Rafael Nadal US Open prep cut short after ‘kind of crazy’ Borna Coric loss

Rafael Nadal has taken a hit to his US Open preparations after falling at the first hurdle in the Cincinnati Open. 

The 22-time Slam champion was making his first appearance at the Ohio event since 2017, but that return did not go to plan as he lost 7-6 (11-9), 4-6, 6-3 to former world number 12 Borna Coric.

The Croatian, 25, has been on a long road to recovery from shoulder surgery and used his protected ranking to enter Cincinnati whilst sat at 152nd in the world.

“It has been very, very special,” Coric said in his post-match interview. “I was out for the last two years and I didn’t play on the big stage in front of the crowd and everybody. I was honestly just looking forward to playing this match as I haven’t had that in the last two years. Now that I won, it’s kind of crazy.”

While the circumstances of the win may seem crazy to Coric, his record against Nadal suggests otherwise.

The pair have now met five times on tour, with Coric pulling ahead 3-2 in their head-to-head after this match.

He will take on another Spaniard in Roberto Bautista Agut next for a place in the quarter-finals.

There is just one more ATP event after Cincinnati before the US Open, in Winston-Salem, and with Nadal not entered there as things stand he will go into New York with just one match played in seven weeks since Wimbledon.

Moreover, the loss for Nadal means Daniil Medvedev is secure in his status as world number one until at least the end of the US Open.

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