Rafael Nadal had his right knee taped up When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they'll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time. Sign up forfor news on the biggest players and tournaments Nadal lost the first set 7-5 and during the changeover between sets, a trainer put strapping around his knee. The Spanish star bounced back to win the second set 7-5 and before the third set, he received additional strapping to his knee. Nadal's coach Carlos Moya was in the stands watching and French tennis journalist Carole Bouchard quotes him as saying: "Rafa's knee felt sore but nothing to worry about. "Sometimes he feels it more than other but he deals with it really well so that's not an excuse."<doc-sep>When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they'll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time. Sign up forfor news on the biggest players and tournaments At the end of the first set of Nadal's match against Karen Khachanov, the Spaniard had tape applied to his right knee. Then at the end of the second set, more tape was applied by the trainer. After the match, Nadal calmed fears of a serious issue. He said: "Just something that I felt, but I try always during the tournaments don't speak much about these kind of things.<doc-sep>When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they'll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time. Sign up forfor news on the biggest players and tournaments Nadal had to bandage up his right knee after falling to a first-set defeat against the 27th seed. Nadal is expected to at least reach the final after being drawn in the opposite half of the competition to Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic. But the Spaniard is in serious danger of crashing out of the tournament this evening as his movement appears serious affected by the knee problem. The pair traded blow-for-blow in the early exchanges as Khachanov broke in the third game before Nadal struck back in the eighth with his first opportunity.<doc-sep>Nadal came through (Picture: AP) Rafael Nadal was forced to dig deep against little fancied Nikoloz Basilashvili on Sunday afternoon as he booked his spot in the quarter-finals of the US Open. The world No. 1’s fitness was under the microscope after he required medical attention during his epic third-round clash with Russian hotshot Karen Khachanov on Friday – a match where he had his right knee strapped up on court. There was no sign of the tape as he emerged to face his Georgian opponent but he will no doubt be frustrated at being forced into a fourth set, as Basilashvili raised his level dramatically from the third onwards. Few would have expected Nadal to lose this one and the result never really felt in doubt during a 6-3 6-3 6-7 (6-8) 6-4 win, but avoiding further damage to his problematic knee felt essential in order to keep his hopes of defending a hard court title for the first time alive. Basilashvili was beaten (Picture: AFP/Getty) That’s not to say the extra time on court will certainly make the difference between him winning an 18th major or not, but Nadal will no doubt feel this match could have been a lot shorter. The top seed will go on to meet Dominic Thiem in the next round – in a rematch of the French Open final – with the Austrian beating Kevin Anderson earlier on Sunday. After his 7-5 6-2 7-6 (7-2) win over the South African, Thiem will contest a first Grand Slam quarter-final outside of Roland Garros – and will look to truly test the condition of Nadal’s body. By the fourth game, Basilashvili had already bettered his previous best effort of games won against Nadal with two service holds and looked far more equipped to provide a challenge than his 6-0 6-1 6-0 defeat at Roland Garros in 2017. Despite the Georgian’s stark improvement, it was rather inevitable that Nadal would break and he soon wrapped up the first set. Thiem awaits Nadal (Picture: AP) Disaster struck for the 26-year-old as he was broken at the start of the second set and the match already seemed beyond him. Basilashvili managed to make a dent in the Nadal serve as the third began, with the Spaniard’s movement looking a little laboured, but he was immediately pegged back. However, his level didn’t drop and he pushed the 32-year-old all the way. The Georgian was rewarded for his tenacity in the breaker and he forced Nadal into a fourth set – one he no doubt wishes he didn’t have to play. Fresh off the high of taking a set off the world No. 1, Basilashvili was brought crashing back down to earth as Nadal broke at the start of the fourth. Though the Georgian snatched it back to level for 3-3, Nadal broke again with a trademark running forehand and held on to unconvincingly reach the quarter-finals.<doc-sep>
Nadal provided an update (Picture: Getty) Rafael Nadal was reluctant to go into details over the knee problem that caused him grief during his US Open second-round win against Karen Khachanov, but expressed his belief he will be at ‘100%’ for his meeting with Nikoloz Basilashvili on Sunday. The Spaniard was a game away from falling two sets behind against the 22-year-old Russian, but fought back in style to advance to the last-16. Though his fighting spirit was never in doubt, the sight of the trainer coming on court to tape up his knee after the first set was concerning, particularly considering he still has to come through four best-of-five set matches in order to defend his title. Nadal’s knee required tape (Picture: Getty) But while Nadal wouldn’t give too much away on the situation, he ended his analysis of his physical struggles on a positive note. ‘Just something that I felt, but I try always during the tournaments don’t speak much about these kind of things,’ he said after his 5-7 7-5 7-6 7-6 win. ‘When the tournament is over is better and easier to talk. ‘But my personal feeling is I going to be at my 100% for the next one.’ Nadal was impressed by his opponent during their encounter and tipped him for a ‘great future’ in the sport. ‘Yeah, have been tough one,’ he added. ‘I went through some very difficult situations. Nadal was impressed by Khachanov (Picture: Anadolu Agency/Getty) ‘But, yes, he played well. He’s improving always. He’s young. He has everything. He’s a great player. I really see him winning a lot of matches in his tennis career, no? He has a lot of good things. He has a great future to come. ‘Yeah, for me personally, of course, it was a physical, demanding match. It was a mentally demanding match. That’s why we practice every day, to play these kind of matches in a great atmosphere in front of an amazing crowd. ‘Yeah, very happy to be through. Very happy to have the chance to play again.’