Two-time defending champion Novak Djokovic was sent crashing out of Wimbledon by big-serving Sam Querrey on Saturday, shattering his dreams 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) third round defeat 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 huge upset got people talking and this is how some of the players reacted:
World number two Andy Murray:
Right now everyone expects Novak to win every match. He almost found a way to get back into that one today. What he’s done in the last 18 months, I don’t think we’ll see again for a long time. The level of consistency he’s had is amazing, but it’s impossible to win every match.
Australia’s Bernard Tomic:
“Sam played amazing yesterday and served amazing. Novak didn’t play his best tennis. I think when you’ve won so much, sometimes it’s tough to focus, and everyone wants to beat you every day.
“Sam played the match of his life, and he won. That’s what it takes to beat the best player.”
Milos Raonic who was seeded to face Djokovic in the quarter-finals:
“It was obviously a surprise. You know where you stand with that, so you push a little harder.”
And this is how the internet reacted:
Brexit. Political chaos. Sudden celeb deaths. Djokovic not winning. And yet despite all that #GER still win on penalties. Order is restored
— Ben Smith (@BSmith) July 2, 2016
Judy Murray reax to Djokovic loss #wimbledon via r/tennis pic.twitter.com/dCbDMoGeBh
— Lynn Berenbaum (@lynnlovestennis) July 2, 2016
That’s why sports is the best theater ! Hell of a match SQ !! #merica
— andyroddick (@andyroddick) July 2, 2016
Novak Djokovic is out of #Wimbledon! pic.twitter.com/5xpVAQgVzZ
— Paddy Power (@paddypower) July 2, 2016
Can’t imagine the 2nd week of a slam without @DjokerNole but could this mean @rogerfederer could……….
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) July 3, 2016
What a match by Sam Querrey to break the many Djokovic streaks…congrats Sam! Too bad for Novak…28 grand slam quarterfinals in a row… Wow
— Martina Navratilova (@Martina) July 2, 2016
Quote from Sam Querrey’s coach Craig Boynton after he beat Djokovic “sometimes a blind squirrel finds a nut.” 😊#Wimbledon
— Gigi Salmon (@gigi_salmon) July 2, 2016
Corbyn, Leicester, Brexit, Trump- so far so predictable. But DJOKOVIC out? What’s the world coming to? #BBCWimbledon
— Rory Bremner (@rorybremner) July 2, 2016
rumors that, during the match lost to Querrey, Djokovic suffered an injury to the lower anterior ego
— enrico maria riva (@enricomariariva) July 2, 2016
Djokovic out of Wimbledon. It’s the wrong result will cause depression & destroy tennis, just wrong we need a rematch to get right result.
— Peter Hargreaves (@PkhPeter) July 2, 2016
This was a common theme:
Let’s go live to the camps of Roger Federer and Andy Murray upon hearing that Djokovic has lost pic.twitter.com/Rpqcd5r33D
— trey wingo (@wingoz) July 2, 2016
Murray and Federer fans like pic.twitter.com/y15Dn29mOQ
— Courtney Nguyen (@FortyDeuceTwits) July 2, 2016
#Federer fans be like… #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/EWAn2NwqBX
— Nick McCarvel (@NickMcCarvel) July 2, 2016
Federer al enterarse de la derrota de Djokovic en Wimbledon. pic.twitter.com/ZPhniTZL5n
— Reacciones Tenis (@ReaccionesATP) July 2, 2016
And finally, we leave you with this. Ladies and gentlemen, Sam Querrey!
Beating Novak Djokovic is only the second best thing Sam Querrey has ever done: https://t.co/FbH41eMleK
— SB Nation (@SBNation) July 2, 2016
With AFP inputs