Rafa Nadal, the 14-time Grand Slam champion, lost his R16 match to a 22 year old Frenchman Lucas Pouille after going down in the final set tiebreak. Pouille prevailed 6-1, 2-6, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (6) to hand the Spaniard another early major exit. Rafa won his last GS at Paris in 2014 and since then has been struggling to be in contention for the game’s biggest silverwares.
“There were things I could do better. Had the right attitude. I (fought) right up to the last ball,” said Nadal. “I can play better. I can play worse. The only thing that cannot be bad is the attitude. Today the attitude was great. That’s it.”
It was the longest match of the tournament with both players ending with the same number of points won. Obviously, a major exit like this was bound to keep the world awake and draw strong reactions across the globe.
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Here’s how the twitter reacted after watching their hero bow out
Wow!! This match is unbelievable!! 6 all in the 5th and 6 all in the tiebreaker! #pouille #nadal amazing level of play
— Caroline Wozniacki (@CaroWozniacki) September 4, 2016
Five sets.
Four hours.
One winner.Lucas Pouille beats Rafa Nadal 6-1 2-6 6-4 3-6 7-6. #USOpen pic.twitter.com/NIobg5KscI
— BBC Tennis (@bbctennis) September 4, 2016
Always tough to c @RafaelNadal lose, such a warrior…but tremendous match for @la_pouille who held his nerve so well…
— Chris Evert (@ChrissieEvert) September 4, 2016
But a big congratulations to @RafaelNadal on a fantastic effort. A tough loss but great to see you working hard to get back to top form
— Pat Cash (@TheRealPatCash) September 4, 2016
A dumb reporter just asked @RafaelNadal if he has trouble dealing with pressure!? The best claycourt player of all time & one of the GOATS.
— Michael Russell (@MRusselltennis) September 5, 2016
https://twitter.com/RafaNadalFANS/status/772578343350890496
This is the 1st year since 2004 Rafael Nadal has not reached the quarterfinal at a Grand Slam in a calendar year. pic.twitter.com/j48TSJQxt4
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 4, 2016
Papa Nadal thinking "I've earned every one of these gray hairs"
— Nadal News (@nadalnews) September 4, 2016
Not wrong to ask Nadal about pressure. Some champs have said pressure increases with age (time running out). Nadal answered great. The end.
— Tom Perrotta (@TomPerrotta) September 5, 2016
https://twitter.com/ESPNTennis/status/772600851332468736
Pouille (which funnily enough translates roughly to "brass ones" in French) d. nadal 7-6 in the fifth. Wow. #USOpen2016
— Jon Wertheim (@jon_wertheim) September 4, 2016
Rafael #Nadal says the attitude was there but the serve wasn't in a @usopen 4R defeat. Read: https://t.co/CQBk3XhMdq pic.twitter.com/ZcaZmUwflY
— ATP Tour (@atptour) September 5, 2016
Going to sleep at 5 am broken & stressed.
Being a #Nadal fan, that's what i've been reduced to for last 3years. End of an era surely— Sayan (@Tweets_by_Sayan) September 4, 2016
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