Against Tsonga he mustered only five aces and was broken six times by the 2008 Australian Open runner-up, who has reached at least the semi-finals of every Grand Slam except this one. Pouille and Monfils will play each other for a place in the semifinals. Pete Sampras was also 31 when he won his 14th and final major at the 2002 US Open.
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Simona Halep of Romania reacts after defeating Carla Suarez Navarro of Spain in New York City Monday.
While Nadal failed to execute on countless occasions on Sunday, and his serve continues to be a problem in tight moments, from a purely strategic standpoint Nadal played a smart match.
No man ranked as low as del Potro has ever made the final of a major.
Halep, who reached the semifinals at Flushing Meadows a year ago, edged ahead in her rivalry with Suarez Navarro, now leading their head-to-head series 6-5. Nadal won the US Open in 2010 and 2013, and has a total of 14 grand slam titles. “The opponent played a good point on match point, and that’s it”.
And then, more than 4 hours into the toughest test he’s put his left wrist through since returning from injury, Nadal faltered. Nadal knew what he’d done and covered his eyes with both hands. One point later, the match was over. I couldn’t dream better than this.I learned that it’s never over until the last point.I was a break down in the fifth, I came back and led 6-3 in the tiebreak and he came back. Had the right attitude. “To see that after a long career, all the success he has, it was great to see this”, Pouille said.
Pouille said: ‘It’s my first match on the centre court here against Rafa.
After winning back-to-back five-setters in the second and third rounds at Flushing Meadows, he was ready to go the distance against Nadal. He has been suffering from his injuries, which is the reason why he skipped out on this year’s French Open and Wimbledon.
Although he remains in search of his first ATP tour title-he reached his first final at Bucharest this year-Pouille is up from 78th in the world at the end of 2015 and knocking on the door of the top 20.
Lucas Pouille, of France, produced the biggest upset of the US Open so far when he battled back from trailing in the fifth set to beat Rafael Nadal, the two-times champion.
Edmund looked thoroughly out-classed until he managed to put together a run of three straight games in the third set that included two breaks of Djokovic’s serve. But Pouille broke to 4-all.
Pouille defeated Nadal in an epic five set battle 6-1, 2-6, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (6).
Then he smacked a forehand into the net to give Pouille one more chance and the French player pounced on it with a blazing forehand that kissed the sideline. Anyone’s match to win.
“He’s young. He’s a player that has all the shots”.
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“I was very aggressive all the match and at 6-6 (in the tiebreak) I didn’ t want to miss”, Pouille said after the match.
