"I came out not giving Rafa all the respect" - Tiafoe on beating Nadal at US Open
Frances Tiafoe won the biggest match of his career when he defeated Rafael Nadal in the fourth round of the 2022 US Open.
The 24-years-old American is playing probably the best tennis of his career and that's also the reason why he reached his second Grand Slam quarterfinal. By beating Rafael Nadal he got his eight victory over a Top 10 player and also second against a player ranked as world number three. After the match, Frances Tiafoe explained how he approached the match against the 22-time Grand Slam champion.
"I'm beyond happy, almost in tears, I can't believe it," Tiafoe said in his on-court interview. "I played unbelievable tennis today. I really don't know what happened."
“When I first came on the scene I felt like a lot of people had a lot of expectations on me on how I would do,” Tiafoe said. “I wasn’t ready for it mentally. I wasn’t mature enough for it. These past couple of years, when the tension hasn’t been on me I have been able to develop."
"I have a great team behind me. I am just putting my head down and I am happy with where I am in life in general. I am able to do me and do it my way and enjoy the game I love.”
“At 4-3 [in the fourth set], when I went up 40/0, my legs were like cement,” Tiafoe said. “I just needed to get out of the game and then pray to god that I don’t have to serve for it. I was lucky enough to get out of that game. I came out not giving Rafa all the respect. I came out to win a tennis match if front of you guys.”
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