Rafael Nadal gave up a two-sets-to-love lead at a grand slam for the first time, beaten by Fabio Fognini at the US Open.

The Spanish 14-time grand slam champion looked in control before suffering a 3-6 4-6 6-4 6-3 6-4 loss at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Nadal had held a 148-0 win-loss record when winning the first two sets at grand slams, but Fognini ended that run.

It marked Fognini's maiden win against a top-10 player on a hard-court as he reached the fourth round in New York for the first time.

For Nadal, it means he will finish the year without a grand slam title for the first time since 2004.

Nadal gave up an early break on Friday before consolidating his next one to take a 4-1 first-set lead.

The left-hander had appeared the more likely to break throughout the second set before finally doing so in the ninth game.

Nadal appeared to be cruising when he broke for 2-1 in the third set, only for Fognini to level in the sixth game.

Fognini had a set point in the 10th game, only to send a forehand into the net, before he took his second chance when Nadal put a forehand wide.

After a marathon opening game of the fourth set, Nadal broke – only to cough it up once more in the fourth game.

A pumped-up Fognini broke in the eighth game and served out the set before striking the first blow in the fifth.

But there were five breaks of serve in the opening seven games of the fifth set as Fognini moved 4-3 ahead.

Fognini gave up a 40-0 lead in the next game before hitting a forehand, and a backhand, halfway up the net to see his break advantage disappear once more after a marathon game.

With some incredible power, Fognini broke again to lead 5-4 and serve for the match and he made no mistake, with Nadal sending a backhand well wide on match point.