Lucas Pouille has grabbed the biggest win of his career after defeating fourth seed Rafael Nadal 6-1, 2-6, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(6), in a four-hour marathon at Flushing Meadows.
Pouille’s experience of playing in grand slam tournaments is a fraction of that of his opponent. This year’s US Open is his tenth appearance in a major tournament compared to Nadal’s 46th. Producing a stunning display at the start of the match with a series of world-class shots, it was Pouille who dictated play to seal the first set in under 30 minutes against a somewhat sluggish Nadal.
The momentum breakthrough for Nadal finally occurred at the start of the second set thanks to his faltering opponent. An error-stricken service game from Pouille enabled the world No.5 to break and gradually open up a 3-0 lead.
It was still an uphill battle for the Spaniard, who survived a marathon ten-minute service game by saving four match points. From that moment on, Nadal strolled to the second set, taking it following a double fault from the Frenchman.
Nadal’s positive second set display was soon tamed once again by a sublime Pouille, who started to read his opponents increasingly predictable game plan like a book. Hammering a forehand down the line, the 24 seed secured another break as he cautiously battled to the two-sets-to-one advantage, sealing the lead with the help of a Nadal error.
As chants of ‘Lucas, Lucas, Lucas’ erupted in the Arthur Ashe stadium, it did little to derail Nadal’s determination throughout a roller coaster fourth set with three successive breaks of service. Opportunities came and went for both players, but it was the fourth seed that seized the moment as he fired a forehand winner into the far corner of the net to force a decider.
It seemed as if the tiring Frenchman had blown his chance as he trailed 2-4 in the decider, but he once again staged a remarkable comeback to level proceedings and force a tiebreak. As nerves troubled both players, Pouille raced to three match points after hitting a blistering forehand winner. All three of those chances disappeared as Nadal once again responded in what seemed to be a never ending game of cat and mouse. The fourth match point was gifted to the 21-year-old after a Nadal error and this time he converted with his 59th winner.
.@la_pouille just claimed the biggest win of his career over #Nadal. Hear the official call 👂: https://t.co/E4Igbt0xpp
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) 4 September 2016
Grabbing the biggest ranking scalp in his career, a delighted Pouille has declared himself ‘the happiest man’ in the entire tournament.
“It was my first match on the centre court against Rafa and it couldn’t have been better than this.” Pouille said.
“I’m very happy and I am the most happiest (person) in this tournament.” he later added.
Awaiting Pouille in his second grand slam quarter-final will be compatriot Gael Monfils, who earlier defeated Marcos Baghdatis in straight sets.
