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Dazed Federer sent spinning out

Last updated on: June 27, 2013 17:10 IST
Sergiy Stakhovsky of Ukraine shakes hands at the net with Roger Federer of Switzerland after their match

Roger Federer and 'his ego' took an unbelievable battering at the hands of little-known Ukrainian Sergiy Stakhovsky. The Swiss champion and holder of a record 17 Grand Slam titles was sent spinning out of Wimbledon on a day dubbed as 'Whacky Wednesday'.

A record that took 36 Grand Slams and nine years to create was turned on its head by 116th-ranked Stakhovsky, who rocked the All England Club to its core as he inflicted a brutal 6-7(5), 7-6(5), 7-5, 7-6(5) second-round defeat on a man he called a "Wimbledon legend".

That 'legend' had enjoyed a remarkable run of reaching 36 consecutive Grand Slam quarter-finals or better dating back to 2004, won seven titles at the spiritual home of lawn tennis and had not lost to a rival ranked outside the top 100 for over eight years.

It took a serve-and-volley-loving man who had never beaten a top 15 player in his 27-year-old life to shatter the glass ceiling.

As Stakhovsky celebrates his victory over Federer, here's a look at a few other matches that shook Wimbledon.

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Darcis dumped Nadal out

Last updated on: June 27, 2013 17:10 IST
Steve Darcis of Belgium shakes hands at the net with Rafael Nadal of Spain after their first round match

Wimbledon had 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.

Darcis, however, was forced to withdraw from his second round match.

When George Bastl shocked Pete Sampras

Last updated on: June 27, 2013 17:10 IST
George Bastl of Switzerland celebrates after his victory over Pete Sampras of the USA in 2002

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 upest defending champion Hewitt in 2003

Last updated on: June 27, 2013 17:10 IST
Ivo Karlovic of Croatia shakes hands at the net after beating defending champion Lleyton Hewitt of Australia in 2003

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 took out Boris Becker in 1987

Last updated on: June 27, 2013 17:10 IST
Defending champion Boris Becker of West Germany (left) and unseeded Australian tennis player Peter Doohan in 1987

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 was humbled by Paradorn Srichaphan

Last updated on: June 27, 2013 17:10 IST
Paradorn Srichaphan of Thailand is congratulated by Andre Agassi of the USA

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 shocked John McEnroe

Last updated on: June 27, 2013 17:10 IST
American tennis star John McEnroe about to shake the hand of South African player Kevin Curren after losing in 1985

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 upset Rafa last year

Last updated on: June 27, 2013 17:10 IST
Lukas Rosol of the Czech Republic shakes hands with Rafael Nadal of Spain

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.