Tiafoe upset Nadal 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 in three hours and 34 minutes for a place in the quarterfinals. Thus, Tiafoe kept alive his dreams of becoming the first home player with the US Open crown in 19 years. Francis gave it his all in a career win at Arthur Ashe Stadium, playing bold and aggressive tennis and taking ten points clear of Rafa. The American made 18 aces and saved four of six break opportunities. On the other hand, the youngster broke the veteran’s serve five times from eight chances, improving his comeback game after failing to break Rafa in their two matches in 2019. Rafa hit 33 winners and 26 unforced errors, but it wasn’t enough to keep him safe.
Francis Tiafoe ousted Rafael Nadal at the Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Tiafoe threw everything at him and fired 49 winners and 28 unforced errors, defeating the legend and setting up a quarter-final clash with Andrei Rublev.
Francis served 44% in the first game, and no one could notice that. He faced no break points and kept the pressure on the other side. Nadal experienced a break in the seventh game and allowed his opponent to wrap up the set with a hold at 5-4. The Spaniard was given a medical timeout on his wrists and upped the ante in the second set, dropping just five points in five service games. Tiafoe served again at 44% and couldn’t keep his serve intact. After eight commanding holds on both sides, Rafa held for 5-4 and made his first break in the next to wrap up the set and level the score on aggregate. The returning players won only 13 points in the third set and Tiafoe did enough to make the crucial difference. The American held comfortably in five service games and broke the Spaniard’s serve at 3-3 to forge the lead. Francis closed out the set on his serve in the tenth game to go two sets to one ahead and gain momentum. Nadal made the final push in the fourth game of the fourth set to open up a 3-1 lead. Tiafoe broke in the next, survived break points at 2-3 and gave away another break in game seven to take a 4-3 advantage. Rafa served to stay in the match at 3-5 and had nothing left in the tank, experiencing his third consecutive break and pushing Francis into the last eight. Nadal will become world no. 1 next Monday if Carlos Alcaraz and Casper Ruud fail to reach the final.
