Federer Sees Earliest Grand Slam Exit in 10 Years at Wimbledon
June 26, 2013 | By Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
Photo credit: Kenneth B. Goldberg
Twenty-seven-year-old Sergiy Stakhovsky shocked defending Wimbledon champion Roger Federer, marking Federer’s earliest Grand Slam exit in 10 years on Wednesday evening at Wimbledon, eliminating Federer 6-7(5), 7-6(5), 7-5, 7-6(5) in the second round. It was world number 116 Stakhovsky’s first top 10 win in 21 attempts and ended Federer’s run of reaching 36 successive Grand Slam quarterfinals. In the 2003 at the French Open, Federer lost in the first round to Luis Horna. Federer is a seven-time champ at Wimbledon, capturing his first title in 2003.
"When you play Federer at Wimbledon, it’s like you’re playing two people: Federer and his ego on Centre Court at Wimbledon, where he’s historical," said Stakhovsky, currently ranked 116th in the world. "I was hoping I would have a chance to be in the match at the beginning. I was just hanging in there on my serve, trying to get to tie-break. I was a little tight up a break in the fourth set, it was hard to pull it out. I’m really happy I’m able to go through.
Federer’s exit marks the earliest defeat for a defending Wimbledon champion since Lleyton Hewitt was beaten in the 2003 in the first round by Ivo Karlovic. Stakhovsky matched his best Grand Slam showing by reaching the third round at Wimbledon for the first time. He goes on to face Jurgen Melzer in a first career meeting.
