Wimbledon results 2017: Rafael Nadal loses 5-set marathon against Gilles Muller

Rafael Nadal is out of Wimbledon, the biggest Grand Slam of the year. Nadal was pushed to five sets and ultimately fell to Gilles Muller in the Round of 16 on Monday, 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 15-13.

There is no fifth-set tiebreak at Wimbledon, and the match took a total of four hours and 47 minutes to complete. Muller now advances to the quarterfinals, where he’ll take on Marin Cilic.

Nadal got out to a slow start in the match, with Muller hitting 13 winners to Nadal’s seven in the first set. Interestingly, Nadal had no unforced errors, and won a comparable number of receiving points, but Muller still managed to take the set at 6-3.

In the second set, Nadal again had fewer errors and slightly fewer winners. He missed both of his break-point opportunities, while Muller converted on his only one, giving him the 6-4 set win. In that set, Muller also hit six aces, though Nadal was better at the net and served better overall.

Muller stepped up the unforced errors in the third, hitting seven of them, while Nadal won 31 points to Muller’s 20. Nadal won 82 percent of his first serves en route to the third set win. Muller didn’t sniff a break in that set, which went to Nadal, 6-3.

In the fourth, Nadal won a staggering 15 of 16 first-serve points, a percentage of 94. He also won 71 percent of his second serves, and hit 15 winners. It was a closer set than the third though, with Muller also hitting 14 winners. Nadal only managed to convert on one of six break-point attempts, but it was enough to give him the set.

The fifth set, of course, was a marathon. Nadal came very close to winning it early with a couple break-point attempts, but Muller fought them off well. Muller threatened a break and a match in when he was up 7-6 on Nadal’s serve, but he was unsuccessful.

Nadal threatened multiple breaks when they were tied at 9-9 with Muller serving. A crucial challenge from Muller saved him from being broken, and shortly after, he held serve. On Nadal’s following serve, Muller got out to a 30-0 lead and then had a match-point opportunity at 40-30. Nadal fought it off and they got to deuce. Muller had another opportunity, and lost it. Nadal wound up holding serve to bring it to 10-10, winning with a beautiful forehand volley.

At 14-13, Muller had multiple break-point opportunities, and his fifth match-point opportunity of the match. He got it, after a grueling matchup.

Nadal had looked great at Wimbledon thus far, a welcome sight on the heels of his 10th title at the French Open earlier in the year. Injuries have become a big factor for Nadal in recent years, but his win on the clay of Roland Garros did a lot for his confidence.

He was favored to beat Muller, but he came up short on Monday. Nadal was considered one of the favorites to win, though many had him behind Roger Federer, Andy Murray, and Novak Djokovic, though at the time of writing only Murray has punched his ticket to the quarterfinals.

Muller will face Cilic on Wednesday. Cilic bested Roberto Bautista Agut in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2, 6-2, in his Round of 16 match. Murray took down the unseeded Benoit Paire, 7-6(1), 6-4, 6-4, in his match on Monday. Murray will face American Sam Querrey, the 24th seed, in the quarterfinals.