I'm a bit down about Rafa's loss, but I did think he would lose in this round before the tournament started (I hate being right sometimes). And it happens relatively regularly now so I'm used to it (the Rafa losing bit, not me being right).
Rafa has all the fight, but he wobbles at crucial moments. He has lost 3 deciding sets in a row, he's struggling to get the job done when it gets really tight. Which for him must be difficult to take, because that was what he was always so good at. When Pouille levelled the 5th at 4-4 all, I knew he would win, because I knew Rafa wouldn't be able to control his serve or his errors. A bit deflating as a fan I have to say, he needed the cushion of the early break.
All credit to Pouille for holding his nerve in the breaker, he played a really good match so i'm happy for him. He's also 22, so wins like this give me hope for the future. (Does it always have to be Rafa they beat though? lol)
At the end of the day Rafa wasn't beating Nole, I don't care how injured Novak is, Rafa wouldn't have won. So I guess his loss here saves us the torture of that match up.