Rafael Nadal has been beaten in a Grand Slam for the first time in 2022, losing to Frances Tiafoe in the US Open fourth round last night.
American Tiafoe thrilled the home crowd with a 6-4 4-6 6-4 6-3 win over four-time champion Nadal in New York.
The defeat ended the Spaniard’s bid for a record-extending 23rd major singles title.
Nadal led the fourth set 3-1 before Tiafoe hit back, winning five games in a row to secure his quarter-final spot.
He will face Russian ninth seed Andrey Rublev for a place in the semi-finals at Flushing Meadows.
Tiafoe, seeded 22nd, threw his racquet to the floor and covered his face in disbelief as his victory was confirmed by a netted Nadal backhand.
After thanking the crowd he covered his face with his towel, taking in the atmosphere on a raucous Arthur Ashe Stadium.
“Something special happened today,” the 24-year-old said on court.
“I don’t know what to say, I’m so happy. He’s one of the greatest of all time and I played unbelievable.”
Nadal has never looked settled in New York this year but that is not to take anything away from Tiafoe, who played a clever match.
In women’s singles, top seed Iga Swiatek avoided a US Open upset by recovering to beat unseeded Jule Niemeier and reach her first quarter-final in New York.
Swiatek trailed by a set and a break but fought back to win 2-6 6-4 6-1 against the German.
The 21-year-old from Poland has been the standout WTA player this season and is bidding for a seventh title in 2022.
The reigning French Open champion will play American Jessica Pegula, who beat Czech 21st seed Petra Kvitova.
Czech 22nd seed Karolina Pliskova overcame three-time finalist Victoria Azarenka in three sets to also reach the last eight.
Pliskova, a finalist in 2016, reached the quarter-finals at the US Open for the second successive year with a 7-5 6-7 (5-7) 6-2 win over the Belarusian.
She will meet Belarusian sixth seed Aryna Sabalenka, who came from a set down to beat American 19th seed Danielle Collins 3-6 6-3 6-2.
BBC Sport
