Internet Desk: Spain’s tennis star Rafael Nadal lost an epic battle against Luxembourg’s 16th seed Muller which was his fifth exit before the quarter-finals in his last five visits to the All England Club. The match was lasted for more than five hours and the Spaniard lost the match by 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 15-13.
It was a huge blow for Nadal who was playing the tournament after winning a record-setting 10th French Open title and everybody thought that he could win a third Wimbledon title and a 16th major of his career.
Though Nadal was pretty confident of a good return next year in Wimbledon 2018.
“I never said I am not going to come back. I want to come back because I want to play more times in the Centre Court,” said Nadal.
Nadal feels he owes his fans a successful last hurrah at a tournament where he has also been runner-up on three occasions.
“Great feeling. Great atmosphere. I put everything on the court. I played with all my passion. The crowd normally appreciate that,” said the 2008 and 2010 champion.
“Sorry for the crowd that were supporting me.”
World number two Nadal converted just two of 16 break points, while Muller fired 30 aces and 95 winners.
Muller’s reward is a first Wimbledon quarter-final appearance against former US Open champion Marin Cilic.
Nadal was always chasing the score and he finally cracked in the 28th game of the decider when he went long with a return.
“I lost in the fourth round. That’s not the result that I was expecting,” added the Mallorcan who had reached the last- 16 without dropping a set.
“It’s true that I played some good matches, but the same time is true that I didn’t want to lose that match.
“So it is tough to analyse that in a positive way right now. I played better than other years, true. At the same time I was ready for important things, so I lost an opportunity.”