US Open 2022: Move over 'Big Three', says Frances Tiafoe after Rafael Nadal shocker

Rafael Nadal at the US Open on Monday. Tiafoe produced the biggest shock of the tournament so far with a dazzling performance to send Nadal spinning to his earliest exit from the Open since 2016. Nadal's 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 defeat, and Serena Williams' exit from the women's draw last week, are further evidence that a golden era is drawing to a close. This year's US Open marks the first time since 2003 that at least one of Williams, Nadal, Roger Federer or Novak Djokovic have not featured in the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam event.

AFP PhotoTiafoe says the likes of himself and Nick Kyrgios, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner are ready to seize their moment. "It's cool to see a new era," Tiafoe said. "I think Nick (Kyrgios) playing great tennis is great for tennis. You see him packing stadiums when he's playing singles, doubles, whatever. Alcaraz is a great personality. Sinner. Myself. People get behind me. "You know the American guys, Tommy (Paul), (Taylor) Fritz. There's a ton of guys playing great tennis. "I don't think it will be a big three. It will be like a big 12. There's a bunch of guys playing great tennis. "It's good. For sure you'll probably have someone who probably like will cement and be at the top. That's still kind of happening. We'll see who that person's going to be." On Monday however Tiafoe was more preoccupied with the here and now than the future, basking in the afterglow of a superb victory over 22-time Grand Slam champion Nadal. A packed Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd roared in delight as the 24-year-old 22nd seed bombarded Nadal with 18 aces and 49 winners to seal victory in 3hr 34min. The win sends Tiafoe into a last eight showdown against Russian ninth seed Andrey Rublev on Wednesday. The seismic