A ‘miracle’ Rafael Nadal won two majors this year, says Mats Wilander after US Open defeat to Frances Tiafoe

After Rafael Nadal bowed out of the US Open at the fourth-round stage, Eurosport expert Mats Wilander declared it a “miracle” the Spaniard has won two Grand Slams this year. Nadal fell to an inspired Frances Tiafoe at Flushing Meadows, with a maiden Grand Slam champion now guaranteed after Carlos Alcaraz downed 2014 winner Marin Cilic.

Ad For Nadal, it was his earliest exit — and only loss — at a major in 2022, having won the Australian Open and French Open before withdrawing ahead of the Wimbledon semi-finals due to injury. US Open'He has a perfect game' — Wilander, Corretja laud 'unbelievable' Tiafoe9 HOURS AGO The 36-year-old played just the one warm-up tournament before the US Open due to his recovery from an abdominal tear, and Wilander conceded Nadal — who admitted he may take a break — was not quite at 100 per cent in New York.

«It looked like Rafa was either a little bit slow, or it could be that it is very difficult to read Frances Tiafoe’s game,” Wilander said. “When you look at [Nadal's second-round opponent] Fabio Fognini and Tiafoe, both their forehands are hit with an extremely short and quick back swing.

We have to remember though that Rafa hasn’t played enough tennis. Dark horse Tiafoe thrust into the limelight after Nadal win, Swiatek on song — US Open diary 'I need to fix things' — Nadal hints at break after shock Tiafoe loss “It is a miracle that he has won two Grand Slams this year and reaching the semis at Wimbledon.

If you look at his year, with the regular season he had he actually won two Grand Slams – that’s unbelievable. It wasn’t expected, but I think the players know when Rafa isn’t quite at 100 per cent level.» Fellow Eurosport pundit and two-time Grand Slam finalist Alex Corretja believes