| Venue: Flushing Meadows, New York Dates: 29 August-11 September |
| Protection: Every day radio commentaries throughout BBC Sounds and the BBC Sport web site and app, with chosen dwell textual content commentaries and match reviews on the web site and app |
Rafael Nadal has been crushed in a Grand Slam for the primary time in 2022, dropping to Frances Tiafoe within the US Open fourth spherical.
American Tiafoe thrilled the house crowd with a 6-4 4-6 6-4 6-3 win over four-time champion Nadal in New York.
The defeat ended the Spaniard’s bid for a record-extending twenty third main singles title.
Nadal led the fourth set 3-1 earlier than Tiafoe hit again, successful 5 video games in a row to safe his quarter-final spot.
He’ll face Russian ninth seed Andrey Rublev for a spot within the semi-finals at Flushing Meadows.
Tiafoe, seeded twenty second, threw his racquet to the ground and coated his face in disbelief as his victory was confirmed by a netted Nadal backhand.
After thanking the gang he coated his face together with his towel, taking within the ambiance on a raucous Arthur Ashe Stadium.
“One thing particular occurred at the moment,” the 24-year-old stated on court docket.
“I do not know what to say, I am so completely satisfied. He is one of many best of all time and I performed unbelievable.”
Nadal has by no means appeared settled in New York this 12 months however that isn’t to take something away from Tiafoe, who performed a intelligent match.
Nadal’s loss and the defeat for 2014 champion Marin Cilic who was crushed in 5 units by Spanish teenager Carlos Alcaraz means there can be a first-time Grand Slam winner in Sunday’s closing.
Alcaraz, 19, got here by way of 6-4 3-6 6-4 4-6 6-3 in three hours and 53 minutes with the clock hanging 02:24 in New York, a few minutes in need of the latest-ever end at Flushing Meadows.
He’ll tackle Italian eleventh seed Jannik Sinner who additionally wanted 5 units to get previous unseeded Belarusian Ilya Ivashka 6-1 5-7 6-2 4-6 6-3.
Nadal undone by entertaining Tiafoe
Nadal went into this match with a 22-0 document in Grand Slams this 12 months, having received the Australian Open and French Open titles earlier than withdrawing from Wimbledon after his quarter-final victory with an belly harm.
That harm restricted his build-up to the US Open with Nadal arriving at Flushing Meadows having performed solely as soon as since, a defeat by Borna Coric in Cincinnati.
He has struggled for fluency in New York, significantly in his second-round match in opposition to Fabio Fognini, and confirmed related nerves on serve in opposition to Tiafoe.
Having modified his ball toss to guard the harm that ended his Wimbledon marketing campaign, Nadal appeared shorn of pace and confidence on his serve, and was damaged by Tiafoe at 3-3 within the opener.
After dropping the primary set, Nadal disappeared off court docket with the physiotherapist for eight minutes and appeared to have strapping added to his wrists.
Though his serve by no means clicked – he completed with 9 double faults to 9 aces – he was capable of reap the benefits of one poor Tiafoe service sport at 5-4 within the second, being gifted the set by a Tiafoe double fault.
The third set mirrored the primary, Tiafoe breaking for a 4-3 lead with a fantastic backhand winner, and the American delighted his dwelling crowd as he closed it out with an ace.
Nadal appeared reinvigorated within the fourth set and was helped by Tiafoe changing into distracted because the roof closed throughout his service sport at 2-1 down.
Nadal broke serve however Tiafoe, helped by two Nadal double faults, responded immediately, and produced some wonderful counter-punching to interrupt twice extra on his approach to clinching victory.
Regardless of the defeat, Nadal might nonetheless transfer to the highest of the lads’s rankings after the match following defending champion Daniil Medvedev’s loss to Kyrgios on Sunday.
Spain’s Alcaraz and Norway’s Casper Ruud would want to succeed in the ultimate no less than to have an opportunity to develop into the world primary.
Tiafoe advantages from mature outlook
Tiafoe has endured some troublesome losses in latest weeks, squandering robust positions in opposition to Taylor Fritz and Nick Kyrgios, however he confirmed no indicators of nerves in opposition to Nadal.
He has spoken earlier than in regards to the difficulties he and his household overcame collectively and his extra uncommon route into tennis.
His father labored on a building crew creating the Junior Tennis Champions Centre (JTCC) in Washington. Together with his mum working evening shifts as a nurse, Tiafoe and his brother had been typically on the JTCC for lengthy intervals of time and subsequently developed their tennis abilities on the courts there.
He beforehand reached the quarter-finals of the Australian Open in 2019 however the win over Nadal is the most important in his profession to this point.
“Truthfully once I first got here on the scene I wasn’t prepared for it mentally and mature sufficient,” he stated on court docket.
“I have been capable of develop and I’ve an important group round me.
“I am completely satisfied I received in entrance of my mum, my dad, my girlfriend and my group and to have them see what I did.”
