WHAT HAPPENED: That Class of ’86 was some group, one that included a talented lefty from Mallorca named Rafael Nadal, Frenchman Richard Gasquet and his sweeping one-handed backhand, and his countryman, the freakishly athletic Gael Monfils, who in 2004 claimed three of the four boys’ Grand Slam singles titles.
Born within days of each other in June 1986, Nadal and Gasquet were reunited on Saturday night at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center for what would be their 18th career encounter. Not much has changed over the years. Nadal continues to have his former junior foe’s number, improving to a spotless 18-0 against Gasquet in career head-to-heads with a dominant 6-0, 6-1, 7-5 victory in the third round of the US Open.
Three of those wins have come here in Flushing Meadows. Nadal also cut the former world No. 7’s stay short in the opening round in 2009, and the semifinals in 2013. The Spaniard has now won 34 straight sets in their rivalry dating back to 2008.
“I always say that night sessions here in New York are the best in the world without a doubt,” said Nadal, who overcame eight double faults to advance. “I increased a little bit the level today. That’s important for me. When the tournament keeps going, I’m able to rise a little bit. I’m happy for that against a very good friend like Richard.”
The No. 2 seed Nadal surely wanted to avoid the kind of start he got off to against Italy’s Fabio Fognini in Round 2, an opening set he deemed among the very worst of his career. (He turned things around to win, 2-6, 6-4, 6-2, 6-1.) And that’s just how it would play out, as the record 22-time major titlist sprinted through the opener virtually untouched in just 42 minutes.
An hour and 10 minutes would pass before Gasquet managed to get on the board in the second set, down 1-3, but he couldn’t muster a single winner in the middle stanza.
Down two sets and a break, Gasquet brought the third back on serve at 2-all with a backhand volley winner, the crowd urging him on. But he was broken for the seventh time serving at 5-all, Nadal subsequently closing out the match in two hours and 16 minutes.
The No. 2 seed Nadal is now a perfect 22-0 in Grand Slam play this season with titles at the Australian Open and Roland Garros, his lone setback a semifinal pull-out at Wimbledon due to an abdominal tear, an injury that cost him a shot at the Grand Slam.
Nadal seeks his fifth US Open title, which would bring him level with Jimmy Connors, Roger Federer and Pete Sampras for the most in the Open Era.
WHAT IT MEANS: Nadal sets up an intriguing Round-of-16 clash with Frances Tiafoe, who downed Argentina's Diego Schwartzman 7-6(7), 6-4, 6-4 earlier in the day. The Spaniard holds a 2-0 edge over the American, though they haven’t faced each other since 2019.
“I'm defnitely a different player from 2019, playing much better,” said Tiafoe. “Match his intensity from the first point to the last. You can't really have any dips. He takes advantage of it. How good his forehand is, right? Once he gets ahold of his forehand, it's tough to get him out of that pattern. I'm just going to have to be really aggressive and try to make him play to me, not me play to him.”
MATCH POINT: Along with Daniil Medvedev, Carlos Alcaraz and Casper Ruud, Nadal is one of four players who can secure No. 1 in the ATP rankings on Sept. 12.
