NEW YORK – Lucas Pouille’s upset of Rafael Nadal helped put three men from France into the quarterfinals of the American Grand Slam tournament for the first time in 89 years.
The 24th-seeded Pouille joined No. 9 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and No. 10 Gael Monfils with fourth-round victories Sunday. Pouille and Monfils will play each other for a berth in the semifinals.
The last time three Frenchmen reached the quarterfinals was back in 1927, when the event was known as the U.S. Championships. The trio that time was Jean Borotra, Jacques Brugnon and Rene Lacoste, all members of France’s famed “Four Musketeers” group of tennis stars in the 1920s and 1930s.
Lacoste — yes, he of the post-tennis clothing company — won the 1927 title.
