Rafael Nadal knocked out of US Open

New York: Rafael Nadal crashed to his earliest US Open exit in 10 years when Italy’s Fabio Fognini pulled off a sensational 3-6, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 third-round victory.

The stunning result confirmed the sad, sudden decline of the 14-time major winner, who until Friday had won 151 Grand Slam matches when he had taken the first two sets.

Nadal will also finish the season without at least one Grand Slam title for the first time since 2004.

It was the 15th defeat of his miserable year, which has seen him beat just two top-10 players and where his best performances at the majors were quarterfinal runs at the Australian and French Opens.

Fognini, the 32nd seed, becomes the first Italian in the last 16 at the US Open since Davide Sanguinetti in 2005 and will face Spain’s Feliciano Lopez for a place in the quarterfinals.

“It was very tough against him,” said Fognini, who smashed 70 winners, committed 57 unforced errors and saved 11-of-19 break points in his all-or-nothing assault.

“It was an incredible match to come from two sets down against Rafa who is one of the best players in the world.”