5 Rafael Nadal Upsets at Wimbledon

With Rafael Nadal spectacularly beaten by Dustin Brown last night, we look at the Top 5 Upsets Rafael Nadal has suffered at Wimbledon.

#5 Round 2 – Gilles Muller (2005) 6-4 4-6 6-3 6-4

The Spanish teen was fresh from his first major title in Paris. Seeded fourth, Nadal was almost destroyed by the Luxembourg player Muller, who ranked 69 at that time.

“I need to improve my serve and my volley and also my confidence on grass,” said Nadal after the loss.

“It is easier to play him on grass than on clay, that’s for sure. He’s the man on clay this season.

“But on grass it is different. I can use my serve and volley and that will always be tough for clay-court players. Maybe Rafael Nadal will never win Wimbledon.” said Muller. He knew little at that time, as Nadal went on to win the title twice. (2008, 2010).

#4 Round 1 – Steve Darcis (2013) 7-6 (4), 7-6 (8), 6-4

It was an unusal display of tennis from Rafael Nadal under heavy damp conditions. Darcis was ranked 135 in the world and ever did he dream about beating Nadal in a competitive match.

Nadal saved four set points in the second-set tiebreaker but failed to convert one of his own. Nadal was the first Roland Garros champion to lose in the first round of Wimbledon since Gustavo Kuerten fell in 1997.

#3 Round 2 -Dustin Brown (2015) 7-5 3-6 6-4 6-4

The tenth seed Rafael Nadal, was outdone by some aggressive old age serve and volley game by Dustin Brown, ranked 102 in the world – a German qualifier playing his first match at Centre Court. Brown used his grass-court prowess to stun Nadal. The German attacked the net 85 times and won 71 of 99 points off his first serve. Nadal is 0-2 against Brown, who beat the 14-time Grand Slam champ last year on the grass at Halle.

“My game makes him not play his game.” said a delighted brown after the win of his career.

#2 Round 4 – Nick Kyrgios (2014) 7-6 (5) 5-7 7-6 (5) 6-3

It was an extraordinary and inspirational display of tennis by an Australian teenager who was coming off a Challenger win in Nottingham and was ranked No. 144.

Nadal looked clueless on the big serves of his opponents and never really did he find an answer to the relentless power raining from the other side of the court.

#1 Round 2 – Lucas Rosol (2012) 6-7 (9) 6-4 6-4 2-6 6-4

A player ranked 100 took Centre Court by storm and demolished the modern great of the game. This was one of the finest quality of tennis by anyone against Rafa. Though Nadal was surrounded by some injury issues, but take nothing away from Rosol, a 26-year-old Czech, was playing in his first Wimbledon main draw after losing in the first round of qualifying five years in a row. It was Nadal’s first exit in a Grand Slam before the third round since 2005, when he lost in the third round at the All England Club to Gilles Muller.
It also started the chain of Nadal’s early exits at Wimbledon.