LONDON – Rafael Nadal suffered fresh Wimbledon misery on Monday as the two-time champion crashed to a stunning 6-3 6-4 3-6 4-6 15-13 fourth-round defeat against Luxembourg’s Gilles Muller.
Just weeks after winning his 10th French Open title, Nadal was condemned to his fifth exit before the quarter-finals in his last five visits to Wimbledon.
The 31-year-old Spaniard, finally worn down by Muller after four hours and 48 minutes on Court One, hasn’t won Wimbledon since 2010, and last made the quarter-finals in 2011.
“Tired,” was 34-year-old Muller’s response after the thrilling encounter, which had the knock-on effect of pushing Novak Djokovic’s last-16 match against Adrian Mannarino back to Tuesday.
World No 2 Nadal converted just two of 16 break points, while Muller fired 30 aces and 95 winners. Muller, seeded 16th, will make his first Wimbledon quarter-final appearance against former US Open champion Marin Cilic.
In a pulsating final set, which stretched to 95 minutes, Nadal saved two match points in 10th game and two more in the 20th. In between, Muller had to fight off a break point in the 13th game and four more in the 19th.
Amidst relentless tension, even a mundane women’s scarf played a part when it was used to block out the evening sunlight reflecting off the stands into Nadal’s eyes.
"It's the win of his life"
- Gilles Muller celebrates a truly stunning result... #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/kXwY8mEsrU
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 10, 2017
Nadal was always chasing the score, and he finally cracked in the 18th game of the decider when he went long with a return.
“It was a long match. I did really well in the first two sets, then Rafa stepped it up and in the end, it was just a big battle. I had match points and didn’t make them, so it was getting really tough,” said Muller after a second career win over Nadal, 12 years after his first, which also came at Wimbledon.
“I was kind of feeling that it was going to be over pretty soon. I said ‘Just give it a shot, go 100 percent’, and a great feeling to be winning that match. I didn’t feel like was playing bad in the third and fourth sets. I just told myself ‘Keep it up and if it’s not happening, he’s just too good’.
“I started serving a bit better and then at the end, it’s just a matter of a few points here and there. It’s tough to say exactly what made the difference.
Rafael Nadal congratulates Gilles Muller on his epic victory. Photo: Tim Ireland, AP
“I haven’t really realised what just happened. It’s a great feeling. I was worried it was going to be over pretty soon. I was already thinking about coming back the next day and finishing the match. I’m just glad it’s over and I’m in the quarter-finals.”
Muller was watched by a VIP fan in the shape of Prince Felix of Luxembourg, second in line to the country’s throne. “I heard he was going to come. We know each other. He’s a big tennis fan. The whole family likes tennis,” said Muller.