Rafael Nadal labels his five-set defeat by Gilles Muller a 'lost opportunity'
Tuesday 11 July 2017 13:12, UK
Rafael Nadal called his gruelling five-set defeat by Gilles Muller a "lost opportunity".
The two-time Wimbledon champion clearly had his eyes on a third title despite his recent early exits from the championships.
But Muller stunned the Spaniard, and a disbelieving Court One, by winning 15-13 in a marathon fifth set which lasted two and a quarter hours.
"I lost in the fourth round. That's not the result that I was expecting," said Nadal.
"It's true that I played some good matches, but at the same time it's true that I didn't want to lose that match. So is tough to analyse that in a positive way right now.
"I won matches. I played better than other years, true. At the same time I was ready for important things, so I lost an opportunity."
Muller, the 16th seed from Luxembourg, was the first player to beat a raw Nadal at Wimbledon back in 2005.
As well as completing a personal double, he added his name to those of Lukas Rosol, Steve Darcis, Nick Kyrgios and Dustin Brown in sending Nadal home early over the last six years.
The French Open champion had not dropped any of his last 28 sets in grand slams, but Muller took the first two off him.
Nadal drew on all his experience to draw level, only for the match to head into a marathon fifth set, full of tension and drama, that went all the way to a 28th game when Muller eked out a fifth match point.
Nadal put a forehand long and found himself heading for the exit, on the wrong end of a 6-3 6-4 3-6 4-6 15-13 scoreline.
Muller, who face Croatia's Marin Cilic in the quarter-finals, said: "I just tried to hang in there.
"Rafa stepped it up in the third and the fourth sets. Then I just told myself 'just hang in there and you're going to get your chances'.
"I got a few of them - I didn't take the first ones. But I still kept believing and somehow in the end I made it. It's definitely my biggest win, I would say."
For those on the move, we will have Wimbledon covered via our website skysports.com/tennis and then click through to our dedicated section skysports.com/tennis/wimbledon. On the move? Head to our app for mobile devices and iPad, or follow our Twitter account @SkySportsTennis to join in the conversation. Who will win the All England Club titles this summer? Have your say...
Sky customers can now upgrade to Sky Sports for an unmissable summer of sport. Upgrade now!
