American Frances Tiafoe upsets Rafael Nadal in 4th round of US Open
The 25-year-old American defeated Rafael Nadal in the fourth round of the US Open on Saturday to take a place in the last 8 of the men’s main draw after defeating compatriot Frances Tiafoe in 4-6, 6-4, 6-7 (3), 7-6 (3), 6-2.
“Frances didn’t get a chance to play a whole lot in the first set, but he played really good the second set,” Tiafoe told reporters after the match.
The young American, a qualifier for the 2016 US Open, has shown his power in this tournament. After beating compatriot Kyle Edmund in the semi-finals, the 25-year-old has since reached the quarter-finals after defeating Richard Gasquet in a hard-fought match.
Tiafoe’s coach, Greg Allen, was happy with the young player’s performance in the big event.
“He was a little nervous going in, especially for the first two sets. I don’t know why. He just has to start playing better tennis,” Allen told reporters after the match. “I’d just love to see him get on the (men’s) main tour. It was his third US Open and he deserves it. I’ll let him get his tour card so he can play on the tour.”
“I always thought I would do well, if I was lucky enough to get through the qualifying tournaments,” Tiafoe added in an interview with the USGA website. “I was hoping to get through as well, but it’s nice to get through with them. I think in the end I learned a lot from the guys in the tour.”
The 25-year-old, who represented the United States Davis Cup team in 2017, continued: “I was just trying to play my best tennis during the tournament. This is the next step. I definitely have no regrets.”
Tiafoe’s next opponent will be 23-year-old Alexander Zverev, who has reached the last eight three times in a row.
In the first two sets, Nadal produced a great match to get the points. At one point, he had a service game of 29, but ultimately, as he found on his second
