New York Flushing Meadows US Open Day 8 05/09/2022 Frances Tiafoe (USA) wins fourth round match Photo Roger Parker International Sports Fotos Ltd
Frances Tiafoe handed Rafael Nadal a 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 defeat on Monday to send the Spaniard out in the fourth round of the US Open.
The American broke the 22-time Grand Slam champion in the final game of an upset lasting more than three and a half hours.
Second seed Nadal suffered his worst loss here since 2016 when he also exited at this stage.
The loss leaves the event without the top two seeds after Daniil Medvedev’s defeat on Sunday by Nick Kyrgios.
Tiafoe scored the biggest win for an American man at the Open since wild card James Blake – who conducted the post-match interview – upset then-No. 2 Nadal in the 2005 third round.
“I dont know what to say, I’m beyond happy,” Tiafoe said. “I’m almost in tears, he’s one of the greatest of all time.”
The pair split the first two sets – with Nadal leaving the court after each to change his clothes made sopping wet by the humidity.
The Spaniard had to hold off a break point in the opening game of the third to avoid a disaster start but was unable to impose his game.
Tiafoe finished off the four-set success on his second match point after breaking Nadal three times in the final set.
Main photo:-Frances Tiafoe tosses his racket away after beating Rafa Nadal – by Roger Parker International Sports Fotos Ltd
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