Nadal stops in the fourth round of the US Open

The former world number one lost to Lucas Pouille in five sets 6-1, 2-6, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 and was eliminated from the final Grand Slam of the year.

Rafael Nadal has reached the fourth round of this year's US Open in convincing form, having not lost a game in his last three matches. However, the Spaniard has struggled and has been kept on the back foot by Pouille in the first four sets.

In the final set, Nadal broke first and fans expected a dramatic comeback. However, Lucas Pouille equalized and won the tie-break. The 22-year-old had to wait until his fourth match point to defeat Nadal.

Nadal covers his face after a missed shot. Photo: Reuters.

"I took everything for myself. I couldn't have dreamed of anything more," Pouille said after the match.

The Frenchman is having a fantastic season. He reached the quarterfinals of Wimbledon and with his performance against Nadal, Pouille has confirmed that he will soon be a star.

Lucas Pouille is an all-round player. The world No. 25 has a thunderous serve, a powerful forehand and backhand. Most importantly, Pouille has shown that he is not easily crushed by pressure, even when he is down in the fifth set to a veteran opponent.

Meanwhile, in addition to not being as quick as he was in his prime, Nadal's ability to seize opportunities at decisive moments has also gradually faded. The Spaniard still plays well, but not as well as he did in his prime, and that is not enough to defeat Pouille.

Lucas Pouille will face compatriot Gael Monfils in the quarter-finals, who beat Marcos Baghdatis to advance. Another Frenchman, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, has already booked his place in the quarter-finals after beating American Jack Sock. Tsonga will face the winner of the clash between Novak Djokovic and Kyle Edmund.

According to VNE