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This article was first published 11 years ago

PHOTOS: Biggest upsets in men's singles at Wimbledon

Last updated on: June 25, 2013 10:10 IST

Image: Steve Darcis of Belgium shakes hands at the net with Rafael Nadal of Spain after their first round match
Photographs: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

Wimbledon has witnessed some seismic shocks down the years but few could top twice champion Rafa Nadal's elimination at the hands of Steve Darcis, a Belgian ranked 135th in the world, in the first round on Monday.

A year after losing to Czech Lukas Rosol in the second round, Nadal was outplayed by the 135th-ranked Darcis on Court One, losing 7-6(4), 7-6(8), 6-4 in front of a disbelieving crowd.

Here are six other matches that shook up Wimbledon.

Swiss journeyman George Bastl beats Pete Sampras

Image: George Bastl of Switzerland celebrates after his victory over Pete Sampras of the USA in 2002
Photographs: Al Bello/Getty Images

Sampras, with seven Wimbledon trophies in his possession, endured one of the worst defeats of his career, losing 6-3, 6-2, 4-6, 3-6, 6-4 in the second round to a player ranked 145th in the world and who was a lucky loser from qualifying.

American Sampras recovered to win the U.S. Open a few weeks later before retiring.

Karlovic shocks champion Hewitt

Image: Ivo Karlovic of Croatia shakes hands at the net after beating defending champion Lleyton Hewitt of Australia in 2003
Photographs: Alex Livesey/Getty Images

Hewitt, the defending champion, won the first set 6-1 before unheralded Karlovic, ranked 202, wheeled out the big guns and battered the Australian into submission with a devastating display of serving. 

Karlovic won 1-6, 7-6, 6-3, 6-4 and for only the second time in the history of the event, the top seeded male was toppled on the first day.


Peter Doohan upsets Boris Becker

Image: Defending champion Boris Becker of West Germany (left) and unseeded Australian tennis player Peter Doohan in 1987
Photographs: Chris Cole/Getty Images

Becker, the top seed and twice defending champion, seemed invincible on the Wimbledon grass but ran into 70th-ranked Doohan in the second round.

Boom Boom, as German Becker was nicknamed, was bounced out 7-6, 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 and Doohan earned the title of "Becker Wrecker".


Andre Agassi humbled by Paradorn Srichaphan

Image: Paradorn Srichaphan of Thailand is congratulated by Andre Agassi of the USA
Photographs: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

A 32-year-old Agassi, seeded three after a stunning career revival, joined old rival Sampras on the scrap heap after being dismantled by Thailand's Srichaphan 6-4, 7-6, 6-2.

The second round match was all over in one hour 47 minutes.

Kevin Curren beats John McEnroe

Image: American tennis star John McEnroe about to shake the hand of South African player Kevin Curren after losing in 1985
Photographs: Keystone/Getty Images

Defending champion McEnroe had compiled an 82-3 record the previous year and was still the "Guvnor" at Wimbledon, reaching the previous five finals.

However, South African Curran proved no shrinking violet and won the last eight clash 6-2, 6-2, 6-4. 

McEnroe was never quite the same again, failing to win another grand slam.


Rosol shocks Rafa

Image: Lukas Rosol of the Czech Republic shakes hands with Rafael Nadal of Spain
Photographs: Clive Rose/Getty Images

Rafa Nadal suffered a similar fate last year when he arrived as French Open champion but fell to hard-hitting Lukas Rosol, a Czech ranked 100th in the world, in the second round.

Rosol won 6-7, 6-4, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 in a three-hour battle that ended after dark under the Centre Court roof in front of 15,000 fans who were glued to their seats. 


Source: REUTERS
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