By The Book: The 25 Biggest Tennis Upsets In 2010
During 2010 many top-ranked tennis pros stumbled, falling from stupendous heights while their lower-ranked opponents accomplished the seemingly impossible.
Such surprising results makes tennis a fascinating sport because on any given day a No. 1 seed may fall to someone ranked 84.
The top 20 tennis players, men or women, are not separated from the rest of the field primarily by talent. More than likely the top players win consistently because of that elusive ability to close out matches and capture critical points.
The will to win is often the determining factor in most matches. Sometimes, however, that drive to win takes a joy ride, leaving the higher-ranked player stranded, unable to pull out the victory.
This catalog of upsets reviews those matches that made our jaws drop, our astonishment meters rocket while our credulity stretched to accept the results.
The winner of the match was not expected to win by fans, pundits or bookies.
Counting down the top 25. Disagreements are encouraged. Weigh in.
#25. Fabio Fognini (80) Defeated Fernando Verdasco (8), 1st Round, Wimbledon
1 of 25
#25 - Verdasco sent packing by Fabio Fognini after the first round at Wimbledon.
Wimbledon 2010 did not turn out as Fernando Verdasco envisioned. The handsome Spaniard didn’t even get to change outfits before Fabio Fognini showed him the exit at the All-England Club.
Having made the fourth round at Wimbledon the past two years, this opening round exit was a shock to Verdasco and his fans.
Fognini who had been forced to play in the dark during a marathon match against Frenchman Gael Monfils at the French Open earlier that summer, came into Wimbledon ranked No. 80 in the world. But, as tennis fans who witnessed that infamous match could attest, Fognini had something special.
Fans following the French Open match watched when the Italian returned to Roland Garros the following day to finish his match against Monfils and the pro-French crowd. Many were pleased that Fognini polished off Monfils to punctuate the conclusion of that controversial match.
With the same determination he displayed in that French Open contest, aided by a massive serve, Fognini left Verdasco reeling after a hard-fought first round contest 7-6, 6-2, 6-7, 6-4.
The match stayed even until the first set tie-break when Fognini won the advantage.
The Italian's assault continued in the second set. Verdasco, however, did not quit, fighting back to win the third set in a tiebreak.
In the end, however, Fognini was not to be denied. He won a tight fourth set and the match.
This sent Fognini into the second round and Verdasco back home scratching his head.
#24. Jurgen Melzer (22) Defeated David Ferrer (11), 3rd Round, French Open
2 of 25
#24 - Spanish terrier Ferrer could not shake loose Jurgen Melzer in the 3rd round of the French Open.
David Ferrer, probably the second most successful Spanish player on clay next to Rafael Nada, was beaten at Roland Garros in 2010 in the third round by Jurgen Melzer 6-4, 6-0, 7-6.
The Austrian would go on to have a breakout year in tennis. But this result was a shocker for most tennis aficionados.
Ferrer not only lost to Melzer, he lost in straight sets, as the Austrian continued his unrelenting assault from the back of the court.
Ferrer could not find a counter to Melzer’s power.
By the time an hour had passed, Ferrer was already down two sets.
The Spaniard woke up in time to make it a contest in set number three––taking it to a tiebreak.
At that point, however, Ferrer ran out of gas, watching as he and the tiebreak went down the drain 7-1.
In less than 2 hours, Ferrer’s 2010 French Open was over.
#23. Michael Berrer (56) Defeated Nikolay Davydenko (6), 2nd Round, Dubai
3 of 25
#23 - Limp-wristed Nikolay Davydenko could not hold a racket to German Michael Berrer in the 2nd Round at Dubai.
The fourth seed, Nikolay Davydenko, was nursing an injury when he came into Dubai.
The Russian injured his wrist during a fall at Marseilles during a semifinal contest but Davydenko hoped that he was sufficiently recovered to advance at Dubai.
Michael Berrer, however, came out firing, scoring four aces in the opening game.
Unexpectedly the German was enjoying a stellar start to his season compiling 10 wins so far in 2010.
Berrer broke Davydenko to go up 3-1 in the opening set. The Russian was able to hold off the German, but not able to break back.
When Berrer won the first set 6-3, Davydenko retired, unable to continue.
The unseeded German relished his victory as he moved on to the third round.
The injury, however, kept Davydenko sidelined for much of the year.
#22. Juan Monaco (22) Defeated Andy Murray (4), 2nd Round, Valencia
4 of 25
#22 - Juan Monaco ejected defending champ Andy Murray from Valencia in the 2nd Round.
Defending champion, Andy Murray, seeded No. 1 was shocked by Argentine Juan Monaco in the second round at Valencia––and bounced unceremoniously from the tournament.
Valencia (Spain) moved from a spring clay court event to a fall indoor hard court tournament.
By moving, it has become a place players come to help them qualify for the season-ending ATP World Tour Finals in London.
Murray, who won the event last year, was expected to repeat as champion by most.
Juan Monaco, however, failed to read the press pronouncements.
The Argentine shot out to a 3-1 lead after breaking Murray in the second game. The Argentine soon saw his advantage climb to 5-2. Monaco took the first set 6-2.
Murray regained his edge in the second set after losing his first service game. The Scot fought back to take the second set 6-3 behind solid serving and defense.
The third set, however, belonged to the Argentine who re-established his winning ways and he closed out the third set 6-2.
Murray, the defending champion, was out in the second round while Monaco advanced to the third.
#21. Oliver Rochus (60) Defeated Robin Soderling (7), 2nd Round, Nice
5 of 25
#21 - Oliver Rochus was not nice to Robin Soderling in Nice during the 2nd Round.
So what was going on here? The tournament before the French Open and the French Open “Upset King” is upset?
This was not the kind of preparation nor the mindset the Swede wanted just prior to his French Open campaign.
The Belgian Rochus, however, was a veteran and remained ready to take advantage when opportunities arose.
Soderling served 15 aces in the match but it was not enough to discourage Rochus who came back after breaking the Swede three times to win 2-6, 6-4, 6-4.
To move to the quarterfinals, the Belgian utilized well-timed drop shots and deliberate slices to carve up Soderling’s game.
So far, Soderling’s clay court season was not going well.
#20. Arnaud Clement (68) Defeated Marcos Baghdatis (18), 1st Round, U.S. Open
6 of 25
#20 - Arnaud Clement melted Marcos Baghdatis' game in the 1st Round of the U.S. Open.
Before the rains came, it was very hot in New York––sweltering during the opening rounds.
Marcos Baghdatis seeded No. 16 at the U.S. Open had used 2010 to climb back up the rankings and reestablish his game after injuries kept him sidelined and his rankings sank out of sight.
The Cypriot had never done well in New York and 2010 would prove to be no exception.
The Frenchman Clement took the opening set before Baghdatis settled into the match.
Baghdatis came back strong, winning the next two sets.
Then the heat settled on the hard courts and the issue of fitness became relevant.
Baghdatis admitted that he felt heavy and unfit on the court that afternoon as Clement came back to win the final two sets.
Baghdatis never quit as he struggled to win this opening round contest but it was not to be his day as he lost 6-3, 2-6, 1-6, 6-4, 7-5.
#19. Janko Tipsarevic (39) Defeated Andy Murray (4), 2nd Round, Dubai
7 of 25
#19 - Janko Tipsarevic tips Andy Murray out in the 2nd Round at Dubai.
Dubai marked Murray’s first tournament back since losing in the finals of the 2010 Australian Open to Roger Federer.
It turned out to be much less fulfilling than the Scot had hoped.
This had much to do with his second round opponent Janko Tipsarevic who has the ability to make life difficult for anyone––but especially higher-ranked seeds.
The first set see-sawed as first Tipsarevic held an advantage but could not hold it as Murray broke back leveling the set at 5-5.
The Serb then scrambled to hold his own serve, taking it to a tiebreak where Tipsarevic dominated. Murray came back in the second set to level the match at one set apiece.
The third set saw the Serb gain an early advantage and hold on almost to the end when Murray broke back.
The Scot, however, lost his next service game, giving Tipsarevic the win as the Serb sank to his knees once he won the match.
#18. Guillermo Garcia-Lopez (49) Defeated Marin Cilic (9), 2nd Rnd, Indian Wells
8 of 25
#18 - Guillermo Garcia-Lopez denies a victory to Marin Cilic in the 2nd Round at Indian Wells.
In the second round, World No. 9 Marin Cilic became the first, biggest casualty in the men’s draw at Indian Wells as he crashed out against Spaniard Guillermo Garcia-Lopez 7-6(1), 6-0.
After mustering all of his reserve, Cilic could not serve out the opening set.
After failing in set one, the Croat managed to win just 13 more points the rest of the match as Garcia-Lopez slammed the door shut.
It was Cilic’s earliest exit this season, after beginning the year with a circuit-best 18-2 mark. Many had selected Cilic as a dark-horse to win this tournament.
He had defended his titles at Chennai and Zagreb, reached the semi-finals at the Australian Open and quarter-finals in Dubai.
Everyone continued to expect great things of Cilic, who sometimes does and sometimes doesn’t, meet these expectations.
Indian Wells proved to be one of those in the “doesn’t” category.
#17. Shahar Peer (19) Defeated Svetlana Kuznetsova (7), 1st Round, Madrid
9 of 25
#17 - Kuznetsova continued to cave, falling to Peer in the 1st Round at Madrid.
Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova was the reigning French Open champion coming into Madrid in 2010. But she was not the same player she was in 2009.
Israel’s Shahar Peer recorded the biggest first round upset at the Mutua Madridilena Madrid Open, defeating the Russian Kuznetsova 6-0 in the third set.
Kuznetsova dropped serve six times in the match and seemed unable to control her shots as she fell 6-3, 2-6, 6-0.
Peer was playing well on the year while the Russian continued to fade.
Seeded fifth in Madrid, Kuznetsova who lost early in both Stuttgart and Rome, could not break her habit of early round failures in Madrid.
The Russian’s ability to recapture the French Open crown remained in serious doubt.
#16. Vera Zvonareva (21) Defeated Kim Clijsters (8), Quarterfinals, Wimbledon
10 of 25
#16. (21) Vera Zvonareva overcame nerves and Clijsters in the Quarterfinals at Wimbledon.
Most Russian women find themselves burdened with excessive emotions on court. Some learn to deal with it and some do not.
Maria Sharapova, for example, always manages to keep her emotions in check.
But for years the very talented Zvonareva suffered meltdowns on court when she lost, not playing up to her potential. Often she let the match get away while she beat up on herself.
But not in her match with the resurgent Kim Clijsters of Belgium during the 2010 Wimbledon quarterfinals. Zvonareva won over her nerves and Clijsters 3-6, 6-4, 6-2.
After Clijsters won the first set, it seemed inevitable that the Belgian would win the match.
But Zvonareva dug in and began taking the ball earlier, forcing the action––hitting the ball deep and accurately. The Russian took the second set in 36 minutes and followed that up by securing the third set in 32 minutes.
In the match, Zvonareva hit three aces with two double faults and 19 unforced errors.
Clijsters, on the other hand, struggled in the second and third sets, hitting only two aces with four double faults and a massive 36 unforced errors.
The Belgian’s forehand let her down. Vera Zvonareva moved on to the semifinals to face Tsvetana Pironkova of Bulgaria.
#15. Oliver Rochus (59) Defeated Novak Djokovic (2), 2nd Round, Miami
11 of 25
#15 - Oliver Rochus stretched to beat Novak Djokovic, in the 2nd Round at Miami.
Despite measuring only 5’6” Oliver Rochus towered over Novak Djokovic on this day.
Djokovic who was a finalist in Miami in 2009 could not overcome a lingering lethargy that kept his feet cemented in place, or so it seemed to the Serb who could not quite reach the balls Rochus rocketed back across the net.
In a rain-soaked match interrupted, stopped and started, Rochus hung on to score one of the biggest wins of his career over the No. 2 ranked Djokovic 6-2, 6-7, 6-4.
After falling behind 0-4, the Serb could not find his way back, losing the opening set.
Still, after falling behind in the second set tiebreak, Djokovic rallied from behind to take the tiebreak 9-7 and even the match.
The third set was tight and Djokovic had his chances to win but he remained back, waiting for the match to come to him rather than going out and seizing it by the throat.
For his lack of effort, he lost and Rochus was the man falling onto his back celebrating victory in Miami.
#14. Stanislas Wawrinka (27) Defeated Andy Murray (4), 3rd Round, U.S. Open
12 of 25
#14 - Stan Wawrinka beat up on his friend Andy Murray in the 3rd Round of the U.S. Open.
Again, one of the favorites coming into the U.S. Open, Murray found himself excluded from the party much earlier than expected by a player from Switzerland.
But this time the player was not Roger Federer.
It was one of Murray’s good friends, Stanislas Wawrinka who gave the Scot no quarter, taking him out in the biggest upset of Day Eight with a 6-7, 7-6, 6-3, 6-3 score.
Murray, the 2008 US Open finalist who lost that day to Federer, split a pair of tiebreakers with Wawrinka during the opening 2 sets before the No. 25 seed systematically ground down the Scot.
Murray appeared to be nursing a thigh strain, but never mentioned the injury as a reason for his loss.
Wawrinka played one of the best slam matches of his career to derail Murray once again.
#13. Marcos Baghdatis (33) Defeated Roger Federer (1), 3rd Round, Indian Wells
13 of 25
#13 - Happy Marcos Baghdatis celebrated his victory over Roger Federer in the 3rd Round at Indian Wells
After holding three match points, Roger Federer finally succumbed to the constant pressure applied by the No. 33 ranked Marcos Baghdatis in the third round at Indian Wells 5-7, 7-5, 7-6.
The World No. 1 had not lost a match when he had a match point since Rome in 2006.
It was, in fact, Federer’s first tournament back since winning the Australian Open after contracting a lung infection.
Not being match strong proved to be costly for the Swiss. It was Baghdatis’ first win against Federer in seven tries.
Baghdatis who faced Federer in the finals of the Australian Open in 2006 was coming back after suffering through numerous injuries and setbacks most of 2008 and early 2009.
Now ranked 33rd, the Cypriot was trying to make his way back, he hoped, into the top 20.
Federer seemed to have things under control as he won the first set with a single break of serve late in the opener.
But then Baghdatis repeated the favor winning the second set in similar fashion.
In the third set, both blinked once before the match needed to be settled in a tiebreak.
The bounce went Baghdatis’ way and he took the final set and the match to earn his way into the next round while Federer packed his bags and moved on to Miami.
#12. Petra Kvitova (62) Defeated Caroline Wozniacki (4), 4th Round, Wimbledon
14 of 25
#12 - Petra Kvitova cancels Wozniacki's appearance in the Wimbledon Quarterfinals.
Petra Kvitova win over Caroline Wozniacki is not amazing. What was amazing was how the Czech rising star throttled Dane Wozniacki at Wimbledon 6-2, 6-0.
Kvitova had not even won a match on grass before this tournament in 2010.
Yet the Czech won this match in 46 minutes––this after dismissing both Jie Zheng and Victoria Azarenka in previous rounds.
From the outset, the left-handed Czech overpowered Wozniacki hitting stinging returns as well as overpowering serves.
Wozniacki never made it into contention in this match. The Dane seemed dazed as her opponent brushed her aside without much effort.
Wozniacki had no answers for her opponent’s game in this match. Instead, Sweet Caroline packed her bags and headed home.
#11. Jurgen Melzer (22) Defeated Novak Djokovic (3), Quarterfinals, French Open
15 of 25
#11 - Jurgen Melzer dismissed Novak Djokovic from the Quarterfinals of the French Open.
There appeared to be something missing from Novak Djokovic’s game so far in 2010.
Some deemed it a lack of stamina or fire. Such was the case during the quarterfinals of the French Open when the Serb met the No. 22 seed Jurgen Melzer.
It was not immediately apparent but leading in the match two sets to love, Djokovic began to fade, and then fade badly as the match wore on.
After four hours and fifteen minutes, Melzer won the battle and the war 3-6, 2-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7-3), 6-4, sending Djokovic home as the Austrian headed on to meet Nadal in the semifinals.
The Serbian suffered from breathing problems apparently––but Djokovic still fought hard to advance.
The Serb had a chance to win it all in the fourth set, but could not overcome the Austrian in the tiebreak.
In the fifth set, Djokovic would get ahead on Melzer’s serve, but the Austrian with some brilliant shot-making hung on. Eventually, he broke Djokovic and took the fifth and final set and the match.
For Melzer, he was in his first grand slam semifinal at age 29.
#10. Samantha Stosur (7) Defeated Justine Henin (22), 4th Round, French Open
16 of 25
#10 - Samantha Stosur proved better on clay than Henin during the 4th Round of the French Open.
It is hard to justify calling this an upset because Stosur was the higher ranked player on the day.
But the matchup favored the Queen of the French Open returned to Roland Garros to reclaim her crown.
That was sort of the attitude at the start of the French Open as Henin hoped to add her fifth French Open title.
This remained true even though Stosur had made it to the semifinals at the French in 2009.
Prior to the start of the French Open, Henin had beaten Stosur at Stuttgart. Consequently, when Henin took the opening set 6-2 with two breaks of serve, it appeared that events would go as predicted.
But then Stosur stormed back, breaking Henin at the Aussie’s first opportunity and then dominating Henin to take the second set 6-1.
The third and final set was played at a much higher level for both players but Henin blinked first and Stosur broke her and took the lead 3-2.
But a determined Henin broke right back to even the set at 3-3.
Far from crumbling, Stosur upped her game again, breaking Henin in the ninth game and then serving it out for a victory and the privilege of meeting Serena Williams in the quarterfinals.
#9. Jurgen Melzer (12) Defeated Rafael Nadal (1), 3rd Round, Shanghai
17 of 25
#9 - Jurgen Melzer Upset Rafael Nadal in the 3rd Round at Shanghai.
2010 was proving to be Jurgen Melzer’s finest as he continued to upset top-ranked players.
But his win over No. 1 Rafael Nadal during the third round at the Shanghai Masters may have topped them all.
Melzer started fast, firing with both guns, power and accuracy, loaded. He set Nadal's back to the wall trying to keep pace as Melzer took the first set 6-1.
Beating Nadal 6-1 is no easy task and no one had spanked the Majorcan so hard in a year.
Nadal came back equally as hard in the second set. It became Melzer’s turn to scramble for points as the Austrian’s errors began to mount. Nadal took the second set 6-3.
It seemed that the momentum had shifted now in favor of the World No. 1.
It came down to the final set where the two combatants remained on serve until Melzer finally broke Nadal’s serve in the sixth game.
After some controversy over line calls, it came down to Melzer to serve out the set. He did at love, winning the set and the match 6-1, 3-6, 6-3.
#8. Dudi Sela (63) Defeated Andy Roddick (7), 3rd Round, Queens
18 of 25
#8 - Dudi Sela rocked Roddick's world in the 3rd Round at Queens.
Andy Roddick had skipped the 2010 clay season, finally appearing at the French Open where he lasted a few rounds.
Now the American was off to play in his typical grass warm up event at the Queen’s Club as the No. 4 seed.
Roddick who has played in this event since 2001 and who has won the tournament 4 times, was not match tough coming into Queens. It showed in this match.
Israeli Sela broke Roddick’s serve once in the first set which proved to be enough to win the opener 6-4.
Roddick could never dent the Israeli’s serve. In the second set there were no breaks of serve, going to a tiebreak to decide matters.
During the tiebreak, Sela held on for dear life, saving two set points before finally eking out a victory with a superb diving volley.
It was the American’s worst result since Roddick lost in round one in 2001 at the Aegon Championships at the Queens Club.
It was Sela’s best result, needless to say. The Israeli was moving on to the quarterfinals.
#7. Tomas Berdych (13) Defeated Roger Federer (2), Quarterfinals, Wimbledon
19 of 25
#7 - Tomas Berdych ruined Roger Federer's run during the Quarterfinals at Wimbledon.
Tomas Berdych after winning his first two matches at the All England Club in straight sets barely survived Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan in five sets 6-7, 7-6, 6-7, 6-3, 6-4.
Istomin who had suffered through two previous five set matches, ran out of gas against Berdych in the third round. The Czech’s fourth round victory over Daniel Brands of Germany 4-6, 7-6, 7-5, 6-3 set up a quarterfinal match-up with the No. 1 seed, Roger Federer, defending champion.
Federer, whose level of play after the Australian Open took a swan dive, found himself across the net from the tournament’s soon-to-be hottest player.
This in less than a month after Federer’s streak of slam semifinal appearances ended at 23 when Robin Soderling dismissed the Swiss in the French Open quarterfinals.
Federer and Berdych had met ten times with Berdych winning twice––shocking Federer in the early rounds at the 2004 Olympics in Athens and then again in 2010 at the ATP Masters Tournament in Miami. Federer had defeated Berdych twice on grass prior to this quarterfinal match up.
On this day, there was no magic come back for the six-time champion as Berdych continued to power past the Swiss serving extremely well and hitting his groundstrokes with power and depth.
The unrelenting pressure applied by Berdych resulted in his best win to date over Federer on the lawns of Wimbledon, Federer’s favorite surface.
The match which lasted about two and a half hours ended when Berdych delivered another forehand winner to take the match 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4.
Even though there were some tense moments for Berdych in the closing moments of the fourth set, the Czech held his nerve and sent Federer home early, failing to reach the finals for the first time since 2002.
From 2003 through 2009 Federer had presented himself on Centre Court for every gentleman’s singles final.
In 2010 it would be Tomas Berdych who would face the World No. 1 Rafael Nadal.
#6. Ivan Ljubicic (26) Defeated Rafael Nadal (3), Semifinals, Indian Wells
20 of 25
#6 - Ljubicic blew Rafael Nadal out of the finals at Indian Wells.
This was a year of renewal as some of the “oldest” tennis players came back for a curtain call, reminding you and them of their former glory days.
One who shined brightest during the early American hard court season was Ivan Ljubicic who turned 31 in March.
The Croat managed to pull off a major upset by upending World No. 3 Rafael Nadal 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 one day after celebrating his birthday.
Ljubicic was on his way to winning Indian Wells, his first ATP Masters title there.
It did not look good early on as Ljubicic lost the opening set. But the Croat did not give up hope of winning this one.
After all Ljubicic had defeated No. 2 Novak Djokovic in the fourth round to get to this moment.
It looked as though the Croat had met his maker when he arrived at the sixth game of set number two, scrambling to save four break points––which may have given Nadal the needed impetus to win the match.
But Ljubicic persevered and leveled the match by taking the second set.
In the third set the two opponents battled all the way to a tiebreak where the Croat played what he described as “the best tiebreak of his career.”
Ljubicic won the set and the match in two and a half hours, winning his second match against Nadal in seven tries.
Nadal would drop from No. 3 to No. 4 by not recapturing the title at Indian Wells. It also kept the Majorcan out of the winner’s circle again.
The title drought continued. But for Ljubicic life just took a big turn for the better.
#5. Francesca Schiavone (18) Defeated Samantha Stosur (7), Final, French Open
21 of 25
#5 - Italian Schiavone won the French Open over Australian Samantha Stosur.
At the 2010 French Open Justine Henin as well as Serena Williams lost to Australian Samantha Stosur who seemed unbeatable with her amazing kick serves, powerful groundstrokes and superlative net play.
But also playing unbelievable tennis was Italian veteran Francesca Schiavone who took out the No. 3 seed Caroline Wozniacki and the No. 5 seed Elena Dementieva in the semifinals.
Stosur, however, was playing so big that nobody gave Schiavone a chance.
After all the Italian had never been beyond the quarterfinals of a major. She had won only one Tier 1 title in her career. Most considered her advancement into the final a fluke.
But along way as she piled up match point after match point, Schiavone began to believe in herself, knowing she had a shot.
Being the underdog, Schiavone also had nothing to lose. With that knowledge and self-confidence the Italian proceeded to play smart tennis by standing inside the baseline to return serve, cutting off Stosur’s big, powerful kick serves.
The little Italian fought like a tiger for each point, chasing down every ball. Stosur seemed stunned by the moment and by the level of play of her opponent.
When Schiavone prevailed 6-4, 7-6, she bent down and kissed the red clay.
Schiavone’s victory over Stosur marked the first time an Italian woman won the French Open.
It also made her win the most remarkable of the year, maybe one of the most improbable ever in the long and rich history of the French Open.
4. Tsvetana Pironkova (82) Defeated Venus Williams (2), Quarterfinals Wimbledon
22 of 25
4 - Tsvetana Pironkova denied Venus Williams another chance at a Wimbledon crown.
Tsvetana Pironkova’s jaw-dropping 6-2, 6-3 upset over five-time Wimbledon champion and No. 2 seed Venus Williams in the quarterfinals of Wimbledon was the biggest upset in the history of the women’s tournament.
Remember that Pironkova was ranked No. 82 in the world.
The Bulgarian had never advanced beyond the second round at a major tournament.
Ever.
Venus Williams who had won this slam five times and is considered one of the three best women ever to play on grass, suffered her worst loss at the All England Club.
The match took an hour and 25 minutes.
While Pironkova played and served well, Venus added to her own misery by missing shots, watching as her unforced errors total climbed out of sight.
Although she fought hard and never gave up, when she got to a ball, Williams would hit it out or dump it into the net more often than not. Her error count proved to be the American’s undoing.
Ironically, it is not the first time Pironkova has shown Venus the exit at a slam.
At the Australian Open in 2006 the Bulgarian dismissed Venus Williams in the first round with a haymaker 2-6, 6-0, 9-7 score.
On Williams’ scorecard, it remains as her only first round loss in a major.
But it could not compare to Williams' sorrow at losing this match at Wimbledon.
#3. Guillermo Garcia-Lopez (53) Defeated Rafael Nadal (1), Semifinals, Bangkok
23 of 25
#3 - Guillermo Garcia-Lopez blocked Rafael Nadal from the finals in Bangkok.
This match was a true stunner.
Rafael Nadal was on a nine match winning streak and no one gave his countryman Guillermo Garcia-Lopez a prayer of a chance as both entered the semifinals of the PTT Thailand Open.
A week prior to this tournament, Nadal had fought and won his career grand slam by winning the U.S. Open.
Naturally Nadal came into Bangkok with great expectations and tremendous accolades.
The Majorcan looked every bit the champion as he brushed aside his first two opponents.
Indeed, he started off this match against his countryman convincingly, winning the opener by breaking Garcia-Lopez twice.
But the World No. 53 hung around, never giving up on the match and gaining hope each time he escaped break points. Garcia-Lopez managed to fight off 16 break points on his own serve as Nadal failed to convert.
The two opponents held serve all the way to the second set tiebreak where Garcia-Lopez brought out his best tennis of the match, winning the breaker 7-3.
That seemed to destroy Nadal’s concentration and he soon found himself down a break, eventually losing the third set and the match to Garcia-Lopez 3-6, 7-6, 6-3.
Nadal failed to convert on 24 of 26 of the break opportunities afforded him and it cost him the match.
#2. Lleyton Hewitt (32) Defeated Roger Federer (2), Final, Halle
24 of 25
#2 - Roger Federer finally lost in Halle to Lleyton Hewitt during the finals.
In their long and storied careers, the two former World No. Ones had met 24 times prior to this match in Halle.
Roger Federer had won the last 15 matches but the Swiss remained well aware of the competitive spirit of the Aussie who never gave up on a single point, let alone on a match.
During this encounter Hewitt demonstrated that nothing is impossible as he overcame the years and two hip surgeries to snap his 15-match losing streak to the man who took away his No. 1 ranking back in 2003, Roger Federer.
This unexpected victory came just a little over four months since undergoing hip surgery after losing to his arch rival Federer at the Australian Open.
To pundits and the world, Federer simply never lost on grass. Coming into this final, the Swiss had lost once in his last 77 matches on the green lawns.
There was no one who felt that Hewitt could win, especially considering the hip surgery less than half a year ago. At the Gerry Weber Open Federer had compiled a record 29 straight match wins.
The Swiss aimed to secure his sixth title at Halle.
Federer had not dropped a set going into the 2010 final and he looked to make short work of it by breaking Hewitt twice in the opening set, winning it 6-3.
Hewitt, however, was not willing to fade away and immediately broke Federer’s serve in the second set. The Swiss broke back immediately and the two stayed on serve to the tiebreak. Hewitt gained the advantage by finally converting his fourth set point.
Even that was astounding because Hewitt became the only player to take a set from Federer at Halle since 2006.
The effect of Hewitt taking the tiebreak lingered as the Australian broke Federer immediately in the third set.
But this time, Federer could not answer the bell and the Swiss did not break back as Hewitt went on win the match 3-6, 7-6, 6-4.
#1. Yen-Hsun Lu (82) Defeated Andy Roddick (7), 4th Round, Wimbledon
25 of 25
#1 - Yen-Hsun Lu confounded Andy Roddick in the 4th Round at Wimbledon.
Of all the upsets in 2010, this one was the biggest shocker as No. 82 Yen-Hsun Lu defeated No. 7 Andy Roddick 4-6, 7-6, 7-6, 6-7, 9-7 during the fourth round at Wimbledon.
In 2009 Roddick played the match of his life at Wimbledon against Roger Federer and was within a point of winning the elusive title that had escaped the American all of his career.
Many gave Roddick a real shot at winning the title this year and after his loss in 2009, many hoped the American would finally achieve winning a Wimbledon championship.
The prospects looked excellent from Roddick's point of view.
This match seemed almost a walk-over for Roddick with his big booming serve. Lu had never before gotten beyond the first round at Wimbledon.
The player from Taiwan took the court having won back-to-back matches on grass only once before, at the Queen’s Club in 2004.
In fact, Roddick had defeated Lu three previous times.
But this proved to be an exceptional day for the son of a chicken farmer who came into the match knowing he had nothing to lose.
Lu went for his shots and found the mark time and again in an inspired performance. Lu blew 83 winners past Roddick.
Ironically, the lad from Taiwan broke Roddick’s serve only once in the final game of the match to secure the stunning victory––just like Roddick's loss last year against Federer.
Lu became the first Asian man since 1995 to reach the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam championship.
Roddick credited Lu with playing well and going for his shots while criticizing his own play on the day.
The American admitted that if he hoped to win the Wimbledon championship, he had to find a way to win matches like this one––the biggest upset in 2010.
.png?w=600 "Who Will Panthers Take at No. 9 ? 🤔")
