World number 116 Sergiy Stakhovsky will certainly expect his name being mentioned from time to time in the years to come after being the one responsible for ending one of the most impressive streaks in sports.
The Ukrainian defeated defending champion Roger Federer at the Wimbledon Championships in the second round, meaning that he has ended Federer’s impressive run of 36 consecutive quarterfinals or better finishes at Grand Slam events. Even the victor himself couldn’t believe that he has achieved this feat, saying that he even had to overcome “Two Federers” for the win.
“You’re playing the guy and then you’re playing his legend, which is following him because he won it seven times,” he explained.
“He’s holding all possible career records here, I think, winning matches and everything. You’re playing two of them.
“When you’re beating one, you still have the other one who is pressing you. You’re saying, ‘Am I about to beat him? Is it possible?’… I was saying that if I’m going to hold to him in the beginning of the match, then I have a chance of maybe even doing something. But if he would run away from me in the beginning, then you cannot catch the Federer train.”
Up next for Stakhovsky is Austrian Jurgen Melzer. With his impressive play of serve and volley against Federer, the Ukrainian may just have a running chance to make it to the second week of a Grand Slam event for the first time.
“I hope I can come out with a great performance the next round. That’s what you have to do in order to win,” said Stakhovsky.
“[Winning] today was great, but I didn’t win the tournament. I just won the second round. There’s another five rounds,” he added.
