It seemed like an innocuous match up, as Gilles Muller had lost 22 matches against top 5 players. He clearly wasn’t a big match player, and rightly so, he was given no chance of beating the mighty Rafa Nadal.
But funnier things have happened in sport.What transpired on Court Number 1 today was beautiful, hurtful for Nadal fans, but beautiful for the sport of tennis. A 34-year old, in the twilight of his career, never having been known for his killer instinct on the big stage, upstaging one of the fiercest competitors in the sport.
The fifth set went on for more than 2 hours and while it was completely dominated by Gilles Muller, it always felt like Nadal would eventually find his way through. A 2 set lead given away, 5 match points squandered; it all seemed like the perfect script for a Rafa Nadal comeback, but Muller refused to step aside. He wanted his moment, bad, real bad; and he took it from Nadal, hands down.
This is how Twitter reacted:
Stunner.
Gilles Muller wins an epic 5th set 15-13 to beat Rafael Nadal and reach his first ever #Wimbledon quarter-final#ManicMonday pic.twitter.com/OpBMQFYnYv
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 10, 2017
Rafael Nadal falls to 26-3 against lefthanders in majors, with 2 of those losses coming to Gilles Müller.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) July 10, 2017
Wouldn't have been me shaking nadal hand after that he's been picking his arse all day
— Kenny McLean (@kennymclean66) July 10, 2017
https://twitter.com/matthewcpinsent/status/884496940767072256
Rafa Nadal in defeat:
77 winners
17 unforced errors
23 aces
80% 1st serves points won
7 more points won than opponentWow.#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/e2Cs3PA68s
— BBC 5 Live Sport (@5liveSport) July 10, 2017
What a match from Gilles Muller but kinda sad we won't be seeing more of Rafa Nadal at Wimbledon again this year 😢 #Wimbledon
— Anne Keothavong (@annekeothavong) July 10, 2017
https://twitter.com/EllieLWalter/status/884497020853071874
The most astonishing match yet! With 99.9% of people in the court rooting for Nadal, how mentally strong is Muller?👏#Wimbledon #NadalMuller
— Joe Hachem (@inmessionante07) July 10, 2017
Hard luck #Nadal , best match so far in the tournament #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/FcPwAULAtO
— Salaheddin (@wicked_soull) July 10, 2017
Nadal's last 5 Grand Slam losses:
36 46 63 64 1315
46 63 16 63 36
16 62 46 63 67
67 64 63 67 26
63 64 46 36 46— Oleg S. (@AnnaK_4ever) July 10, 2017
First earthquake of 2017 Wimbledon: Gilles Muller with a zenmaster upset for the ages of in-form Nadal 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 15-13.
— Christopher Clarey 🇺🇸 🇫🇷 🇪🇸 (@christophclarey) July 10, 2017
https://twitter.com/JamesMelville/status/884494322678345728
Djokovic watching Nadal vs Muller like… #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/TRt6TRtnIA
— 🐐 (@eaglemoustache) July 10, 2017
https://twitter.com/MiguelDelaney/status/884492951308705792
Just switched on to this incredible Nadal/Muller match. Tennis at this level is quite simply awe-inspiring. #wimbledon
— Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) July 10, 2017
'How do you feel after that epic match against one of the game's great players?'
'Tired.'
Aaaaand Gilles #Muller just won #Wimbledon. pic.twitter.com/FLsMVcqbay
— Live Tennis (@livetennis) July 10, 2017
That is 4 hours,30 minutes and counting… that's 3 football matches played already 🤓 #Wimbledon #Nadal #Muller
— Juliet Bawuah (@julietbawuah) July 10, 2017
Unbelievable effort from #Muller defeating #Nadal in epic 5 sets. Executed his game plan wonderfully. Made Rafa so uncomfortable. Smart!
— Pat Cash (@TheRealPatCash) July 10, 2017
Wow… 4 and a half hrs of sprinting! Amazing athletes @RafaelNadal #muller
— Jelena Djokovic (@jelenadjokovic) July 10, 2017
That's the biggest thing to happen to Luxembourg since…..the last big thing. #Muller #wimbledon17
— Gabby Logan (@GabbyLogan) July 10, 2017
