Two-time defending champion Novak Djokovic was sent crashing out of Wimbledon by big-serving Sam Querrey on Saturday, shattering his hopes of securing the first calendar Grand Slam in 47 years.
The world number one, bidding for a fourth Wimbledon title and 13th major, suffered his earliest loss at a Slam since the 2009 French Open.
The 7-6 (8/6), 6-1, 3-6, 7-6 (7/5) defeat, played out after an overnight suspension and two further lengthy rain interruptions, also ended Djokovic’s Open era record run of 30 successive wins at the majors and his streak of having reached 28 consecutive Grand Slam quarter-finals.
The win also opens up the doors for Andy Murray and Roger Federer to end Djokovic’s stronghold on the Slam titles.
- Djokovic was bidding to win a fifth successive Grand Slam title and become just the second man to achieve the feat. Don Budge won six in a row from 1937 Wimbledon to the 1938 US Championships.
- Djokovic was on a 30-match winning streak at the Grand Slams, an Open era record for consecutive wins. Victory on Saturday would have taken him level with Rod Laver on 31 on the all-time lost, six behind the record set by Don Budge in 1938.
- -The world number one had reached the quarter-finals of his last 28 Grand Slams.
- -Djokovic had not lost in the third round of a Grand Slam since being defeated by Germany’s Phillip Kohlschreiber at Roland Garros in 2009.
- He had not lost before the quarter-finals at Wimbledon since 2008 when he was beaten by Marat Safin in the second round.
- Djokovic had never previously lost a set to an American player at Wimbledon, winning all five matches against US opponents in straight sets.
Novak Djokovic’s Grand Slam record since 7th June 2015:
WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWL#Wimbledon— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 2, 2016
American 28th seed Querrey, the world number 41, goes on to face 34-year-old Frenchman Nicolas Mahut for a place in the quarter-finals.
With AFP inputs (Featured image: Twitter)