Four-time US Open champion Nadal, bidding for a twenty third Grand Slam title, misplaced 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 within the last-16 to Twenty sixth-ranked Tiafoe.
Rafael Nadal of Spain reacts in opposition to Frances Tiafoe of the United States throughout their Men’s Singles Fourth Round match on Day Eight of the 2022 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on 5 September 2022 within the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. Picture: Mike Stobe/Getty Images/AFP
NEW YORK – Rafael Nadal fell to his earliest US Open loss in six years on Monday when he was knocked out by Frances Tiafoe whereas Iga Swiatek grew to become the primary Polish lady to succeed in the quarterfinals.
Four-time US Open champion Nadal, bidding for a twenty third Grand Slam title, misplaced 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 within the last-16 to Twenty sixth-ranked Tiafoe.
The American’s free-swinging efficiency conjured up 18 aces and 49 winners previous a sluggish Nadal.
For Australian and French Open champion Nadal, it was a primary Grand Slam lack of 2022 after an stomach pressure compelled him to forfeit his Wimbledon semifinal.
His defeat got here only a day after world primary and defending champion Daniil Medvedev was knocked out additionally within the fourth spherical by Nick Kyrgios.
“I wasn’t able to push him back. Tennis is a sport of positions a lot of the time,” mentioned 36-year-old Nadal.
“You need to be very quick and very young. I am not in that moment anymore.”
Nadal added: “I was not able to cause great damage. He was better than me.”
Tiafoe, 24, will face Andrey Rublev, who he defeated over 5 units within the third spherical in 2021, for a spot within the semifinals.
“I don’t know what to say, I’m so happy. He’s one of the greatest of all time and I played unbelievable tennis today,” mentioned Tiafoe who had solely beforehand reached one Slam quarterfinal in Australia in 2019.
“Something special happened today. Honestly when I first came on the scene I wasn’t ready for it mentally and mature enough.
“I’ve been in a position to develop and I’ve a terrific group round me. With you guys, it has been nice.”
Seventh seed Rublev shrugged off a rain delay to breeze past Cameron Norrie and reach the quarterfinals for the third time with a 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 win.
‘SUPER HAPPY’
“It was two and a half hours, it was powerful,” said 24-year-old Rublev who had needed four hours and five sets to get past Denis Shapovalov in the third round.
“Cameron and I, we’ve recognized one another for a very long time. I knew I needed to give my greatest.”
Rublev, who also made the last-eight in New York in 2017 and 2020, will be playing in his sixth quarterfinal at the majors but has yet to progress further.
French Open champion Swiatek recovered from a set and a break down to see off 108th-ranked German opponent Jule Niemeier, 2-6, 6-4, 6-0.
In a mistake-riddled clash on Louis Armstrong Court, there were a total of 15 double faults, 12 breaks of serve and 76 unforced errors.
“It’s actually satisfying. This is my first quarter-final in New York so I’m actually happy with it,” mentioned Swiatek.
Wimbledon quarter-finalist Niemeier hadn’t received a hardcourt match in her profession earlier than coming to New York.
However, she went into Monday’s match not having dropped a set and fired as much as repeat her Wimbledon journey the place she had additionally crushed world quantity two Anett Kontaveit.
The 23-year-old from Dortmund swept by way of the opener and broke to guide 2-1 within the second set earlier than Swiatek recovered to take management and attain her third Slam quarterfinal of 2022.
SABALENKA STRANGLEHOLD
Swiatek will face US eighth seed Jessica Pegula for a spot within the semifinals.
It would be the pair’s third assembly this yr with Swiatek popping out on high on each events in Miami and at the French Open.
Pegula grew to become the second American lady into the last-eight after brushing apart two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova 6-3, 6-2.
World quantity six Aryna Sabalenka reached the quarterfinals for a second successive yr with a 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 over Australian Open runner-up Danielle Collins.
Sabalenka has now crushed the American in New York 3 times within the final 5 US Opens.
The Belarusian will subsequent face 2016 runner-up Karolina Pliskova who downed three-time finalist Victoria Azarenka 7-5, 6-7 (5/7), 6-2.
