Rafael Nadal's Wimbledon campaign is over following a dramatic four-hour, 48-minute fourth-round loss to 34-year-old world number 26 Gilles Muller.
The newly-crowned 10-time French Open champion and world number two had not dropped a set — let alone a match — in two months before falling 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 15-13 to Luxembourg's daring left-handed serve-volleyer.
An inspired Muller blasted 30 aces and 95 winners to stun spectators on Court 1 at Wimbledon and reach just the second grand slam quarter-final of his 13-year career.
Muller, who will play Croatian Marin Cilic next on Wednesday, could barely believe he had taken out one of the game's all-time greats.
After digging himself out of difficult situations over and over during the course of a riveting encounter that lasted more than 4½ hours, Nadal suddenly faltered, getting broken in the last game and losing to 16th-seeded Gilles Muller of Luxembourg 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 15-13 in the fourth round of Wimbledon on Monday.
"It's tough to say what, exactly, made the difference at the end," Muller said. "To be honest, I haven't really realized what just happened."
World number one kicked to the Kerber
Former finalist Garbine Muguruza and the Pat Cash-coached Coco Vandeweghe have emerged as serious Wimbledon title threats after edging ominously towards a semi-final showdown in a blown-open women's draw.
PHOTO: Angelique Kerber's Wimbledon run has ended at the hands of Garbine Muguruza. (AP: Tim Ireland)
Muguruza showcased her championship credentials with an inspired 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 fourth-round comeback win over world number one Angelique Kerber before Vandeweghe ousted fifth seed Caroline Wozniacki 7-6 (7/4), 6-4 on so-called "Manic Monday" at The All England Club.
Runner-up in 2015 to Serena Williams, Muguruza rallied from a service break down in the deciding set and fought off a series of break points in an epic 12-minute game before prevailing in a two-hour, 20-minute thriller.
Spain's 2016 French Open winner will play dual grand slam champion Svetlana Kuznetsova in the quarter-finals after the Russian seventh seed outclassed 2012 finalist Agnieszka Radwanska 6-2 6-4 to be the first woman through to the last eight.
Roger Federer and Andy Murray also enjoyed comprehensive wins on their way through to the last eight.
AAP
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