Carlos Alcaraz defeats Frances Tiafoe at the US Open semifinals in a battle of tennis’ rising stars. (1:16)
Rafael Nadal on what he’s learned from his most recent run-in with the tennis authorities and what it takes to be a true champion (1:00)
Rafael Nadal on what he’s learned from his most recent run-in with the tennis authorities and what it takes to be a true champion (1:00)
Rafael Nadal says he has learned a lot from his latest defeat in the U.S. Open by Carlos Alcaraz.
It was his fifth win in six matches against Alcaraz, whose relentless tennis gave the Spanish veteran plenty of time to breathe.
“The run-in was quite nice,” Nadal told ESPN at a news conference on Monday. “I felt that it was a good experience to get used to a new condition. I had to adapt my game for this new situation. I wasn’t very good at some points, but I was really focused and did my best to try to solve my problems. Unfortunately it didn’t work out in my favor, but I’m very happy with [winning].”
The loss was Nadal’s 16th at the U.S. Open, which is only two shy of the record he set this year, after winning his 23rd title at the same tournament last year. On the other hand, he sits just one win away from passing Roger Federer’s all-time U.S. Open ranking of No. 2.
It was Nadal’s fourth U.S. Open title in his last five appearances on top-ranked surfaces, which includes his title at Flushing Meadows in 2016, and his sixth in 14 years at the tournament.
In that run, he has beaten the No. 6-ranked Juan Martin Del Potro in New York in 2015 and then the No. 3 seed Andy Murray last year.
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