Maybe it was fatigue, maybe it was his
balky left knee acting up again, or maybe it was the grassy courts at
Wimbledon, but Rafael Nadal was uncharacteristically sloppy in a
shocking first-round loss to Belgian Steve Darcis on Monday.
Darcis, unseeded and ranked 135 in men's singles, won in straight sets 7-6, 7-6, 6-4 over No. 5 Nadal, fresh off his record eighth French Open title. Darcis scored the match point on a resounding ace.
Nadal, a 12-time Grand Slam winner, had never lost in the first round of a Grand Slam event and was 34-0 heading into Monday's match.
As Nadal battled in the third set, it became increasingly obvious that his left knee, which forced Nadal into a seven-month hiatus last year, was giving him increased pain.
Asked if he was targeting Nadal's knee, Darcis said to ESPN, "I think if you start to focus on him, it's tougher. I tried to focus on myself."
Nadal's lateral movement was clearly inhibited, and he was unable to reach shots he customarily returns.
After the match, Darcis was nearly at a loss for words. It was his first win over a top-5 opponent in his career.
"I don't know what to say right now. I'm really happy," he told ESPN.
Darcis owned a 2-6 single's record this year before Monday's triumph. Nadal had won two previous Wimbledon titles in his career.
By Mike Singer
Darcis, unseeded and ranked 135 in men's singles, won in straight sets 7-6, 7-6, 6-4 over No. 5 Nadal, fresh off his record eighth French Open title. Darcis scored the match point on a resounding ace.
Nadal, a 12-time Grand Slam winner, had never lost in the first round of a Grand Slam event and was 34-0 heading into Monday's match.
As Nadal battled in the third set, it became increasingly obvious that his left knee, which forced Nadal into a seven-month hiatus last year, was giving him increased pain.
Asked if he was targeting Nadal's knee, Darcis said to ESPN, "I think if you start to focus on him, it's tougher. I tried to focus on myself."
Nadal's lateral movement was clearly inhibited, and he was unable to reach shots he customarily returns.
After the match, Darcis was nearly at a loss for words. It was his first win over a top-5 opponent in his career.
"I don't know what to say right now. I'm really happy," he told ESPN.
Darcis owned a 2-6 single's record this year before Monday's triumph. Nadal had won two previous Wimbledon titles in his career.
By Mike Singer
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