Why Nadal Won’t Show Tiger Woods His Golf Swing

After wowing New York fans with a scintillating final two sets to reach the US Open quarter-finals, Rafael Nadal was equally entertaining in his on-court interview, which centered in large part on high-profile spectator Tiger Woods.

Asked by ESPN personality Tom Rinaldi if he and Woods had ever teed it up together, the three-time US Open champion quipped, “Honestly, it’s much better if Tiger doesn’t see my swing. Maybe he would lose a little bit of rhythm after that.” Truth be told, Nadal is a very accomplished (right-handed) golfer with a handicap in the low single digits.

Nadal, who defeated Marin Cilic 6-3, 3-6, 6-1, 6-2, heaped praise on Woods, who in the past has also attended the US Open to cheer on Roger Federer.

“It’s a huge honour to play in front of all of [New York fans] but to play in front of Tiger is a very special thing,” Nadal told Rinaldi, who produced arguably his finest on-court interview of the tournament to date. “I’ve always said that I don’t have idols, but if I did I would have to say that one idol is him.

“I always try to follow him, every single shot through the whole year. For me it’s a pleasure to have him here supporting me. It means a lot. He’s a big legend of sport, one of the greatest sportsmen of all time. I want to congratulate him for one of the most amazing comebacks of the sport ever when he won The Masters this year.”

Should New York fans finally get their wish to see Nadal and Federer meet for the first time at Flushing Meadows – which can only happen if both men reach the final – Woods is likely to again want to be courtside. Who he would support is less certain.

In the quarter-finals Nadal will meet Argentine Diego Schwartzman. In the top half of the draw, Federer will play Grigor Dimitrov in their quarter-final match Tuesday.