The Serbian defending champion was sensationally knocked out in the second round of the Australian Open by Uzbekistan’s Denis Istomin on Thursday, with the 117th-ranked Istomin ousting the six-time winner 7-6(10/8), 5-7, 2-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 in 4hr 48min on Rod Laver Arena.
Here, Sport360 looks back at five other occasions where top-ranked players have been dumped out of the majors in the early rounds.
WIMBLEDON 2013 – FEDERER KNOCKED OUT IN ROUND TWO
Swisss star and defending champion Roger Federer was beaten 6-7 (5-7) 7-6 (7-5) 7-5 7-6 (7-5) in a four-set epic by world number 116 Sergiy Stakhovsky in the second round at SW19.
At the time, it was the 17-time Grand Slam champion’s earliest exit at a major since 2003.
WIMBLEDON 2012 – NADAL OUSTED BY ROSOL POWER
Two-time SW19 winner Rafael Nadal was knocked out in a Centre Couty epic by world no100 Lukas Rosol. The Czech battled and bruised his way to a famous 6-7 (9-11) 6-4 6-4 2-6 6-4 win.
FRENCH OPEN 2009 – SODERLING DOWNS NADAL
Super Swede Robin Soderling became the first man to beat Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros, dashing the Spaniard’s hopes of winning a fifth title in a row. Nadal was powered off the court at the fourth-round stage as Soderling made his way through to the final, losing to Federer.
WIMBLEDON 2003 – LLEYTON HEWITT SENT PACKING IN OPENER
The Australian defending champion became only the third man in history to get knocked out in the first round of his title defence – losing to big-serving Croatian Ivo Karlovic, 6-7 (9-11) 6-4 6-4 2-6 6-4.
WIMBLEDON 2002 – SAMPRAS’S WIMBLEDON CAREER ENDS IN DEFEAT
There was to be no fairrytale ending at Wimbledon for the seven-time SW19 champion as Swiss player Bastl, the world no145 and lucky loser qualifier, beat the American in five sets on Court 18.
Which shock do you remember the most?
Let us know!
Share with us your thoughts by commenting below, using #360fans on Twitter or getting in touch via Facebook.
1 / 5
2 / 5
3 / 5
4 / 5
5 / 5
