Nadal out early for fourth straight year
Qualifier Brown tops ex-No. 1
From 200611, Rafael Nadal reached the final at Wimbledon every time. In his most recent four appearances, though, Nadal has exited early against an unheralded opponent ranked 100th or worse. On Thursday, Nadal lost 7-5, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 in the second round to Dustin Brown, who needed to qualify just to enter the main draw.
“It’s not the end,” Nadal said. “(It’s) a sad moment for me ... but life continues. My career, too.”
Toni Nadal, Rafael’s uncle and coach, summed up the Centre Court match this way: “He played really bad. Bad shots. Very bad with his forehand.”
But give credit to Brown, who won with a mix of oldschool serve-and-volleying, drop shots, drop volleys and go-for-it returns.
“I had nothing to lose. If I lose 6-1, 6-2, 6-3, everyone says ‘Bravo, Rafa,’” Brown said.
The 30-year-old Brown was born in Germany to a Jamaican father and German mother. They moved to Jamaica when he was 12 and returned to Europe about a decade ago. Around that time, his parents bought him an RV so he could drive from tournament to tournament.
Brown is ranked 102nd, entered Thursday with a 6-11 record in 2015 and has never been past the third round at a major.
Nadal, 29, is a former No. 1 and the owner of 14 major titles, tied with Pete Sampras for second-most behind Roger Federer’s 17.
Federer joined Andy Murray and Petra Kvitova as past Wimbledon champions who took straightforward, straight-set victories Thursday. Federer’s 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 win over Sam Querrey of the U.S. included one particularly memorable moment — an on-the-run, between-thelegs lob.
“You want to go over and give him a high-five sometimes,” Querrey said, “but you can’t do that.”
Nadal used to leave opponents feeling that way, too. Not lately. He missed time last season with a right wrist injury, then needed appendix surgery, and he has spoken about confidence issues.
After his run of five consecutive French Open titles ended last month with a quarterfinal loss to Novak Djokovic, Nadal’s ranking dropped to 10th, his worst in 10 years.
He has failed to win any of his past four major tournaments, not even reaching the semifinals. It’s the 29-year-old Spaniard’s longest drought since the first five Slams of his career.
WILLIAMS SISTERS ON COLLISION COURSE
In 2009, Serena and Venus Williams played against each other for the fourth time in eight Wimbledon finals.
They haven’t met in an all-Williams match at the All England Club since.
With one victory apiece today, they will set up the latest installment of their sibling rivalry at the grasscourt tournament, only this time it would be in the fourth round.
The No. 1-seeded Serena takes a 23-match Grand Slam winning streak into the third round against 59th-ranked Heather Watson of Britain on Centre Court.
Little doubt who the crowd will back.
“I’ve been used to playing against a lot of local people. Doesn’t matter what country it’s in. Hopefully, that will help me a little bit,” Serena said. “The home court will probably help her a little bit.”
The 16th-seeded Venus, meanwhile, will face 82ndranked Aleksandra Krunic of Serbia on Court 2.
Each Williams sister has won five Wimbledon titles.
That includes when Serena beat Venus in the 2002, 2003 and 2009 finals, part of her total of 20 major singles trophies. And when Venus beat Serena in the 2008 final for the most recent of her seven Grand Slam championships.
Meanwhile a couple of young Australians will aim for upsets in the men’s draw: 27th-seeded Bernard Tomic takes on No. 1 Novak Djokovic, the defending champion, on Centre Court, while No. 26 Nick Kyrgios faces No. 7 Milos Raonic, a semifinalist in 2014, on Court 2.
Tomic, 22, was a quarterfinalist at Wimbledon back in 2011. Kyrgios, 20, knocked off Nadal in the fourth round a year ago.
Reigning U.S. Open champion Marin Cilic of Croatia, who’s seeded No. 9, plays No. 17 John Isner of the U.S. on Court 1.
“The thing that (Cilic) does the best, in my opinion: He’s always calm and composed on the court. He’s never getting angry at himself out there,” Isner said. “He just stays the path, and it’s paid very big dividends for him.”