Rafael Nadal’s hopes of winning a third Wimbledon title and marking his remarkable renaissance are over for another year after an epic five-set defeat by 16th seed Gilles Muller of Luxembourg.
The final score reads 3-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 15-13 but that only tells half the story of this utterly compelling contest that contained every bit of entertainment in its four hours, 48 minutes. Spaniard Nadal, a 15-time Grand Slam champion, fought back from two sets down before Muller took a fifth match point to win 6-3 6-4 3-6 4-6 15-13.
It ended Nadal’s hopes of winning back-to-back French Open and Wimbledon titles for a joint-record third time.
Muller, 34, will play Croatia’s seventh seed Marin Cilic in the last eight.
“That was tough. In the last two match points I just said give it 100%. said Muller, who has reached his first Grand Slam quarter-final since the 2008 US Open.
For both players it was as much a test of resilience, concentration, and nerves as skill and while the romantic might mourn the loss of Nadal, Muller truly deserves this moment in the spotlight.
He was magnificent, keeping his resolve after Nadal fought back brilliantly from two sets down and then seeing out the contest at his fifth match point.
Even world number two Nadal’s trademark competitiveness could not see off Muller in a gripping match that lasted for four hours and 47 minutes.
Photo Credit: Getty
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