Sports World Reacts to Frances Tiafoe’s U.S. Open Win Over Nadal

The world’s 26th-ranked player upset the 22-time Grand Slam champion on Monday to earn the biggest victory of his career.

Frances Tiafoe recorded the biggest win of his career Monday in a stunning fourth-round upset of Rafael Nadal at the U.S. Open, defeating the 22-time Grand Slam champion 6–4, 4–6, 6–4, 6–3. 

In addition to reaching just his second career major quarterfinal, Tiafoe, the world’s No. 26-ranked player, shockingly ended the 36-year-old Spaniard’s 22-match winning streak at Grand Slam tournaments. The 24-year-old College Park, Maryland native is also the first American to beat Nadal in a major since James Blake in 2005, and the youngest American man to reach a U.S. Open quarterfinal since Andy Roddick in ’06.

Tiafoe’s explosive win, coupled with his emotional celebration post-match, gave tennis fans around the world one of the most memorable moments in the tournament’s history and drew a number of reactions on social media. LeBron James, Bradley Beal and the NBA’s Wizards and WNBA’s Mystics, two of Tiafoe’s hometown teams were among those who weighed in on the historic moment. The Wizards star is one of Tiafoe’s favorite players and was in attendance Monday to cheer him on.

Check below for some of the best reactions to Tiafoe’s milestone achievement:

CONGRATS Young King!!! You earned it! @FTiafoe 🙏🏾✊🏾🤎👑 https://t.co/QQ0Jn7Lotp

— LeBron James (@KingJames) September 5, 2022

YESSIR @FTiafoe!!!!!!! https://t.co/Iu6RCE2bo2

— Bradley Beal (@RealDealBeal23) September 5, 2022

LET'S GO. Congrats, @FTiafoe 🙌#DCFamily | @usopen https://t.co/4RWNkCCx8F

— Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) September 5, 2022

FRANCES TIAFOE!!!!!

— Joel Embiid (@JoelEmbiid) September 5, 2022

Hell of match Tiafoe/Nadal #USOpen

— Charles Woodson (@CharlesWoodson) September 5, 2022

Let’s go Frances!!!! @usopen … one retires in @serenawilliams … a star emerges in Frances Tiafoe…

— Cari Champion (@CariChampion) September 5, 2022

LET’S GOOO!!@FTiafoe is headed to the Quarterfinals of the #USOpen 👏👏#TogetherDC https://t.co/xgJDxr0qcj

— Washington Mystics (@WashMystics) September 5, 2022

i loveeeeeee rafa but so happy for tiafoe 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

— Lexie Brown (@Lexiebrown) September 5, 2022

#RafaelNadal can’t even get to the quarters. Amazing moment for #Tiafoe #USOpen

— Adnan Virk (@adnansvirk) September 5, 2022

Nick Kygrios & Frances Tiafoe breaking through this year on huge stages is phenomenal for men's tennis.

They've had the talent to compete at the top of the sport for years just couldn't put it together.

Forget the "Next Gen," tennis needs stars & characters. NK & FT are both.

— Tyler Byrum (@theTylerByrum) September 5, 2022

All the feels 🙌

Frances Tiafoe lost to Nadal in the @AustralianOpen 2019 QFs and just defeated him to reach his second Grand Slam QFs.@FTiafoe | @usopen | #USOpen pic.twitter.com/wRZGT9CAFK

— ATP Tour (@atptour) September 5, 2022

GO FO GO‼️

Stick taps to MD native @FTiafoe on an EPIC victory today! https://t.co/GNqZkn1puv

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) September 6, 2022