{"id":67239,"date":"2022-09-06T02:09:58","date_gmt":"2022-09-06T02:09:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/frances-tiafoe-beats-rafael-nadal-to-reach-the-us-open-quarterfinals\/"},"modified":"2022-09-06T02:09:58","modified_gmt":"2022-09-06T02:09:58","slug":"frances-tiafoe-beats-rafael-nadal-to-reach-the-us-open-quarterfinals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/frances-tiafoe-beats-rafael-nadal-to-reach-the-us-open-quarterfinals\/","title":{"rendered":"Frances Tiafoe beats Rafael Nadal to reach the US Open quarterfinals"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<div class=\"wpds-c-grBDNq hide-for-print mb-sm undefined\">\n<div class=\"PJLV PJLV-iAjpuP-css flex items-center\" config=\"[object Object]\" data-qa=\"article-actions\">\n<div class=\"wpds-c-fLphcs\"><button class=\"wpds-c-gNHrZC wpds-c-gNHrZC-bywHgD-variant-primary wpds-c-gNHrZC-biynoz-density-compact wpds-c-gNHrZC-hZSyid-isOutline-true wpds-c-gNHrZC-ejCoEP-icon-left wpds-c-gNHrZC-futxca-cv wpds-c-gNHrZC-ihhnWqF-css\"><button class=\"PJLV PJLV-igcOMTV-css\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"0 0 16 16\" fill=\"currentColor\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" role=\"img\" class=\"wpds-c-coakfw wpds-c-efqEZa focus-highlight flex items-center justify-center brad-lg pointer transition-400 ease-in-out transition-colors\" aria-label=\"Comment on this story\" iconstyle=\"[object Object]\"><title>Comment on this story<\/title><path d=\"M14 14V2H2v9.47h8.18L12.43 13ZM3 10.52V3h10v9.23l-2.5-1.66Z\"\/><\/svg><\/button><\/p>\n<p>Comment<\/p>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"teaser-content grid-center\">\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<p data-qa=\"drop-cap-letter\" data-el=\"text\" class=\"font-copy font--article-body gray-darkest ma-0 pb-md\">NEW YORK \u2014 Frances Tiafoe metabolizes a crowd&#8217;s energy the way other players rely on protein bars.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<p data-qa=\"drop-cap-letter\" data-el=\"text\" class=\"font-copy font--article-body gray-darkest ma-0 pb-md\">Tiafoe, the son of immigrants from Sierra Leone who learned to play at College Park&#8217;s Junior Tennis Champions Center, is one of the game&#8217;s best young showmen.  He has the talent and charisma to stir a crowd into a frenzy, the athleticism and shot-making to draw oohs and aahs.  His performances in front of the rowdy crowd of the US Open can feel more like wrestling matches than tennis matches.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<p data-qa=\"drop-cap-letter\" data-el=\"text\" class=\"font-copy font--article-body gray-darkest ma-0 pb-md\">But Monday, with a smart, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 win over Rafael Nadal, he displayed a tactician&#8217;s discipline in ousting the 22-time Grand Slam champion.  He is through to his first US Open quarterfinal \u2014 and the second major quarterfinal of his career \u2014 thanks to a master class in energy management and taking one&#8217;s chances when they come.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<p data-qa=\"drop-cap-letter\" data-el=\"text\" class=\"font-copy font--article-body gray-darkest ma-0 pb-md\">When he clinched it by forcing a backhand error from Nadal, he chucked his racket toward his chair and placed his hands around his head.  Those in his player box \u2014 including his father, who worked as a maintenance manager at the JTCC;  his mother;  and his favorite NBA player, the Wizards&#8217; Bradley Beal \u2014 leaped to their feet, hands in the air.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<p data-qa=\"drop-cap-letter\" data-el=\"text\" class=\"font-copy font--article-body gray-darkest ma-0 pb-md\">\u201cI felt like the world stopped,\u201d said Tiafoe, who received a shout out on Twitter from LeBron James.  \u201cI couldn&#8217;t hear anything for a minute.  Even shaking his hand, I do n&#8217;t even know what I said to him.  It was such a blur.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<p data-qa=\"drop-cap-letter\" data-el=\"text\" class=\"font-copy font--article-body gray-darkest ma-0 pb-md\">Men&#8217;s tennis now has what is perhaps the most wide-open Grand Slam draw since Roger Federer&#8217;s reign began in 2003.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<p data-qa=\"drop-cap-letter\" data-el=\"text\" class=\"font-copy font--article-body gray-darkest ma-0 pb-md\">Should 33-year-old Marin Cilic defeat 19-year-old Carlos Alcaraz on Monday night, he will be the only quarterfinalist to have won a major title (US Open, 2014) and the only one older than 28.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<p data-qa=\"drop-cap-letter\" data-el=\"text\" class=\"font-copy font--article-body gray-darkest ma-0 pb-md\">Tiafoe&#8217;s victory denied Nadal the chance to expand his lead over Novak Djokovic (21) and Federer (20) in Grand Slam wins.  He was the first man to beat Nadal at a major this year, with the Spaniard having won the Australian Open and the French Open.  (Nadal withdrew from Wimbledon before a semifinal match with Nick Kyrgios because of an abdominal injury.)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<p data-qa=\"drop-cap-letter\" data-el=\"text\" class=\"font-copy font--article-body gray-darkest ma-0 pb-md\">Nadal, who won the US Open the last time he contested it in 2019, arrived at Flushing Meadows having played two matches in the previous 50 days.  He had been practicing with a high level of intensity ahead of the tournament but could n&#8217;t serve with the same ferocity because scar tissue on his abdomen limited his movement.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<p data-qa=\"drop-cap-letter\" data-el=\"text\" class=\"font-copy font--article-body gray-darkest ma-0 pb-md\">Nadal&#8217;s lack of preparation showed Monday.  He had nine double faults to nine aces, while Tiafoe crushed 18 aces to four double faults.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<p data-qa=\"drop-cap-letter\" data-el=\"text\" class=\"font-copy font--article-body gray-darkest ma-0 pb-md\">Yet even in less-than ideal circumstances, the 36-year-old powered through three opponents this tournament, including two ATP Tour veterans.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<p data-qa=\"drop-cap-letter\" data-el=\"text\" class=\"font-copy font--article-body gray-darkest ma-0 pb-md\">Tiafoe, 24, offered far more of a physical challenge.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<p data-qa=\"drop-cap-letter\" data-el=\"text\" class=\"font-copy font--article-body gray-darkest ma-0 pb-md\">Tiafoe is among the fastest players on tour and has dedicated much of his time since the start of the pandemic to getting fitter.  His physical improvement has led to a steady rise through the rankings, where he reached a career-high No.  24 last month (he currently sits 26th).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<p data-qa=\"drop-cap-letter\" data-el=\"text\" class=\"font-copy font--article-body gray-darkest ma-0 pb-md\">But opponents need to possess more than Olympic fitness to beat Nadal.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<p data-qa=\"drop-cap-letter\" data-el=\"text\" class=\"font-copy font--article-body gray-darkest ma-0 pb-md\">They must mentally outlast the most unrelenting competitor in tennis.  They must be brave enough to make Nadal pay when he is performing below average.  And they must leap on opportunities when presented.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<p data-qa=\"drop-cap-letter\" data-el=\"text\" class=\"font-copy font--article-body gray-darkest ma-0 pb-md\">Tiafoe checked every box, keeping up with Nadal in part by not wasting one iota of energy with his usual celebrations or crowd engagement.  He remained utterly focused for 3 hours 34 minutes.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<p data-qa=\"drop-cap-letter\" data-el=\"text\" class=\"font-copy font--article-body gray-darkest ma-0 pb-md\">\u201cI was not able to hold a high level of tennis for a long time, I was not enough quick on my movements, and he was able to take the ball too many times very early,\u201d Nadal said.  \u201cSo I was not able to push him back.  Tennis is a sport of position a lot of times, no?  If not, you need to be very, very quick and very young.  And I am not in that moment anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<p data-qa=\"drop-cap-letter\" data-el=\"text\" class=\"font-copy font--article-body gray-darkest ma-0 pb-md\">After trading the first two sets, Tiafoe broke Nadal to take a 4-3 lead in the third, then scampered immediately to his chair, staring straight ahead and letting the crowd shower him in applause \u2014 one of his first plays to the crowd all day .<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<p data-qa=\"drop-cap-letter\" data-el=\"text\" class=\"font-copy font--article-body gray-darkest ma-0 pb-md\">He won the set with two shots down the line to give himself double set point, then closed with an ace and a conservative couple of fist pumps.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<p data-qa=\"drop-cap-letter\" data-el=\"text\" class=\"font-copy font--article-body gray-darkest ma-0 pb-md\">\u201cThe biggest thing with things like that is the time I played him before, I got broken so early in each set,\u201d Tiafoe said.  \u201cI was like, if I can just hold serve, 1-all, 2-all, 3-all.  Then you start feeling all right, then you just play.  You&#8217;re in the match.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<p data-qa=\"drop-cap-letter\" data-el=\"text\" class=\"font-copy font--article-body gray-darkest ma-0 pb-md\">In Nadal&#8217;s nature, the Spaniard raced out to a 3-1 lead in the fourth set in an attempt to stanch Tiafoe&#8217;s momentum.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<p data-qa=\"drop-cap-letter\" data-el=\"text\" class=\"font-copy font--article-body gray-darkest ma-0 pb-md\">But in the next game, Nadal served two double faults and Tiafoe didn&#8217;t let the chance slip through his fingers.  He broke Nadal, then came back from 15-40 down to even the match at 3-3.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<p data-qa=\"drop-cap-letter\" data-el=\"text\" class=\"font-copy font--article-body gray-darkest ma-0 pb-md\">He cruised through three straight games after that.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<p data-qa=\"drop-cap-letter\" data-el=\"text\" class=\"font-copy font--article-body gray-darkest ma-0 pb-md\">\u201cFor a while there, I was like, jeez.  You see all these young guys get Rafa, Fed, Novak.  Am I ever going to be able to say I beat one of them?  Today I was like, no, I&#8217;m going to do that,\u201d Tiafoe said.  \u201cNow it&#8217;s something to tell the kids, the grandkids, &#8216;Yeah, I beat Rafa.&#8217;  Hopefully I never play him again.  But hope I end with a win.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<p data-qa=\"drop-cap-letter\" data-el=\"text\" class=\"font-copy font--article-body gray-darkest ma-0 pb-md\">The victory made Tiafoe the second American on Monday to reach a US Open quarterfinal.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<p data-qa=\"drop-cap-letter\" data-el=\"text\" class=\"font-copy font--article-body gray-darkest ma-0 pb-md\">On the women&#8217;s side, eighth-seeded Jessica Pegula coolly dismissed two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova, 6-3, 6-2, to make her third major quarterfinal this year.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<p data-qa=\"drop-cap-letter\" data-el=\"text\" class=\"font-copy font--article-body gray-darkest ma-0 pb-md\">Pegula, whose parents own the NFL&#8217;s Buffalo Bills and NHL&#8217;s Buffalo Sabers, offered little of the suspense present in Tiafoe and Nadal&#8217;s matchup.  Drama is n&#8217;t her style;  in an era of women&#8217;s tennis defined by constant churn, Pegula has been a constant.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<p data-qa=\"drop-cap-letter\" data-el=\"text\" class=\"font-copy font--article-body gray-darkest ma-0 pb-md\">Plagued by injuries early in her career, Pegula broke through relatively late in life by winning her first WTA title at Washington&#8217;s Citi Open in 2019. She rose from 76th in the world at the end of that year to a career-high seventh this season after teaming up with David Witt, Venus Williams&#8217;s former longtime coach, and dedicating more time to the professional side of professional tennis: eating right, preparing thoroughly and taking care of her body.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<p data-qa=\"drop-cap-letter\" data-el=\"text\" class=\"font-copy font--article-body gray-darkest ma-0 pb-md\">Every tennis flourished.  In singles, she has reached the quarterfinals in three majors this year to pad a 23-7 record at Grand Slams since the start of 2021.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<p data-qa=\"drop-cap-letter\" data-el=\"text\" class=\"font-copy font--article-body gray-darkest ma-0 pb-md\">Pegula will face her steepest challenge yet when she plays world No.  1 Iga Swiatek on Wednesday.  The match will probably be at Arthur Ashe Stadium \u2014 where upsets seem to be in the air this year.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<section class=\"b bt bc-offblack dn-ns hide-for-print\" data-testid=\"mostRead\" subscriptions-section=\"content\"\/><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Comment on this story Comment NEW YORK \u2014 Frances Tiafoe metabolizes a crowd&#8217;s energy the way other players rely on protein bars. Tiafoe, the son of immigrants from Sierra Leone who learned to play at College Park&#8217;s Junior Tennis Champions Center, is one of the game&#8217;s best young showmen. He has the talent and charisma &hellip;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"> <a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/frances-tiafoe-beats-rafael-nadal-to-reach-the-us-open-quarterfinals\/\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Frances Tiafoe beats Rafael Nadal to reach the US Open quarterfinals<\/span> Read More &raquo;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","spay_email":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":66436,"url":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/frances-tiafoe-warns-rafael-nadal-he-is-coming-for-victory\/","url_meta":{"origin":67239,"position":0},"title":"Frances Tiafoe warns Rafael Nadal he is coming for victory","date":"September 5, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Frances Tiafoe is not lacking any confidence ahead of his US Open last-16 match as he absolutely believes that he can beat Rafael Nadal. On Saturday, Tiafoe defeated Diego Schwartzman 7-6 (7) 6-4 6-4 to progress into the US Open last-16. Next up for Tiafoe will be a third career\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Sports&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":68517,"url":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/frances-tiafoe-has-us-open-crowd-lebron-james-on-his-side\/","url_meta":{"origin":67239,"position":1},"title":"Frances Tiafoe has US Open crowd, LeBron James on his side","date":"September 7, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Comment on this storyCommentNEW YORK \u2014 As is the case with most young athletes, one of the first things Frances Tiafoe did upon returning to the locker room after his blockbuster upset of Rafael Nadal on Monday was check his phone. What he saw sent his already swirling emotions soaring\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Sports&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":67412,"url":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/frances-tiafoe-vs-rafael-nadal-american-upsets-grand-slam-champion-in-the-fourth-round-of-us-open\/","url_meta":{"origin":67239,"position":2},"title":"Frances Tiafoe vs Rafael Nadal: American upsets grand slam champion in the fourth round of US Open","date":"September 6, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"In a match that lasted more than 3 hours and 30 minutes, the Maryland native defeated Nadal 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3. Tiafoe, 24, is the youngest American man to get this far in the US Open since a then-24-year-old Andy Roddick was a finalist in 2006.\"It was definitely one hell\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Sports&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":67606,"url":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/tiafoe-ends-nadals-22-match-slam-streak-in-us-open-4th-rd\/","url_meta":{"origin":67239,"position":3},"title":"Tiafoe ends Nadal&#8217;s 22-match Slam streak in US Open 4th Rd","date":"September 6, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"NEW YORK (AP) \u2014 Frances Tiafoe's vision was blurry from the tears. He was thrilled \u2014 overwhelmed, even \u2014 when the last point was over and it hit him that, yes, he had ended Rafael Nadal's 22-match Grand Slam winning streak Monday and reached the US Open quarterfinals for the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Sports&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":68684,"url":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/frances-tiafoe-from-sleeping-at-a-tennis-center-to-the-us-open-quarterfinals\/","url_meta":{"origin":67239,"position":4},"title":"Frances Tiafoe: From sleeping at a tennis center to the US Open quarterfinals","date":"September 7, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"The 24-year-old simply stood there soaking up the atmosphere created by a raucous Arthur Ashe Stadium.it felt like a seminal moment in the American's career; a culmination of hard work and raw talent which has long been heralded as the potential future of men's tennis in the country. Expectations of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Sports&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":71615,"url":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/carlos-alcaraz-beats-frances-tiafoe-in-five-set-thriller-to-reach-us-open-final-us-open-tennis-2022\/","url_meta":{"origin":67239,"position":5},"title":"Carlos Alcaraz beats Frances Tiafoe in five-set thriller to reach US Open final |  US Open Tennis 2022","date":"September 10, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Carlos Alcaraz is one win away from a maiden grand slam title \u2013 and the world No 1 ranking \u2013 after outlasting Frances Tiafoe of the United States in a sensational five-set US Open semi-final on Friday night.The 19-year-old Spaniard and sentient highlight reel, whose sublime shotmaking and relentless hustle\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Sports&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/wp-apps\/imrs.php?src=https:\/\/arc-anglerfish-washpost-prod-washpost.s3.amazonaws.com\/public\/QGWRCEF5LJGOLIG5UYAOBB7AKU.jpg&w=1440","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/67239"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=67239"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/67239\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=67239"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=67239"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=67239"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}