Tennis fans think Roger Federer is the reason Rafael Nadal lost Grand Slam match

Tennis fans believe Roger Federer inadvertently caused Rafael Nadal’s disappointing exit from the US Open in 2022. The Spaniard was beaten by Frances Tiafoe in the last-16 of the tournament, losing relatively comfortably in four sets.

It has emerged that Federer informed Nadal of his impending retirement around that date. According to Vogue, the Swiss told his arch-rival that he was going to retire 10 days before he announced his decision to the world on September 15.

Tennis fan @S_RF_CA posted on X: “Oh my f****** god, Federer told Nadal he will retire 10 days earlier than the others. He announced his retirement on 15th Sep.”

“He told Nadal on 5th September. “Nadal lost to Tiafoe on 5th September. This cannot be real, this news broke Nadal,” they added alongside crying emojis.

Others have since pointed out that Federer has previously revealed that he called Nadal after the 22-time Grand Slam champion lost to Tiafoe. Federer told the Daily Show in the US that he invited Nadal to play doubles on the evening of September 5, where he likely revealed his plan to retire.

Nadal had struggled with injuries leading up to that year’s US Open and underwent a period of rehabilitation on an abdominal problem he suffered while playing at Wimbledon. While he was in New York, he learned that his pregnant wife had been hospitalised.

However, Nadal insisted that there were no excuses for his defeat against Tiafoe. “We can’t find excuses,” he said. He continued: “I have been practising well the week before, honestly. But then when the competition started, my level went down. That’s the truth.

“For some reason, I don’t know, mental issues in terms of a lot of things happened the last couple of months. Doesn’t matter.

“At the end the only thing that happened is we went to the fourth round of the U.S. Open and I faced a player that was better than me. And that’s why I am having a plane back home.”

There has been increasing speculation about Nadal’s own retirement plans over the last year. The 37-year-old has previously said that 2024 will be his final year on the tour.

However, he appeared to row back on that promise at the French Open. "In some way I don't want to close 100% the door," he said when asked if he was playing at Roland Garros for the final time.

"Physically I feel better, I am improving in different ways and I have less limitations than three or four weeks ago.”