Wimbledon news: Rafael Nadal vs Dustin Brown and the most shocking upsets in SW19 history

The Wimbledon Championships are the most famous tennis tournament in the world, a place where legends such as Roger Federer, Serena Williams, and Novak Djokovic have made their legacy.

But the action at SW19 is also known for its surprises, with unknown or lower-ranked players coming out of nowhere to beat the biggest stars on numerous occasions.

Here, Sports News Blitz writer Abhiram Varanasi takes a look at the five most shocking upsets in Wimbledon history.

Rafael Nadal vs Dustin Brown – 2015, second round

Rafael Nadal is one of the greatest tennis players ever, with two Wimbledon titles to his name and a reputation for never giving up.

However, in 2015, he ran into Dustin Brown – a wild, unpredictable player from Germany with long dreadlocks and a flashy style – and came off second best.

Brown was ranked 102nd in the world at the time and had to play qualifying rounds to get into the main draw of the tournament but, once he was on Centre Court, he played fearless tennis.

He rushed the net, hit risky shots, and didn’t back down for one second as Nadal, known for his fighting spirit, simply couldn’t find a way to stop him.

In the end, the German won the match in four sets, leaving the crowd stunned.

After the game, an emotional Brown said: “Beating Rafa at Wimbledon, on Centre Court – that’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I just tried to stay aggressive and enjoy the moment.”

Nadal, for his part, was honest about the loss, saying: “When someone plays that way, it’s very hard to control the match. He played better than me today.”

It is one of those matches that people still talk about – the day Dustin Brown shocked the world.

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Steffi Graf vs Lori McNeil – 1994, first round

Steffi Graf is one of the undisputed greats of the women’s game and boasts an incredible seven Wimbledon titles.

In 1994, when she already had five SW19 crowns, Graf was expected to win yet again.

Her opponent in the first round was Lori McNeil, an experienced American player with a serve-and-volley game that worked well on grass.

Most people predicted an easy Graf victory, but McNeil had other plans.

She attacked the net, put pressure on Graf, and never let her settle into the match, pulling off a huge upset by beating the German and ending her 21-match Wimbledon winning streak.

After her big win, McNeil said: “I’ve worked my whole life for moments like this. Beating Steffi here, on this court, is a dream.”

Graf reacted to the shock loss, saying: “She played smart and aggressive tennis. Today, I couldn’t find my best game.”

It was the first time in 13 years that a women’s defending champion lost in the first round at Wimbledon – and it has only happened once since.

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Lleyton Hewitt vs Ivo Karlović – 2003, first round

Lleyton Hewitt, a player known for his never-say-die attitude and quick movement, came to Wimbledon in 2003 as the defending champion and world No.1.

In the first round, he faced Ivo Karlović, a tall Croatian making his Wimbledon debut who would go on to become famous for his huge serve.

The Australian won the first set, but Karlović took control thereafter thanks to his powerful serving and aggressive play.

Ultimately, Karlović won the match in four sets, with Hewitt making history as the first men’s defending champion to lose in the opening round at Wimbledon in the Open Era.

Speaking to the media after a famous win, Karlović said: “Nobody believed I could win this. I just told myself to go for it and enjoy the moment.”

Hewitt, it must be said, gave credit to his opponent, saying: “He served great. On grass, sometimes that’s enough. He played better today.”

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Pete Sampras vs George Bastl – 2002, second round

Pete Sampras is one of Wimbledon’s greatest champions, winning the title seven times.

Despite that legacy, in 2002, his glorious run came to a surprising end against George Bastl, a qualifier from Switzerland ranked outside the top 140.

Bastl played aggressive tennis to win the first two sets before Sampras fought back to force a fifth, but the underdog stayed calm and finished the job.

The Swiss, almost in disbelief, said after the match: “It feels like a dream. I grew up watching Pete win here. To beat him on Centre Court is unbelievable.”

Sampras was disappointed yet honest, saying: “He played better than me today. You never expect to lose early here, but that’s tennis.”

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Venus Williams vs Jana Čepelová – 2014, first round

Venus Williams is a five-time Wimbledon champion and one of the biggest names in tennis.

Even though she wasn’t at her peak in 2014, many still expected her to win a first-round match against Slovakia’s Jana Čepelová.

Čepelová, though, had other ideas as she played aggressive, smart tennis and prevented Venus from settling.

The American subsequently struggled with her timing throughout and Čepelová took full advantage, winning in straight sets.

After the upset, Čepelová said: “I’ve watched Venus on TV for so long. To play her here and win, it feels unreal. I just tried to believe in myself.”

Venus, respectful as always, said: “She played really well today. That’s part of the sport and sometimes you get outplayed.”

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