American Frances Tiafoe upsets Rafael Nadal in 4th round of US Open.
Nov. 10 (UPI) — American Frances Tiafoe upset Rafael Nadal on Sunday in the round of 32 at the U.S. Open.
Tiafoe, who had never before won a Grand Slam tournament, held a 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 win over the fourth-seeded Spaniard in the second major of the year.
The win sent Tiafoe (27), a former world No. 1, to the fourth round and into the third round of the Australian Open, where she lost to No. 2 Simona Halep. Tiafoe, who won the Australian Open title last year, had the advantage of taking over a game in the fourth set against Nadal at No. 4.
Nadal saved an important break point to break Tiafoe in the fourth game of the set before he double-faulted to force a tie break. The two again traded breaks in the tiebreak, but Tiafoe saved two of the three break points.
Tiafoe broke Nadal to lead 3-2 and held a 2-0 lead in the first set. Nadal got a break point in the third game of the set but Tiafoe saved it. The second set went to a third-set tie break, after which Tiafoe saved a break point and continued to win their third tiebreak. In the fourth game of the fifth set, Tiafoe broke.
“She is not afraid of any guy on the court, and it’s my fault,” Nadal said of Tiafoe. “First time in my life I didn’t believe in myself. So, I thought I didn’t have a chance.”
Tiafoe, who beat Serena Williams in her last match in straight sets in the Australian Open quarterfinals, said she will try to give him a hard match, even though she didn’t want him to win the title.
“I have no reason to be afraid,” Tiafoe said. “I have no reason at all to be afraid of Rafa.”
Tiafoe has not fought back from a two-year layoff from major championships, nor has she done so in the past five years. Her only majors, the French Open and Wimbledon Championships, were