World number 116 Sergiy Stakhovsky caused a huge uproar at the Wimbledon 2013 Championships on Wednesday when the Ukrainian defeated defending champion Roger Federer. This is the earliest exit for the Swiss star for the past ten years. The Swiss star has had a grand consecutive run of 36 Grand Slam quarterfinal or better results.
Stakhovsky held his nerve to knock out Federer 6-7, 7-6, 7-5, 7-6 in the second round at the All England Club.
“I’m in disbelief that it happened,” said Stakhovsky in a post-match interview. “I was playing my best tennis I ever played and it almost wasn’t enough to beat Roger. I’m incredibly happy.
“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. 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.”
“It was magic. I couldn’t play any better today. I played everything I needed and wanted to do. I volleyed incredibly well today. It was a fantastic day for me.”
This is the Ukrainian’s first career top ten win in the past 21 attempts and this is a victory that will certainly make it to all-time lists of huge upsets at a Grand Slam event.
With the loss, Federer will be out of the world’s top four by the end of Wimbledon by failing to defend the ranking points.
On Monday, Federer’s rival Rafael Nadal was ousted in the first round by 135th-ranked Steve Darcis of Belgium.
