The Philippine Star

Czech-mate

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WIMBLEDON, England – It was Lukas Rosol and not Rafael Nadal who looked like a two-time Wimbledon champion, pummeling an opponent into submission on tennis’ biggest stage.

It was Rosol, and not Nadal, who sprinted to and from his chair during changeover­s like he had a never-ending supply of energy, pumped his fist and shouted to his entourage in the player’s box. And it was the 100th-ranked, little-known Czech making his first Wimbledon appearance – and not the 11-time Grand Slam winner – who only got better and stronger as the second-round match on Centre Court progressed into the night, hitting ace after ace to complete one of the biggest upsets tennis has seen in years.

As surprising as Rosol’s five-set victory over Nadal was, the manner in which he completed it Thursday was perhaps equally stunning.

“In the fifth set he played more than unbelievab­le,” Nadal said.

He wasn’t the only one who struggled to believe what they were seeing.

Rosol, who had lost in qualifying for Wimbledon in each of the past five years, simply outclassed Nadal with his powerful serving and booming ground strokes. He hit cross-court backhand winners that measured 99 mph, he stepped up to whip scorching forehand returns and he served so well that Nadal hardly tried to get to them by the final game. The last one he hit was his 22nd, and it wrapped up a 6-7 (9), 6-4, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 victory that no one had seen coming. Least of all Rosol himself. “I’m not just surprised; it’s like a miracle for me,” he said. “Like just some B team in Czech Republic can beat Real Madrid (in) soccer.”

But Rosol fully earned the win, bouncing back from wasting three set points in the first set to win the next two. After Nadal leveled the match in the fourth, organizers then decided to slide the retractabl­e roof out over Centre Court to allow the match to finish under the lights. That forced a 45-minute break that had Nadal agitated, but seemingly just made Rosol stronger.

He came out and broke Nadal in the first game, and never gave the Spaniard a chance to get back into the match.

“I was playing well in the fourth,” Nadal said. “I played a great fourth set. Sure the stop this time didn’t help me. That’s the sport.”

Nadal had been upset about Rosol’s behavior as he was preparing to return the Spaniard’s serve, and complained about it to the chair umpire during one changeover in the third set. Two games later, Nadal bumped into Rosol – and didn’t acknowledg­e the contact – as they walked to their chairs for a break.

Rosol said he thought Nadal was simply trying to mess up his concentrat­ion.

“I was surprised that he can do it on the Centre Court at Wimbledon,” Rosol said. “It’s like something wrong. ... He hit me, and then three times he apologized. And I say, OK.” And he kept his cool. Rosol won his final 13 service points, seven with aces.

“Maybe it’s once in life you can play like this against Rafael Nadal on Centre Court and you can win against him,” Rosol said. “You know, it’s not easy. I never expect it can happen, something like this.”

It was a result that turned all other matches Thursday into afterthoug­hts.

Top-ranked Maria Sharapova, Serena Williams and defending champion Petra Kvitova all won on the women’s side, while Andy Murray might prove to be the biggest beneficiar­y of Nadal’s loss. The two were set to face each other in the semifinals, but Murray’s side of the draw now looks wide open as he tries to become the first British man since 1936 to win the grass-court Grand Slam.

 ??  ?? Lukas Rosol of the Czech Republic celebrates his victory over Rafael Nadal of Spain in the Wimbledon Championsh­ips at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, in London.
Lukas Rosol of the Czech Republic celebrates his victory over Rafael Nadal of Spain in the Wimbledon Championsh­ips at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, in London.

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