Rafael Nadal is finally feeling his oats in Flushing, his hair shorter, his U.S. Open longer.
Even a fan rushing out of the stands and at him following Nadal’s big, late-night victory Tuesday over Gael Monfils in the fourth round didn’t fluster the Spaniard.
The fan was treated harshly by U.S. Open security as he was whisked from the grounds, but Nadal couldn’t care less. The fan took his picture and hugged Nadal.
“The guy was really nice,” Nadal said. “He was a great fan. He said he loved me and kissed me.”
Asked if he said it in Spanish, Nadal quipped, “No, in English but I understand that.”
Things are looking on the up for Nadal, whose Slam season was rocked with his shocking early-round French Open loss, his withdrawal from Wimbledon with knee tendinitis and a late entrance onto the summer hardcourt scene.
Maybe he should always take Wimbledon off. Even with an abdominal strain that forces his stomach to be taped, he’s looking like he’s ready to get to the second Sunday of the Open for the first time.
“The knees are perfect; that’s very important for me,” said Nadal, whose best Open showing was last year’s semifinals when he lost to Andy Murray. “Gives me a lot of confidence.”
It is incredible with all the plaudits the Spanish lefty gets from an adoring public and media, he never has been to a U.S. Open Final. But with Murray’s stunning fourth-round ouster, Nadal’s draw is as serene as the pristine Mallorca resort town he was raised.
Today, he faces No. 11 Chilean Fernando Gonzalez in the quarterfinals. If he wins, the semifinals becomes much more winnable without Murray, last year’s Open Finalist who had the tour’s best summer. Nadal would face the winner of the Marin Cilic-Juan Martin del Porto quarterfinal.
Nadal seems surprised he’s even in the quarters. “It is really good comeback to be in the quarters, no?” said Nadal, showing the low expectations he had coming into Flushing. “The rest of the tournament I know will be difficult.”
Gonzalez, of Chile, won a fourth-round baseline war with Jo Wilfried Tsonga Tuesday that featured Gonzalez nearly going into the stands to retrieve a shot. “He played unbelievable all match,” Nadal said. “Unbelievable forehand.”
Tragically, Nadal and Roger Federer, who played last night against Robin Soderling, never have met at the Open, in any round.
Now, finally, may be the time for Flushing to make tennis’ rivalry complete.