14-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal suffered a shocking third-round defeat against his Italian opponent Fabio Fognini in a pulsating US Open five-set thriller on Saturday.
Although the eighth seeded Spaniard clinched the first two sets with ease, Fognini wrestled his way back into the game and claimed a 3-6, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 win over Nadal at Flushing Meadows.
Nadal continued to grapple with poor form as he previously lost in the quarterfinals at Roland Garros and the Australian Open this year. He also made an early exit out of the Wimbledon in the second round.
Fognini will next face Spain's Feliciano Lopez in round four.
