NADAL’S 20-20 VISION

MATTHEW FITZPATRICK made an eagle on his final hole to sit just one shot back heading into the final round of the Scandinavian Invitation.

The Englishman (above) started round three in Gothenburg with a two-shot lead and looked in control before he dropped three shots in as many holes from the 14th.

He was leapfrogged by Erik van Rooyen – who birdied five of his last six holes in a 64 that left him 13 under – and trailed by three as he stood on the 18th tee.

But he holed a long putt from off the green to get back within one of the South African leader.

“When I hit it (the putt on 18), I thought it was a good pace to have a chance distance wise and it got about three quarters of the way and was on line and I thought, ‘This has got a really good chance’,” he told europeantour.com. RAFA NADAL will launch his bid to close in on Roger Federer’s record of 20 Grand Slam titles when the US Open starts tomorrow.

Spaniard Nadal (above), who won his 18th major at the French Open in June, was outplayed by Federer in their Wimbledon semi-final.

But the world No.2 won the Canadian Open earlier this month to raise his hopes in New York, although Novak Djokovic starts as favourite.

With Andy Murray sitting out, Dan Evans, Kyle Edmund and Cameron Norrie will fly the flag for Britain.

British No.1 Johanna Konta joins Harriet Dart in the women’s main draw. ASTANA won the opening stage one time trial of the Vuelta a Espana as they put GC contender Miguel Angel Lopez (below) in the leader’s jersey.

Jumbo-visma were expected to challenge but the majority of their roster came off their bikes after hitting water as they sped through a corner and had shed 40 seconds by the time they crossed the line. M Movistar ended up 16 s seconds behind Astana, giving Lopez an advantage over Nairo Quintana, with In Ineos finishing in 11th.