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Rediff.com  » Sports » The 'big boys' who took a beating at Wimbledon
This article was first published 12 years ago

The 'big boys' who took a beating at Wimbledon

Last updated on: June 29, 2012 18:56 IST

Image: Lukas Rosol
Photographs: Reuters

Wimbledon has witnessed some seismic shocks down the years but few could top twice champion Rafael Nadal's elimination at the hands of Lukas Rosol, a Czech ranked 100th in the world, in the second round on Thursday.

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

Nadal is in good company because some of Wimbledon's other greats have also suffered ignominious exits.

A look at five other matches that shook up Wimbledon.

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Swiss journeyman Bastl ousted Sampras


Photographs: Reuters

2002 - Swiss journeyman George Bastl beats Pete Sampras

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 US. Open a few weeks later before retiring.

Karlovic battered the Australian into submission


Photographs: Reuters

2003 - Lleyton Hewitt takes a giant beating by Ivo Karlovic

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.

'Becker Wrecker'


Photographs: Reuters

1987 - Australian Peter Doohan beats Boris Becker

The German top seed and two-times defending champion seemed invincible on the Wimbledon grass but ran into 70th-ranked Doohan in the second round.

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

Agassi was dismantled by Thailand's Srichaphan


Photographs: Reuters

2002 - Andre Agassi humbled by Paradorn Srichaphan

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.

McEnroe was never quite the same again after this loss


Photographs: Reuters

1985 - Kevin Curren beats John McEnroe

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.

Source: REUTERS
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