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NEW YORK -- Rafael Nadal, once the fiercest of predators, is now the hunted.Or perhaps its haunted.Since he won his last Grand Slam singles title, more than two years ago at Roland Garros, nine majors have been played to completion. Rafa missed two of them with injuries, reached two quarterfinals, both in 2015, and the rest of his results, well, arent quite up to his historic standards.That would include Sundays 6-1, 2-6, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (6) fourth-round defeat to?Lucas Pouille in a riveting fifth-set tiebreaker on Arthur Ashe Stadium court.Grim and game to the end, Nadal saved three match points before watching a bristling forehand winner down the line end it.Is not a question of experience; its a question of playing a little better than I did, Nadal said in his postmatch news conference. Need to play with a little bit more calm. I lost an opportunity to have a very good event here. Im sad for that.I need something more, but was not there at the end. I try to find it.The match ran 4 hours, 7 minutes, the longest of the tournament on Ashe. The final point total underlined the matchs extraordinary competitiveness; both men finished with 156 points.My first match on the center court against Rafa, Pouille said in his on-court interview. Yeah, I could not dream better than this.Now 30, Nadal is into that awkward, graying area of a career when his presence at a major creates more sentimental enthusiasm than realistic hopes for a title. Roger Federer, who hasnt won a major in more than four years, occupies a similar position.So many tennis purists still ache to see a few more soaring scissors kicks, a flurry of uppercuts, even the practiced series of pre-service tics that might border on obsessive compulsive disorder.Sunday offered a delicious opportunity to drink in all of the above, as Nadal provided a more-than-generous dose of dash. But in the crucible of the fifth set, there were some crucial misfires, particularly on the forehand side. At 6-all in the tiebreaker, Nadal sent what looked like an easy forehand into the net.A big mistake, Nadal acknowledged.Those errors are indicative of the continuing crisis of confidence Nadal has talked so frankly about in the past. Its troubling that Nadal has lost three straight five-set matches -- and five of seven.?This is the first time since 2003 that neither Federer nor Nadal is in a US Open quarterfinal, a sign of changing times in mens tennis.Thus, Nadals Grand Slam match win count remains at 203, the exact career total of one Pete Sampras, a man with whom he also shares a total of 14 Grand Slam singles titles. Nadal will undoubtedly surpass Sampras in wins, but its looking less and less likely that he will bring home a 15th major.The other big headline of the fortnight? Pouille joined fellow Frenchmen Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Gael Monfils in the quarterfinals.There will be a Frenchman in the semifinals, because Pouille plays Monfils in the quarters. Tsonga meets the winner of No. 1 Novak Djokovic versus Kyle Edmund in the other quarter in the top half of the draw.Its the first time since 1947 that three Frenchmen have advanced to the elite eight in a major. The last time it happened at the US Open was 1927.We were worried about who was coming after those [veteran] Frenchman, said ESPN analyst Patrick Mouratoglou, who is also Serena Williams coach and French. Now we have a very strong one coming.On the ESPN set after the match, John McEnroe, provocateur that he is, asked Pouille if he was the best of the French players.For the moment, no, of course, Pouille said, laughing. There are three players in the top 20 -- Im not for the moment. They have finals in Grand Slams, semifinals.So I need to improve to be better than them.In retrospect, maybe this wasnt the upset casual tennis fans might think it is.Pouille, who was playing his third consecutive five-set match, advances to his second straight major quarterfinal. He beat Juan Martin del Potro at Wimbledon, before losing to Tomas Berdych.During the preseason, I change many things, Pouille said. I took my own physical trainer. Hes traveling almost every time with us so we can work every day. Even in tournaments we keep working. We keep working.I think mentally Im stronger. I took a lot of confidence. The way Im going on court is not the same as last year. Yeah, I think thats why Im better than the year before. Of course, Im a bit older, as well.It was a difficult Grand Slam season for the 30-year-old Nadal. He lost in the first round of the Australian Open, then withdrew after the second round at Roland Garros with a wrist injury that forced him to miss Wimbledon. This was, by far, his best effort.Afterward, Nadal said his wrist was improving and he would play for the next two months and try to qualify for the ATP World Tour finals in London.Today my attitude, my motivation was great, Nadal said. I need to keep improving the level of tennis to come back to the level before my injury. In terms of tennis, I needed to serve better in some moments. I need to create a little more pain on the opponent with my shots. It was something I didnt [do] today.I am closer than last year to be what I want to be. Nike Air Max 270 React Triple Black .J. -- New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz will miss the rest of the season after having surgery on his left knee. Nike Air Max 270 Womens Clearance . The Americans, skipped by John Shuster, seized the advantage in the eighth end by scoring five points for a 7-3 lead. The Czechs pulled two back in the ninth, but Shusters team of third Jeff Isaacson, second Jared Zezel and lead John Landsteiner ended with another point to secure the last Olympic berth on offer. http://www.max270cheap.com/nike-men-s-ispa-air-max-270-sp-soe-black-anthracite-bq1918-002.html . Bjorn, who had a 36-hole total of 8-under 134, made a testing six-foot putt to save par on the 16th and a birdie on the 17th before bogeying the final hole after a misjudged approach shot. American Kevin Streelman was in second place after shooting a 69. Air Max 270 Mens Sale . -- Quarterback Will Finch threw for 252 yards and three touchdowns, and Yannick Harou rushed in two scores as the No. Air Max 270 Black Cheap . Goals from Jerome Boateng, Franck Ribery and Thomas Mueller extended Bayerns unbeaten run to a record 37 matches. "This record is incredible," Bayern coach Pep Guardiola said. TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Alabamas defense still seems to have a wall erected at the goal line, and Jalen Hurts remains unflappable enough to shrug off mistakes.The combination has been good enough every time so far.Hurts rebounded from two early interceptions to pass for 286 yards and the top-ranked Crimson Tides defense did the rest in a 30-12 victory Saturday over No. 16 Auburn (No. 13 AP) to finish an undefeated regular season.We have bigger goals in mind, tight end O.J. Howard said.The Tide (12-0, 8-0 SEC) led just 13-9 at halftime, dominating the stat sheet but only taking over the scoreboard in the second half. The defense pushed its string of quarters without allowing a touchdown to 14-plus and shut down the leagues top running game.Auburn (8-4, 5-3) failed to muster much offense for the second straight SEC game. This time the Tigers were playing without injured quarterback Sean White and unable to reach the end zone despite starting several drives in Alabama territory.We had some really, really challenging field position situations in this game, and our players responded really well to it, Alabama coach Nick Saban said.Hurts displayed the same poise in overcoming two first-half interceptions that has helped him lead the Tide into the SEC championship game. He completed 27-of-36 mostly short and mid-range passes and threw for two touchdowns. Alabama has won three straight Iron Bowls for the first time since 1990-92.At halftime, I guess everybody thought I was going to throw a fit, but I told them, `Look guys, all weve got to do is go out there and play with some poise and confidence, Saban said.Hurts also ran for 37 yards and a touchdown, leading two straight touchdown drives in the third quarter to all but put the game away after a mistake-filled first half.He ran for a 4-yard score on a drive sparked by four Bo Scarbrough runs. On a fourth-and-4 play, he hit ArDarius Stewart, who spun away from a defender and made another move downfield en route to a 38-yard touchdown and a 27-9 leadd.ddddddddddddStewart gained 127 yards on 10 catches and completed a 12-yard pass. Scarbrough ran for 90 yards, including 83 after the half.Auburns Jeremy Johnson, who started the second straight game in Whites place, completed 4 of 13 passes for 34 yards. John Franklin III connected on two downfield passes in the second half that totaled 85 yards. The Tide dominated in total yards, 501-182.Daniel Carlson connected on four field goals for Auburn.Offensively, we just didnt get first downs, we just didnt get it done, Tigers coach Gus Malzahn said. Two of 12 on third downs, I really think that caused the problem. Third downs, didnt hit explosive plays, defense was on the field too long was really the story of the day.Obviously weve got players in there that are hurting, coaches that are hurting, this is a tough one.THE TAKEAWAYAuburn didnt get a first down until nearly 25 minutes into the game and continues to have no passing game without a healthy White. Leading rusher Kamryn Pettway ran 12 times for just 17 yards after missing the past two games with a leg injury. The Tigers managed 66 rushing yards after coming in averaging a league best 298.Alabama still has to get more offense in the downfield passing game but remains dominant on defense.POLL IMPLICATIONSAlabama seems unlikely to drop from No. 1 in AP poll or playoff rankings, but No. 2 Ohio State could at least close ground after a double-overtime win over No. 3 Michigan. Auburn could fall from the top 20 after a second straight punchless offensive performance in SEC games.TARGETINGDefensive back Tony Brown was ejected for targeting for a block thrown on a punt return. Hell be available against Florida.FAREWELLSAlabamas senior class finished its final home game with a 49-5 record so far.UP NEXTAuburn awaits its bowl destination.Alabama faces Florida in the SEC championship game for the second straight year. ' ' '