Twelve-time grand slam champion Rafael Nadal crashed to one of the most humiliating defeats in Wimbledon history on Monday at the hands of Belgium’s world No.135 Steve Darcis.
Journeyman Darcis clinched a shock 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (10-8) 6-4 win to condemn the fifth-seeded Spanish superstar to a first loss in the opening round of a major.
It also came just two weeks after Nadal, the 2008 and 2010 Wimbledon champion, had celebrated a record eighth French Open title.
Nadal’s last defeat to such a low-ranked player was to Joachim Johansson, the world No.690, at the 2006 Stockholm Open.
The defeat, which followed Nadal’s second-round loss to Czech Lukas Rosol at last year’s Wimbledon, brought to an end his 22-match winning streak in 2013.
But he refused to blame his constant struggles with his knees for defeat.
“It’s not the right day (to discuss my knees). I tried my best in every moment, but it was not possible this afternoon,” said Nadal.
“On grass, it’s difficult to adapt when you don’t have a chance to play on the surface before Wimbledon.
“Darcis deserved to win today.”
Darcis, 29, and nicknamed ‘Shark’, had come into Wimbledon with just two wins under his belt on tour all year.
“Nobody was expecting my win today. I don’t know what to say. I’m really happy.
“OK, Nadal didn’t play his best tennis, but I knew the first match on grass is always difficult. For me, it is a big win.
“I tried to come into the net – it worked pretty good.
“He lost early last year as well but, if you try to focus on him, it is tougher. I try to focus on myself and I think I did great today.”
Nadal had won 43 of his 45 matches and seven titles since his return in February after a seven-month injury layoff to rest his notoriously suspect knees.
But the 27-year-old had warned following his historic Paris triumph that he was genuinely concerned over whether his knees would hold up at Wimbledon. He decided not to play a grasscourt warm-up.
Darcis, who has never gone beyond the third round of a grand slam, capitalised on the Spaniard’s crippling uncertainties by sweeping through the first set tiebreak.
Nadal broke to lead 6-5 in the second set but Darcis hit back in the 12th game before holding his nerve for a two-set lead on his fifth set point in the tiebreak as Nadal continued to struggle with rhythm, angles and confidence.
Darcis broke again for 2-0 in the third set. The Belgian went to 5-3 in the decider and claimed his famous win in just under three hours with his 13th ace of the match.
