Rafa Nadal, currently number two in the world, has opened a door to the top of the ATP singles ranking. Nick Kyrgios has been in charge of bringing her down, defeating the leader and reigning US Open champion, Daniil Medvedev, in their third round matchup (7-6, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2). The victory of the Australian ensures the presence of a new name in the first place of the ranking at the end of the tournament. The candidates to occupy the throne are Nadal, Carlos Alcaraz and Casper Ruud. Frances Tiafoe, number 26 in the world, now stands in the way of the manacorí to the top.
Spanish and American will play the pass to the quarterfinals this Monday afternoon, in the second turn of the center court, the Arthur Ashe. Before that, the women's match between Petra Kvitova and Jessica Pegula will begin at 6:00 p.m. (Spanish time). After him, the match between Nadal and Tiafoe will be played, not before 8:00 p.m. It can be seen live through Eurosport and can also be followed on the La Vanguardia website.
Rafa Nadal has the US Open between his eyebrows. It would be his fifth victory in the great North American. He comes into their Round of 16 matchup on a high note, after a tumultuous summer marked by his physical problems, like the ones that caused him to drop out before the Wimbledon semi-finals. He comes from beating Gasquet (6-0, 6-1, 7-5), a great friend of his and one of his favorite victims. That victory served to equal Novak Djokovic's record for most consecutive wins against the same opponent without conceding any defeat. In addition, he now has an extra motivation: to finish the tournament at number one in the ATP ranking.
Nick Kyrgios has been in charge of giving Nadal, Alcaraz and Ruud a cable, the three candidates to occupy that first place at the end of the US Open. The Australian defeated Medvedev, still number one, who knows that his hours on the throne are numbered. Kyrgios is having one of his best years since his arrival on the professional circuit, reaching the Wimbledon final and inflicting heavy defeats on rivals who were, a priori, superior. Medvedev seems to have the measure, since he was also the executioner of him in the round of 32 in Canada a few weeks ago. He will face another Russian in the round of 16 at the US Open, Karen Khachanov.
Nadal will face Tiafoe, a 24-year-old American who stood in the round of 16 after knocking out Argentine Diego Schwartzman in three hard-fought sets (7-6, 6-4, 6-4). Until now, they have only met twice, with full victories for the Spaniard, one at the Australian Open and another at the Masters 1,000 in Madrid, both in 2019. Tiafoe still does not know what it is to win a set against Manacorí , but he is not intimidated by the challenge that awaits him: "I am a different player from 2019. I am playing much better. It will not be my first time playing him and I am looking forward to it. Now I think I can beat him. I will definitely go go get him".
