Nadal blows two-set lead, exits U.S. Open
- 9 years ago
The sun was already rising on Rafael Nadal's hometown of Manacor, Spain, when the 14-time major champion walked off Arthur Ashe Stadium well past 1 a.m. local time in New York early Saturday morning.
But after losing a two-sets-to-none lead for the first time in a Grand Slam during a five-set loss to Italy's Fabio Fognini, Nadal will not get another day at this U.S. Open.
The 3-6, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 loss means Nadal, who entered the tournament as the eighth seed, will finish the year without a Grand Slam title for the first time since 2004.
The Spaniard moved up a break early in the third set, but over the second half of the nearly four-hour match, he could not close out the 28-year-old Fognini, who dropped any aversion to risk he might have had while compiling 70 winners in the victory, and 57 unforced errors.
But after losing a two-sets-to-none lead for the first time in a Grand Slam during a five-set loss to Italy's Fabio Fognini, Nadal will not get another day at this U.S. Open.
The 3-6, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 loss means Nadal, who entered the tournament as the eighth seed, will finish the year without a Grand Slam title for the first time since 2004.
The Spaniard moved up a break early in the third set, but over the second half of the nearly four-hour match, he could not close out the 28-year-old Fognini, who dropped any aversion to risk he might have had while compiling 70 winners in the victory, and 57 unforced errors.