Rafael Nadal was knocked out of US Open 2022 in the 4th round (Reuters Photo)
HIGHLIGHTS
- Rafael Nadal was knocked out of US Open in the 4th round
- The 22-time Grand Slam champion was stunned in 4 sets
- Nadal is scheduled to return to action in Laver Cup in September
22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal on Tuesday hinted he would take an extended break from competitive action after he suffered a shock fourth-round exit at US Open 2022. It was the first time Nadal was knocked out before the quarter-final of a Grand Slam tournament since Wimbledon 2017.
Nadal lost in 4 sets to American youngster Frances Tiafoe as he struggled for rhythm. Nadal dropped the opening set, as he did in his 2nd-round win Fabio Fognini of Italy. Despite fighting back to win the 2nd set, Nadal went down against Tiafoe, who played inspired tennis in front of his home crowd.
Nadal said he needs time to fix things and would be away from the sport before he is mentally ready to have a crack at winning a record-extending 23rd Grand Slam title. However, Nadal is scheduled to return to action at the Laver Cup, which is scheduled to be held in London. Nadal will play for Team Europe along with Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray.
Nadal had arrived in New York with doubts over his fitness and without much match practice after he was knocked out as early as the second round at Cincinnati Masters.
“I need to go back. I need to fix things, life, then I don’t know when I going to come back. I going to try to be ready mentally. When I feel that I will be ready to compete again, I will be there,” Nadal said.
Nadal was unbeaten in Grand Slams in 2022 until Monday as he had won the Australian Open and the French Open before pulling out before his semi-final at Wimbledon. Nadal finished the year with a stunning record of 22-1 at Grand Slams and has the opportunity to return to No. 1 in ATP men’s singles rankings.
“We can’t find excuses. We need to be enough critic (critical) with myself. That’s the only way to improve or that’s the only way that I understand you are able to find solutions.
“I have been practicing well the week before, honestly. But then when the competition start, my level went down. That’s the true. For some reason, I don’t know, mental issues in terms of a lot of things happened the last couple of months.
“Maybe… But doesn’t matter. At the end the only thing that happened is we went to the fourth round of the US Open and I faced a player that was better than me. And that’s why I am having a plane back home,” Nadal said.
22nd seed Tiafoe will face 9th seed Andrey Rublev in the quarter-final. Rublev had defeated British No. 1, Cameron Norrie, in the Round of 16 on Monday.
