Two-time Wimbledon champion and 2013 French Open winner Rafael Nadal was expected to be a major competitor at the 2013 Wimbledon Grand Slam tournament as he continues to play at a high level since returning from injury in February. Perhaps still battling the sore left knee that gave him fits in previous months, Nadal was ousted in Wimbledon's opening round on Monday by Belgian Steve Darcis. The defending French Open champion was knocked out of Wimbledon in the second round last year and his 2013 exit marks another unexpected early departure for one of the best players in the game.
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Collecting only 32 winners to Darcis' 53, Nadal dropped a close opening set 7-6 (7-4). The 135th-ranked player in the world was dominant on serve throughout the opening frame, earning 7 aces while staying step for step and shot for shot with the 2008 and 2010 Wimbledon champion. Closing out the second set by way of a 7-6 (8-7) tiebreaker, Darcis showed he could compete with Nadal and come away with crucial points, surviving back-to-back tiebreak sets to take a 2-0 set advantage. Looking to end his opponent's 22-match win streak, Steve Darcis put Rafa Nadal away in the third set, closing out the match 6-4. The loss marks the first time Rafa Nadal has been eliminated in the first round of any Grand Slam tournament he's entered throughout his 13-year professional career.
"That's the sport and sometimes you play well and have the chance to win and sometimes you play worse and the opponent plays well and you lose," Nadal said after the match. I tried my best out there in every moment and it was not possible for me this afternoon and that's all."
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Following his defeat of Rafa Nadal, Steve Darcis will now begin preparations for his next match against Lukasz Kubot. A native of Poland, Kubot disposed of Russia's Igor Andreev in his opening contest, 6-1, 7-5, 6-2.
While Nadal was struggling to get into a rhythm before losing to Darcis, tournament No. 3 and defending champion Roger Federer had no problem advancing to the second round, eliminating Victor Hanescu 6-3, 6-2, 6-0 and No. 2 seeded Andy Murray got past Benjamin Becker in his first round contest 6-4, 6-3, 6-2. World No. 1 Novak Djokovic battles Mandy Minella on Tuesday while No. 4 and French Open runner-up David Ferrer begins his tournament against Martin Alund on Tuesday as well.
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WATCH HIGHLIGHTS FROM STEVE DARCIS' WIN OVER RAFA NADAL
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