Spain's Rafael Nadal reacts in the US Open tennis third round match against Fabio Fognini of Italy in New York on Friday. - AFP
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Rafa Nadal ended a sub-par grand slam season on a heartbreaking note when he fell 3-6 4-6 6-4 6-3 6-4 in the third round of the U.S. Open to an inspired Fabio Fognini after winning the first two sets on Friday.
Clay court specialist Fognini, who was 0-7 on hard courts coming into the U.S. Open, played magnificently from the third set on, picking Nadal apart with groundstroke angles and deft play at the net, where the Italian won 39 of 54 advances.
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