Rafael Nadal was sent crashing out of Wimbledon by dreadlocked German qualifier Dustin Brown on Thursday, his fourth successive defeat at the All England Club.
Nadal, the 2008 and 2010 champion, slumped to a 7-5, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 second-round defeat against the world number 102, who hit 13 aces and 58 winners.
It was Nadal’s first defeat to a qualifier at a grand slam and came in the aftermath of losing his crown at the French Open, where he had been champion nine times.
The loss followed his 2012 second-round exit to world No 100 Lukas Rosol, a first-round beating by the 135th-ranked Steve Darcis in 2013 and last year’s fourth-round defeat to Nick Kyrgios, who was at 144.
Down at his lowest ranking for a decade — at 10th in the world — Thursday’s defeat was yet another symptom of the great Spaniard’s game being in a terminal state of decline.
For Brown, who once drove to tournaments in a camper van to save money, it was his second win against Nadal, having won on grass in Halle in 2014.
It also gave him a third-round match-up against Serbia’s Viktor Troicki.
“I had actually never been on Centre Court before,” Brown said.
“They asked me before the match if I wanted to go on the court. I didn’t know what was going to happen, so I just said I’ll just go on when I play.
“I thought I would freak out a little bit, but I don’t know if it was the match in Halle, it felt very familiar. It wasn’t obviously that big of a court, but being on grass, being with him on the court and having won the last match, it made me feel more comfortable.”
There was better news for other high-profile men as Roger Federer and Andy Murray cruised into the third round with straight-sets victories.
Murray led the way as he polished off Dutchman Robin Haase 6-1, 6-1, 6-4 in 87 minutes with barely a misplaced shot.
“I think in grand slams you have to try to conserve energy when you can, really, because the two weeks can be quite draining physically and mentally,” Murray said.
“If you can get yourself off the court quickly, capitalise if your opponent maybe isn’t playing as well, if you’re on your game, try to push yourself to keep playing that way. It can pay off towards the end of the tournament.”
Federer was equally untroubled in a 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 defeat of American Sam Querrey.
Seeking a record eighth Wimbledon singles title, Federer was on cruise control from the off.
When he did find himself out of position, he managed to manufacture a lob from between his legs that climbed over his 6ft 6ins (1.98m) opponent.
“I’m very happy with the way I played the first two matches,” Federer said. “I guess there’s also a little bit of relief that I’m also playing well at Wimbledon.”
SECOND ROUND RESULTS
James Ward (GBR) bt Jirí Veselý (CZE) 6-2, 7-6, 3-6, 6-3
Vasek Pospisil (CAN) bt Fabio Fognini (ITA x30) 6-3, 6-4, 1-6, 6-3
Viktor Troicki (SRB x22) bt Aljaz Bedene (GBR) 6-4, 3-6, 6-2, 6-4
Dustin Brown (GER) bt Rafael Nadal (ESP x10) 7-5, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA x13) bt Albert Ramos (ESP) 6-3, 6-4, 6-4
Andreas Seppi (ITA x25) bt Borna Coric (CRO) 4-6, 6-4, 6-7, 6-1, 6-1
Andy Murray (GBR x3) bt Robin Haase (NED) 6-1, 6-1, 6-4
Tomas Berdych (CZE x6) bt Nicolas Mahut (FRA) 6-1, 6-4, 6-4
Pablo Andújar (ESP) bt Lukás Rosol (CZE) 6-4, 1-6, 4-6, 7-6, 6-4
Gael Monfils (FRA x18) bt Adrian Mannarino (FRA) 7-6, 6-3, 7-5
Gilles Simon (FRA x12) bt Blaz Kavcic (SLO) 6-1, 6-1, 6-7, 6-1
Nikoloz Basilashvili (GEO) bt Feliciano Lopez (ESP x15) 7-5, 3-6, 6-3, 2-6, 6-4
Roberto Bautista (ESP x20) bt Benoît Paire (FRA) 2-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3
Sam Groth (AUS) bt James Duckworth (AUS) 7-5, 6-4, 7-6
Roger Federer (SUI x2) bt Sam Querrey (USA) 6-4, 6-2, 6-2
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