Nadal Out in Opening Round Shocker at Wimbledon
Just a few weeks after his win at the French Open, Rafael Nadal, 12-time grand slam champion, has been defeated in the first round of Wimbledon, falling to Steve Darcis 7-6(4), 7-6(8), 6-4. At last year’s Wimbledon, Nadal lost in the second round to Lukas Rosol, which will make this year’s loss the second earliest exit for Nadal. Nadal then proceeded to miss the next seven months of action after his loss to Rosol with a knee injury. This is the first time that Nadal has lost in the first round of a Grand Slam tournament.
Nadal had a chance to serve for the second set, but Darcis was able to come back and take the set. With that win in the second set, Darcis was able to hold on to an early break in the third to win the biggest match of his career.
"Rafa did not play his best match here, it is hard when it is your first match on grass," Darcis said. "I just wanted to play my own game, coming to the net and not playing far from the baseline. I have always played well on grass, perhaps not here where I have had some tough draws, but I am really happy. I do not know what to say."
Nadal is the first reigning French Open champion to lose in the first round of Wimbledon that same year since Gustavo Kuerten in 1997. Nadal looked like he was struggling physically, which may have contributed to his loss. At Wimbledon, Darcis’ best performance was making it to the second round in 2009, and this year, he has at least matched that effort with the win against Nadal. Darcis, currently ranked 113th in the world, will next face Lukasz Kubot of Poland, a 6-1, 7-5, 6-2 winner over Igor Andreev of Russia. Darcis had lost in the first round in 12 of his 18 previous major championships.
