US Open 2016: Lucas Pouille edges Rafael Nadal in five-set thriller

Pouille was hitting with real freedom to take the opening set 6-1 before Nadal responded in kind to dominate the second in similar fashion. The pair traded two tight sets to take it to a fifth where neither gave an inch and the inevitable tiebreak ensued.

The Frenchman seemed to have broken the Nadal spirit, forcing three match points. But the former champ broke back for 6-6 in the breaker before missing a regulation forehand and Pouille crunched a forehand winner for the biggest win of his career.

Playing in his third consecutive five-set match, 24th seed Pouille, still looking for his first ATP Tour title, showed that his quarter-final advance earlier this season at Wimbledon was no fluke.

"I couldn't dream better than this," he said in an on-court interview after falling flat on his back in celebration after his forehand winner ended the marathon on his fourth match point.

Pouille will play 10th-seeded compatriot Gael Monfils in the last eight.

Monfils advanced with a 6-3 6-2 6-3 victory winner against unseeded Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus, and has yet to lose a set in the tournament.