Rafael Nadal admitted he played his best match of the ongoing US Open in the third round of the tournament against France’s Richard Gasquet. The veteran Spaniard won by 6-0, 6-1, 7-5 at the Arthur Ashe Stadium on Saturday as he brought his best to the court.

In fact, Nadal didn’t make a great start as he lost the first three points on his serve in the first game of the match. However, the 36-year-old bounced back strongly and bageled Gasquet in the first set as he completely dominated the set.

Nadal continued his supremacy in the second set winning it convincingly by 6-1. The veteran was challenged a bit in the third set and had to save a couple of break points and but in the end, won it by 7-5 to clinch the game.

“My best match in the tournament… Easy to say that because the other day was tough. But, yeah, important improvement. But I need to keep going. It’s a good victory for me. Straight sets for the first time. Third set [was] a challenge. He increased the level,” Nadal said.

“I went through some difficult moments. That’s something that is good, that I went through that and [was] safe [in those] moments with positive feelings. Happy to be in the fourth round, without a doubt.”

This was Nadal’s 18th consecutive win against Richard Gasquet and he has won the last 34 sets against the Frenchman.

Nadal is slowly but surely achieving the winning momentum and he must be delighted to enter the second week of the New York Major.

Nadal will face Frances Tiafoe in the fourth round of the US Open 2022 and he will look to continue his good show against the American. The Spaniard has a 2-0 H2H record against Tiafoe.