Nadal suffers humiliating defeat at Wimbledon

LONDON: Rafael Nadal suffered Wimbledon humiliation at the hands of Belgian world number 135 Steve Darcis on Monday, a shock first round defeat which instantly cleared the title paths of Andy Murray and Roger Federer.

Journeyman Darcis clinched a 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (10/8), 6-4 win to condemn the fifth-seed Spanish superstar to a first ever loss in the opening round of a major.

It also came just two weeks after 12-time Grand Slam title winner Nadal, the 2008 and 2010 Wimbledon champion, had celebrated a record eighth French Open crown.

The sensational result was the first time since Gustavo Kuerten in 1997 that a French Open champion had lost in the opening round at Wimbledon.

Nadal's last defeat to such a low-ranked player was to Joachim Johansson, the world 690, at the 2006 Stockholm Open.

The defeat, which followed Nadal's second round shocker at the hands of Lukas Rosol of the Czech Republic at last year's Wimbledon, brought to an end his 22-match winning streak in 2013.

But he refused to blame his constant struggles with his knees for defeat.

"It's not the right day (to discuss my knees). I tried my best in every moment, but it was not possible this afternoon," said Nadal.

"On grass, it's difficult to adapt when you don't have a chance to play on the surface before Wimbledon.

"Darcis deserved to win today."

Darcis, 29, and nicknamed 'Shark', had come into Wimbledon with just two wins under his belt on the tour all year.

"Nobody was expecting my win today. I don't know what to say. I'm really happy," said Darcis, who has now matched his best performance at the All England Club having reached the second round in 2009.

Nadal had won 43 of his 45 matches and seven titles since his return to the tour in February after a seven-month injury lay-off to rest his notoriously suspect knees.

But he was flat-footed and half-hearted as Darcis fired 13 aces and 53 winners past the hapless Spaniard.

Darcis will next face Poland's Lukasz Kubot.