face together with his palms as he drowned out cheers from a crowded home at Arthur Ashe Stadium after breaking Nadal for the fifth time to attain the largest upset of the match.

“I do not even know what to say now, I am so completely happy, I am about to cry,” Tiafoe mentioned in an interview in court docket.

“I am unable to imagine it. He is undoubtedly one of many best gamers of all time. I performed unimaginable tennis in the present day however I actually do not know what occurred.”

Whereas Tiafoe has already performed excellent tennis, he has additionally benefited from an uncharacteristically poor efficiency and Nadal’s comeback efficiency. The Spaniard precipitated 9 double faults and hit solely 33 winners in opposition to 48 for Tiafoe.

With the win, Tiafoe reduce Nadal’s streak of 17 consecutive main slams as he reached the quarter-finals or higher. The Spaniard had received the Australian and French openings this 12 months earlier than withdrawing with an belly harm forward of the semi-final match at Wimbledon.

Subsequent for Tiafoe is the quarter-final match with Russian Andrey Rublev.

(Reuters)