Rafael Nadal went down to Luxembourg’s Gilles Muller in an epic Wimbledon fourth round match on Monday. The two-time champion was beaten 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 15-13 – his fifth exit before the quarter-finals in his last five visits to Wimbledon.
“It was not my best match against a very uncomfortable opponent,” said Nadal, the 2008 and 2010 champion. “Well done to him. He played great, especially in the fifth set but I fought to the last ball.”
📹 Volleys, Drop shots, Lobs, Passes. The best moments from that epic match between Nadal & Muller!
— The Field (@thefield_in) July 11, 2017
Via: @Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/0EZoDUBNGC
The match lasted four hours and 48 minutes and was first watched with bated breath, then hailed across social media. The tweets came fast and flying as Nadal and Muller throw the kitchen sink and the rest at each other. The 34-year-old Muller was trending ahead of Nadal in India, as people praised his Zen-like calm.
Here’s the the match, described with the best tweets from the end of Manic Monday.
the Never In Doubt Quote of the Day
— Ricky Dimon (@Dimonator) July 10, 2017
Nadal: "I fighted until the last ball."
Nadal’s day started with a bit of a bump...
Mind your head, @RafaelNadal... #Wimbledon #ManicMonday pic.twitter.com/LBCIhwqyWz
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 10, 2017
And then moved on to a bumpy ride of a match
Another year, another aggressive big-hitter having his way with Nadal on grass before the #Wimbledon QFs. Gilles Muller up 6-3, 6-4.
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) July 10, 2017
Rafael Nadal's run of consecutive sets won ends at 28 as Gilles Muller takes the first set 6-3 on No 1 Court #Wimbledon
— Stuart Fraser (@stu_fraser) July 10, 2017
Gilles Muller is the first player to win a set against Rafael Nadal since Dominic Thiem in Rome M1000. Until today, Rafa won 28 in a row.
— Gaspar Ribeiro Lança (@gasparlanca) July 10, 2017
When the match just keeps on giving...
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) July 10, 2017
5th set madness continues in London:
😆😆
Nadal 13
Muller 13#USOpen pic.twitter.com/Eu1O6B08bB
Nadal has a limitless capacity to fight. He does not surrender. Just an absolute beast. #Wimbledon
— Gaurav Kalra (@gauravkalra75) July 10, 2017
Nadal, treating those two impostors just the same
— Christopher Clarey (@christophclarey) July 10, 2017
I tell you what. I would give a lot of credit to whoever hit with Gilles Muller yesterday at 11am for that epic win against Rafa... 😏
— Liam Broady (@Liambroady) July 10, 2017
Everyone was watching, with bated breath
Muller-Nadal is seriously high level right now. Both guys collected and producing amazing stuff. Get your 🍿
— Ryan Harrison (@ryanharrison92) July 10, 2017
If there was one guy to play a point for your life.....
— Jamie Murray (@jamie_murray) July 10, 2017
Orgullosos siempre de ti @RafaelNadal, gracias por hacernos disfrutar con tu tenis #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/8iSB2zSItc
— Iker Casillas (@IkerCasillas) July 10, 2017
What an incredible warrior #Nadal is. Wasn't enough today but fought until the end and never gave up. A pleasure to watch. #Wimbledon
— Pat Cash (@TheRealPatCash) July 10, 2017
This Nadal vs Muller match has been incredible. Wow.
— Kevin Love (@kevinlove) July 10, 2017
Some seen never before things happened
Give that man a 👏👏👏
— BBC Tennis (@bbctennis) July 10, 2017
After complaints from Rafa Nadal, this guard was up to the task of protection Rafa's eyes from the glare.#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/pMxsILfviE
And when the epic finally came to an end, it was a moment to remember
On 5th MP, [16] Gilles Muller beats @RafaelNadal 63 64 36 46 15-13 in 4:47. Muller's 1st #Wimbledon QF. Nadal out of race for No. 1 on 7/17.
— ATP Media Info (@ATPMediaInfo) July 10, 2017
Class in defeat.
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 10, 2017
After a titanic contest, Rafael Nadal waits to walk off court with opponent Gilles Muller#Wimbledon #ManicMonday pic.twitter.com/1URgEVS9sG
Gracious after defeat, waits for Muller & even signs autographs at the end. Class act by Nadal #Wimbledon 👏 https://t.co/nNkehCbvMT
— Ali (+_+) (@TvvitterGod1) July 10, 2017
And then there were the inevitable jokes about the very, very long match
When #Nadal and #Muller finally finish their match at #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/xaL0MgaCc6
— James Melville (@JamesMelville) July 10, 2017
When Muller started the match with Nadal he had a full head if hair
— Lord Sugar (@Lord_Sugar) July 10, 2017
The year is 2048. Old white people are still saying "How can it be offensive if black people use that word?" Nadal &Muller are still playing
— Nick Miller (@NickMiller79) July 10, 2017
#Nadal this woman was 13 when this match started #Wimbeldon2017 pic.twitter.com/jRSXfEonWP
— GavinM91 (@gavin_m91) July 10, 2017