US Open: Hard blow for Rafael Nadal released by American Frances Tiafoe

Spanish failed to speed up the game against the 26th world player. In the absence in New York of his Rival Novak Djokovic in particular, Nadal is missing a great opportunity to go and get a 23rd title in Grand Slam.

Le Monde with AFP

harder is the fall for Rafael Nadal. For his return to New York since his title in 2019, the Spaniard was eliminated on Monday September 5, from the knockout stages of the US Open by the American Frances Tiafoe

In the absence of Novak Djokovic, prohibited from entry into the territory of the United States -not vaccinated against the COVVI -19 -, of the world number 2 Alexander ZVEREV -which recalls a right ankle injury -, and after the elimination, Sunday, of the world number 1 and holding the title Daniil Medvedev, the Mallorcan was favorite to win a fifth major at Flushing Meadows and bring to 23 his record of titles of the Grand Slam.

But he came across a tiafoe (26 global) who played the match in his life, and who knew how to gain speed. “Tennis consists in being in good position. If it is not the case, you must be very, very fast and very young,” said the 36 -year -old Spaniard with a slightly smiling. What I am no longer. My my Hit must be better. Overall, my reading of the game and the quality of my strikes were poor. “

“You have to be ready to grasp the chances that arise. And I was not able to do it. He knew how to do it, he played with good determination,” he added. Rafael Nadal has only converted two of the six break balls that he obtained when Tiafoe won five out of eight. 2>

race for three for the world’s first place

The defeat of Nadal leaves wide open the race in place of the world number 1 that Medvedev will automatically yield on September 12: Spanish remains in the running, but the chances of his compatriot Carlos Alcaraz and the Norwegian Casper Ruud, still In the race in New York, are suddenly argued.

Frances Tiafoe signs the Epxloit of his career by defeating Rafael Nadal, in New York, September 5, 2022. Angela Weiss / AFP

tiafoe, who had never exceeded the knockout stages at the US Open (he had reached the quarters in Australia in 2019), therefore continues on his way.

“I don’t know what to say, I don’t believe it … I played incredible tennis, I don’t know what happened,” he said hot, on a cloud , before leaving the court Arthur Ashe where the public feat and ovation had taken his eyes. He will face, for a place in the semi-finals, the Russian Andrey Rublev (11 ^e

é>) who got rid of the British Cameron Norrie (9 e ) in three sets ( 6-4, 6-4, 6-4).

Swiatek is scared

In the female table, the American Jessica Pegula (8 e ) easily eliminated the Czech Petra Kvitová (6-3, 6-2) and will play her first quarter-final at Flushing Meadows . It will be against the world number 1 IGA SwiTEK who was scared before finally beat the German Jule Niemeier (108 e ) in three rounds (2-6, 6-4, 6-0 ), in an erratic match where a total of 76 direct faults were committed and where 12 breaks were made.

“It’s really satisfactory,” said the 21 -year -old Polish. “It will be my first quarter-final in New York, so I’m really proud,” added the double winner of Roland-Garros (2020, 2022).

The Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka, 6 world and semi-finalist of the event last year, also qualified on Monday for the quarter-finals after his victory on the American Danielle Collins (19 e in three sets (3-6, 6-4, 6-2). She will face the Czech Karolina Pliskova (22 e ), finalist in 2016, who fought hard to rule out 7-5, 6-7 (5/7), 6-2 La Biélorusse Victoria Azarenka (26 e ).