World number 1. Rafael Nadal went into this match with a dominant 3-0 head-to-head against 59th ranked Leonardo Mayer. The Spaniard was hoping to position himself to progress to the quarter-finals for the first time since 2013.

Set 1

Rafa had a couple of slow starts in his two previous matches. This trend continued here, double faulting twice in his opening service game before steadying the ship to hold.

Mayer fought off four break points in the fourth game displaying his fighting spirit to the world number 1. Nadal continued his tried-and-tested tactic of peppering the one-handed backhand with loopy forehands.

The Argentine seemed to shrug off the pressure and stood toe-to-toe with the Spaniard throughout the set. With no breaks of serve, the set inevitably entered a tie-break.

Mayer raced to a convincing 4-2 lead in the breaker, backing up his play with his solid first serve. He then served out the breaker to take an impressive first set 7-6(7-3) in 63 minutes.

Set 2

Both men remained solid on serve to open up the second set. Then out of nowhere Mayer conjured two break points in the 4th game, his first of the match. Both were saved due to Mayer’s errors before Nadal went on to hold.

Nadal fist pumped and fired himself up after having his back against the ropes in an attempt to fight back. He almost did, having a break point on his opponents serve, but Mayer showed his metal in fighting to hold again.

Nadal was uncharacteristically furious with himself at his inability to break, audibly berating himself. Mayer was serving big under pressure, the set still on serve at 3-2, with Nadal going 0-9 on break points at that point.

Another battle ensued at 3-3 on Mayer’s serve. Having saved 12 break points in the match, Nadal finally broke the Argentine. Mayer was beginning to look visibly drained.

Nadal sealed the set 6-3 with a scorching forehand passing shot to break Mayer again.

Set 3

Rafa rode the wave of momentum into the start of the third set, breaking his opponent and holding to lead 3-0. Mayer was diminishing under the new Arthur Ashe Stadium roof but Nadal was thriving.

Mayer stopped the rot of games against him at seven, holding for 1-3. However Mayer succumbed to a further break to fall behind 5-1 before Nadal served the set out 6-1 in 27 minutes.

Set 4

The Spaniard began the fourth as he meant to go on, dictating play with his ferocious forehand. He created a break point with an epic running forehand pass reminiscent of the one he struck against Wawrinka in the French Open final.

Nadal sealed the break, Mayer’s racket beginning to leak errors more consistently. Nadal broke again at 4-2 but was broken himself when serving for the match at 5-2.

Mayer then held to force Rafa to try and serve out the match again which he did 6-7, 6-3, 6-1, 6-4 in 3 hours 15 minutes.

With Roger Federer struggling, Nadal will be hoping to continue his form to another Grand Slam Final in New York. The Spaniard goes on to face Alexander Dolgopolov in the 4th round on Monday.

Will Nadal continue his good form to find himself in a dream semi-final against Federer should the Swiss get there? Have your say in the comments section below. Be sure to follow us on www.tennis-pulse.com for complete coverage of the 2017 US Open.