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bill-swift - June 29, 2012
Um, this wasn't meant to happen. Two-time Wimbledon champion Rafael Nadal has been dumped out of the tournament after losing to world number 100 Lukas Rosol in five sets. But don't let the 26-year old Czech's rank kid you, he played some tremendous tennis.
All looked to be going to script after Nadal won the first set 6-7 (11-9) on a tie break but suddenly Rosel stormed into a 2 set to 1 lead by defeating Rafa 6-4, 6-4, before he lost the fourth set 6-2 to the imperious Spaniard.
However the key moment came when play was suspended as the Centre Court roof was closed to keep the match going on through the darkness. Most of the crowd just presumed that Nadal would come back out and steam roller the final set, but Rosol broke the the world number 2 early and was able to keep his nerve to win the match 6-4.
Rosol was making his debut at Wimbledon's main draw after never having progressed through the first round of qualifying in the last five years. He will now play Phillip Kohlschreiber after the German defeated Malek Jaziri.
This upset is great news for Andy Murray who is on the same side of Nadal's draw and the Scot got through his tricky encounter Ivo Karlovic in four sets earlier on in the day.
Nadal had been in great form coming into the tournament having won the French Open for a record seventh time and no one could have predicted this result. It sure does make things very interesting.
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