Gilles Simon takes out Nadal in intense Madrid Semifinal

Rafa goes down in front of home crowd

France's Gilles Simon (the same kid that took out Federer in a U.S. Open Series tournament leading up to the Olympics) drops a bomb on Nadal in front of a shocked Madrid crowd in a thrilling 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 tiebreaker triumph. Simon had an unbelievable break point record, saving a whopping 17 break points to cement his first victory against the world number one in a three and a half hour bout.

Nadal had the edge in the final set, up a break and ready to move on to the final to take on his nemesis of late, Andy Murray, who fell to Federer in the U.S. Open Final. But maybe he took his eyes of the ball a bit too soon. Simon broke back, and in the tiebreaker Nadal's forehand, called in, is overruled by a match-winning challenge by Simon, showing that Rafa's shot landed just deep.

Gilles Simon would go on to lose to Andy Murray in the final.