Rafael Nadal’s glorious undefeated run in sweep in 2022 has come back to associate finish as America’s Frances Tiafoe knocked the Spaniard out people Open 2022 in an exceedingly four-set heroic tale in their round-of-16-clash on Arthur Ashe Stadium on Tuesday.
Nadal was 22-0 in Slams within the twelve month, winning the Australian Open and French Open title.
Tiafoe thus became the primary man to beat Nadal in an exceedingly major since Novak Djokovic in Roland Garros 2021, thus ending his bid for associate new 23 Grand Slam and record-equalling fifth title at the Flushing Meadows.
With the 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 win, the most important conclusion in his career to this point, Tiafoe became the third yank to beat Nadal at a Grand Slam when Andy Roddick in 2004 and James William Blake in 2005.
He conjointly became the youngest from his country to enter the quarterfinals at the US Open since Roddick eighteen years back.
“I’m beyond happy, almost in tears, I can’t believe it,” Tiafoe said in his on-court interview. “I played unbelievable tennis today. I really don’t know what happened.”
Heading into the match, Tiafoe had not ne’er overwhelmed Nadal in their previous 2 conferences, each in 2019, nor did ne manage to win a group. However, the youngster stuck forty nine winners and eighteen aces to show the tables and penalize his twin defeats.
With the loss, Nadal’s hopes of claiming the world no.1 ranking, for the primary time since February 2020, have taken a significant hit. Despite still standing in position, Nadal has the prospect to lose the chance if either or each between Carlos Alcaraz and Norway’s Casper Ruud reach the ultimate.
