Rafael Nadal reacts to US Open exit as Frances Tiafoe revels in ‘special’ win

Rafael Nadal’s bid to win a record-extending 23th major singles title is over after Frances Tiafoe stunned the Spaniard in the fourth round of the US Open.

American star Tiafoe thrilled the home crowd with a 6-4 4-6 6-4 6-3 win over four-time champion Nadal at Flushing Meadows, New York.

Nadal’s defeat leaves Marin Cilic, who won the US Open title in 2014, as the only Grand Slam singles winner left in the men’s draw.

Defending champion and world number one Daniil Medvedev was knocked out by Wimbledon finalist Nick Kyrgios, while 21-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic was unable to compete due to his Covid-19 vaccination status.

Nadal said: ‘I played a bad match. He played a good match. I was not able to create the damage I used to.

‘Tennis is a sport of positions. You need to be very, very quick and very young.’

On his plans for the rest of the season, Nadal added: ‘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.’

Meanwhile, an emotional Tiafoe – who has reached his second Grand Slam quarter-final – said: ‘I don’t know what to say, I’m so happy.

‘He’s one of the greatest of all time and I played unbelievable tennis today. Something special happened out there.

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‘Honestly when I first came on the scene I wasn’t ready for it mentally and mature enough. I’ve been able to develop and I have great team around me. With you guys, it’s been great.’

Nadal went into his US Open fourth-round match with a 22-0