Luxembourg's Gilles Muller celebrates after scoring against Spain's Rafael Nadal during their men's singles fourth round match of the 2017 Wimbledon Championships in London yesterday. Muller won 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 15-13.
London: Rafael Nadal suffered fresh Wimbledon misery yesterday as the two-time champion crashed to a stunning 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 15-13 fourth round defeat against Luxembourg's Gilles Muller.
Just weeks after winning his 10th French Open title, Nadal was condemned to his fifth exit before the quarter-finals in his last five visits to Wimbledon.
The 31-year-old Spaniard, finally worn down by Muller after four hours and 48 minutes on Court One, hasn't won Wimbledon since 2010 and last made the quarter-finals in 2011.
Defending champion Andy Murray reached a 10th successive Wimbledon quarter-final yesterday.
Top seed Murray eased to a 7-6 (7/1), 6-4, 6-4 win over France's Benoit Paire, who was trying to make the last eight for the first time at a tournament he once described as greatly "displeasing" him.
World number one Murray will face Sam Querrey, who he leads 7-1 in career meetings, for a place in the semi-finals.
"I thought I played well. Maybe a couple of sloppy service games in the first set but that was by far the best I'd hit the ball so far in the tournament. So I'm really pleased with that," said Murray.
Only Roger Federer and Jimmy Connors (11 each) have reached more consecutive Wimbledon quarter-finals than Murray.
"Two weeks ago I was resting, I was also a little bit concerned. When you're having issues a few days before a big event, it's frustrating," said Murray who has now made the last-eight in 24 of his last 26 appearances at the majors.
"I've managed it well and I think I've played some good stuff. That was the best I've played so far in the tournament. I'm doing well so hopefully I keep it up," he said.
Roger Federer reached his 50th Grand Slam quarter-final and 15th at Wimbledon with a 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 win over Grigor Dimitrov.
Seven-time Wimbledon champion Federer will face either Canada's Milos Raonic, the sixth seed, or German 10th seed Alexander Zverev for a place in the semi-finals.
Raonic defeated Federer in the semi-finals at Wimbledon in 2016.
Federer, 35, is also the second oldest man to make the quarter-finals at Wimbledon behind Ken Rosewall who was 39 when he reached the last-eight in 1971.
"I'm thrilled to be back in the quarters again," said Federer who took his record over Dimitrov to 6-0.
"It's very special to be in a 15th quarter-final here."
Querrey, the US 24th seed who knocked out Novak Djokovic in 2016, made the quarter-finals for a second successive year with a 5-7, 7-6 (7/5), 6-3, 6-7 (13/11), 6-3 over unseeded Kevin Anderson of South Africa.
