The loss ends a thrilling run from Pouille, who defeated 14-time grand slam victor Rafael Nadal to get to the last eight in a grand slam for the second time.
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In the US Open’s best match so far, Rafael Nadal was beaten by 24th-seeded Lucas Pouille of France 6-1, 2-6, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (6) in a four-hour match ending on Sunday evening in NY.
But that changed against 22-year-old Frenchman Pouille, who took a dramatic fourth-round match 6-1 2-6 6-4 3-6 7-6 (8-6) at Flushing Meadows.
Caroline Wozniacki, of Denmark, returns a shot to Madison Keys, of the United States, during the fourth round of the U.S. Open tennis tournament, Sunday, Sept. 4, 2016, in NY.
Monfils, who is yet to drop a set in Flushing Meadows, will face the victor of the match between Novak Djokovic and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
It marks just the second time Monfils has reached the last four at a grand slam, and first since the 2008 French Open.
Pouille came out firing, pushing Nadal back with an array of deep groundstrokes and angled shots.
Fifty-two winners from Nadal whose attacking response saw him come out a victor on 35 of 48 forays to the net werent enough.
“I played four matches, one in four sets, and then all three in five”, he said.
Nadal had all of the momentum but at 6-6, he dumped a routine forehand into the net to give Pouille a fourth opening and this time, he would take his chance with a crushing forehand victor into the corner to secure the biggest win of his career in front of a captivated crowd on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
“Is true that I don’t have lot of matches on my shoulders for the last three, four months, but even like this I lost an opportunity”, Nadal said. “I’m stronger than before”, said Pouille explaining his success.
I needed something more – it was not there today.
Monfils said: ‘I’m happy with my performance.
Nadal had also won at least one grand slam title every year between 2005 and 2014, but has not reached a major final since the 2014 French Open. It’s OK. I did my best today. The opponent played a good point in the match point, and that’s it.
Nadal said that although the grand slam season is over, he still has goals. I just congratulate the opponent that probably he played with better decisions than me the last couple of points. I put myself in a position to have the victor and I had the mistake.
Earlier, two-time US Open finalist Caroline Wozniacki beat eighth-seeded American Madison Keys 6-3 6-4, Anastasija Sevastova defeated Johanna Konta 6-4 7-5 and Roberta Vinci won against Lesia Tsurenko 7-6 6-2.
Monfils broke within moments of their return to go two sets ahead, before swiftly running into a 3-1 lead in the third – Pouille’s steam had long since run out.
Djokovic was given a walkover in the second round and only had to play six games in the third before Mikhail Youzhny retired, but the world number one showed he is better for the extra rest in a comfortable victory.
Lucas Pouille, who is ranked number 25 in the world, will meet fellow countryman Gael Mofils in the quarter-final. “I got a lot of days off and recovered my body”, Djokovic said.
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DISBELIEF: Frenchman Lucas Pouille celebrates his stunning win over Rafa Nadal in a five-set classic on Sunday.
