Young Frenchman Lucas Pouille scored a stunning five-set upset over 14-times grand slam singles winner Rafa Nadal to reach the U.S. Open quarter-finals.
Rafa Nadal in action at the 2016 US Open. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Displaying poise beyond his years, the 22-year-old Pouille took charge early and led two sets to one, then rebounded after sagging in the fourth set to win 8-6 in the fifth set tie-breaker in just over four hours.
Fourth seed Nadal has struggled with injuries this year but did return to make the semi-finals at the Rio Olympics.
Playing in his third consecutive five-set match, 24th seed Pouille, still looking for his first ATP Tour title, showed that his quarter-final advance earlier this season at Wimbledon was no fluke.
"I couldn't dream better than this," he said in an on-court interview after falling flat on his back in celebration after his forehand winner ended the marathon on his fourth match point.
Pouille hadn't won at Flushing Meadows until this year.
French tennis player Lucas Pouille playing at the 2015 Heineken Open in Auckland. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
He will play 10th-seeded compatriot Gael Monfils in the last eight.
Monfils advanced with a 6-3 6-2 6-3 victory winner against unseeded Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus, and has yet to lose a set in the tournament.
A third Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga is also into the quarter-finals.
Pouille made the semi-finals of the 2015 Heineken Open in Auckland.
-Reuters and RNZ
