Frances Tiafoe achieved a series of career firsts at the Australian Open.
Tiafoe topped a Top-5 seed at a major for the first time toppling Kevin Anderson, posted his first career five-set win over Andreas Seppi and reached his first Grand Slam quarterfinal.
Watch: Ruthless Nadal Rolls Into 30th Slam Semifinal
Tiafoe's first impression of Rafael Nadal will last forever: Crazy intensity.
"It was tough. It was tough definitely," Tiafoe said after Nadal dispensed a straight-sets thrashing to charge into his 30th Grand Slam semifinal. "I mean, he's a hell of a player, man. Yeah, I mean, his ball is kicking up like crazy.
"Court was really slow. Yeah, it was just tough to really hit the room. I felt like I was hitting a lot of balls long early. Probably overplaying. I got in a decent rhythm there for a hot sec, but he's just tough and he's played on that court, so he's more comfortable than me."
The 17-time Grand Slam champion broke in the opening game of every set extending his Grand Slam winning streak against Americans to 21 matches. Nadal has not lost to an American opponent in a Slam since bowing to James Blake in the third round at the 2005 US Open.
While Tiafoe was aware of the Spanish left-hander's famed twisting topspin forehand, the experience of facing that shot was much more profound.
Tiafoe said the two biggest lessons he learned from facing the world No. 2: his intensity was unmatched and any short ball to the Spaniard's forehand "was going to be barbecued chicken."
"I knew what he was going to bring to the table," Tiafoe said. "I knew he was going to bring crazy intensity, I knew the ball was going to be jumping. I knew if he got hold of a forehand, it was going to be barbecued chicken. But point in, point out, I've never seen someone so locked in.
"I think that's what I take from him. I think that's what I've been able to put in my game a little bit, playing a little more less loose points. Still not as tight as him. That's what you saw in certain situations today."
The 39th-ranked Tiafoe, who fell to Juan Martin del Potro in the 2018 Australian Open first round, will rise to a career-high ranking after the tournament.
Photo credit: Mark Peterson/Corleve