Nadal hints at extended break after US Open exit

NEW YORK : Rafa Nadal said he needed to "fix things" and was unsure about his return to competitive tennis after his bid for a men's record-extending 23rd Grand Slam title ended in the fourth round of the U.S. Open on Monday.

American Frances Tiafoe, who had lost both previous meetings against the 36-year-old left-hander, stunned the second seed in front of a packed Arthur Ashe Stadium.

It was Nadal's first tournament at Flushing Meadows since he lifted his fourth U.S. Open title in 2019 and he arrived for the hardcourt major without much match practice and doubts hanging over his fitness.

"I need to go back," Nadal said, crediting his 24-year-old opponent for being the better player on the day.

"I need to fix things, life, then I don't know when I (am) going to come back. I (am) going to try to be ready mentally. When I feel that I will be ready to compete again, I will be there."

Nadal, who is expecting his first child with wife Mery Perello later this year, is scheduled to turn out for Team Europe during the Sept. 23-25 Laver Cup in London alongside his great rivals Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray.

The Mallorcan added the Australian Open and the French Open to his tally of major titles in 2022 but the season has also been blighted by a spate of injuries.

Nadal arrived in Melbourne having not played a competitive match for five months but then went on a 20-match winning spree, a run that included the Australian Open victory.

He captured a record-extending 14th French Open title, playing with a pain-killing injection before every match to deal with a chronic foot injury.

Nadal's run at Wimbledon ended when he was forced to pull out before a semi-final clash against Australian Nick Kyrgios after suffering an