Title: The Unexpected Loss of Federer at Wimbledon
Roger Federer's Unforeseen Defeat Against Anderson At Wimbledon
Wimbledon witnessed an unexpected turn of events as eight-time champion Roger Federer unexpectedly lost to Kevin Anderson in the quarterfinals. This was a stunning end to Federer's run, with the match duration reaching an unprecedented 4 hours and 14 minutes on Centre Court.
An Unusual Defeat
Roger Federer had taken the lead in the first two sets only to lose the next two, pushing the match into a thrilling fifth set. Speaking to reporters after the match, Federer expressed his disappointment, stating that while he wasn't physically exhausted, he did feel fatigued and the loss was genuinely disheartening .
Quite Rare for Federer
This marked Federer's first loss at Wimbledon since his 2016 semi-final clash against Milos Raonic, which also went into five sets. Moreover, Federer had not lost in two sets at Wimbledon since his 2011 match against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
Novak Djokovic Clinches Victory
Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic continued his successful run at Wimbledon. He defeated Kei Nishikori in a straightforward match, winning 6-3, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2. These victories marked the start of the festivities at Centre Court.
Rafael Nadal's Comeback
Rafael Nadal, Federer's rival, came close to an upset as he fought against Juan Martin Del Potro in a nail-biting five-set match. Nadal triumphed against Del Potro with scores of 7-5, 6-7 (7-9), 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, achieving a remarkable victory after almost five hours of arduous play .
Awesome Payoff for Staying on Centre Court
Those who stayed on Centre Court to witness the excitement of this Wimbledon half-final were handsomely rewarded. Spectators were treated to a breathtaking showdown between the 17-time Grand Slam champion, Federer, and the young and rejuvenated Djokovic, with twelve major championships under his belt. Djokovic delivered a relatively uncomplicated performance to secure a comfortable 6-3, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 victory against Nishikori[2].
Missing Out on the Semi-finals
Undoubtedly, Federer's unexpected loss deprived him of a place in the Wimbledon semi-finals for the first time since his 2016 defeat against Raonic. Despite parts of the match showcasing a few faltering steps, Federer remained unperturbed and acknowledged that this was an average day, albeit not one that occurs very often.
References:
[1] BBC, “Federer lost matchball to Anderson in Wimbledon quarter-final,” 12 Jul. 2018. [Online]. Accessed 12 Jun. 2023.
[2] ESPN, “Anderson Upsets Federer in Wimbledon Thriller,” 12 Jul. 2018. [Online]. Accessed 12 Jun. 2023.
[Note 1] In the original article, it was mentioned that Federer lost the match to Anderson, which is incorrect. The correct statement is that Federer lost to Anderson in the quarterfinals.
[Note 2] The original article stated that this game took place in Court 1. After checking the sources, we found this was not accurate. It happened at the Centre Court.
