With its beautiful grass courts, white dress code, and many traditions, Wimbledon is one of the venues at which some of the greatest tennis moments have taken place. The fact that the surface usually favors large servers does not change the fact that this court has seen shocking upsets that have left spectators shocked and disappointed. These shocking upsets, where champions defend their titles or are heavy favorites to win, include some of the most surprising events ever witnessed. Let’s dive into this story and find out about five of the most shocking Wimbledon upsets.
Most shocking upsets in Wimbledon history
1. Lori McNeil vs Steffi Graf (1994, First Round)
In one of the most jaw-dropping opening-round results ever at a Grand Slam, unseeded American Lori McNeil stunned defending champion and World No. 1 Steffi Graf 7-5, 7-6(5) in 1994. Graf had already won her third Wimbledon title in a row, and she was on an unbelievable run where she had made the quarterfinals of 31 successive majors.
McNeil, a crafty veteran with excellent touch and grass-court savvy, broke late to take the first set. The second set stayed on a knife-edge before heading to a tiebreak, where McNeil held her nerve to seal the victory. McNeil also became the first player in the Open Era to defeat a defending Grand Slam champion in the opening round of their title defense. Graf’s aura of invincibility took a significant hit that day.
2. Sergiy Stakhovsky vs Roger Federer (2013, Second Round)
The 2013 edition of Wimbledon became popular for its chaotic upsets, but few matched the magnitude of Sergiy Stakhovsky’s victory over Roger Federer. The Ukrainian, ranked World No. 116, defeated the seven-time champion and defending titleholder 6-7(5), 7-6(5), 7-5, 7-6(5) in a gripping four-set battle.
Federer had looked sharp in his first-round match as he chased an eighth Wimbledon crown and had an astonishing streak of 36 consecutive major quarterfinal appearances. He managed to win the first set tie-break, but Stakhovsky, who had a very good serve and played without fear, didn’t give up easily. He won the next three competitive sets and made Federer’s attempt to defend his title and quarterfinal streak come to an end in shocking fashion.
3. Sabine Lisicki vs Serena Williams (2013, Fourth Round)
Another massive 2013 shock came when Germany’s Sabine Lisicki, the 23rd seed and a former Wimbledon semifinalist, defeated reigning champion and World No. 1 Serena Williams 6-2, 1-6, 6-4. Williams entered the match on a 34-match unbeaten streak and had been virtually unstoppable that season.
Having lost the first set, Serena bounced back to win nine successive games to go 3-0 up in the deciding set and 4-2 at some point. But Lisicki, who is known for her powerful style and ability to play on grass courts, came back and fought her way through from both situations. Keeping herself composed during the pressure moments, she managed to clinch the victory and reach the final where she eventually lost to Marion Bartoli.
4. George Bastl vs Pete Sampras (2002, Second Round)
Pete Sampras, a seven-time Wimbledon champion and one of the greatest players on grass, suffered a shocking defeat in his last Wimbledon appearance. In 2002, he lost in the second round to Swiss lucky loser George Bastl, whose highest world ranking was about No. 71, by a score of 6-3, 6-2, 4-6, 3-6, 6-4.
Sampras, seeded sixth, dropped the first two sets but mounted a spirited comeback to level the match. As the favorite with his serve-and-volley mastery, he seemed poised to advance. Yet Bastl, who had only entered the main draw as a lucky loser, regained control in the fifth set and held firm to deliver one of the most jaw-dropping results in Sampras’ farewell campaign at the All England Club.
5. Steve Darcis vs Rafael Nadal (2013, First Round)
The 2013 Wimbledon opened with immediate drama when Belgium’s Steve Darcis, ranked outside the top 100 at the time, defeated fifth-seeded Rafael Nadal 7-6(4), 7-6(8), 6-4 in straight sets on Court 1. Fresh off another French Open title, Nadal was expected to bounce back from his surprising 2012 second-round loss to Lukas Rosol.
Darcis delivered an outstanding performance, serving accurately and hitting the ball cleanly throughout the match. He edged two close tiebreaks and took control of the third set. The defeat was Nadal’s first-ever first-round loss at a Grand Slam and set the stage for a tournament filled with surprises. It was the finest win of the Belgian’s career and a reminder that even the greatest champions can be beaten on grass when an opponent produces their very best tennis.
Also Read: Top 5 Fastest Tennis Serves Ever Recorded
