PETE ZIEBRON
In perhaps the greatest upset in Wimbledon history, Lukas Rosol of the Czech Republic, ranked #100 defeated world #2 Rafael Nadal 6-7(9) 6-4 6-4 2-6 6-4 in 2nd Round action on Thursday. Nadal appeared in the Wimbledon Final the last 5 times he played the tournament, winning twice.
Rosol was not able to advance past the 1st round of Qualifying each of the 5 times he played the tournament and only managed to win 1 set in the Qualifying round. Earlier this year Rosol trailed Philipp Petzschner of Germany in the 1st round of the Australian Open 0-6 0-6 0-4 before getting on the board.
Here is how Rosol, Nadal and several other top ATP players reacted to Rosol's monumental accomplishment on Centre Court:
Lukas Rosol: "Still I cannot find the words. I still can't believe it. It's like dream for me."
"In the fifth set, I didn't feel anything. I was just so even much concentrate on myself, and it works."
Two time Wimbledon Champion Rafael Nadal Pete Ziebron Images
Rafael Nadal: "That's happens when you play against a player who is able to hit the ball very hard, hit the ball without thinking and feeling the pressure. At the end, when the opponent wants to play like he wanted to play in the fifth, you are in his hands, no?"
Roger Federer: "He (Rosol) didn't play like that for five sets, but in the fifth it was just a joke. I was laughing because of his performance for 10 minutes after that. I couldn't believe that he pulled it off the way he did."
Radek Stepanek: "He was just swinging, swinging, and, you know, it was very impressive from his side what he did yesterday. You know, I have been with Lukas in all Davis Cup ties for last, I don't know, four or five years. We knew that he's hitting the ball hard from anywhere, but, you know, because it was missing the court. You know, yesterday was an example when everything goes with you and the day is there, you feel that you can't miss the court and you hit winners from everywhere. That's what happened for him yesterday, which is great, you know, for him. Beating Nadal on Centre Court in Wimbledon, it takes something."
Novak Djokovic: "Here is not much to say about that match aside of the fact that Rosol played incredible match. There's not much you can do. I don't think Rafa played that bad. You know, just Rosol came up with incredible serves, very aggressive shots. He was taking his chances. You know, you have those days when your opponents have really nothing to lose and they're going for all the shots. So congratulations to him. It's been an incredible match. Everybody thought maybe he's going to have some ups and downs probably in the fifth set, but he proved everybody wrong."
Sam Querrey: "Rosol looked like he played unbelievable. Just, you know, went for everything, served unbelievable. You know, that's what you have to do when you're playing these top guys."
Juan Monaco: "The guy's nothing to lose, playing unbelievable, great serves. Final set, I mean, he got an early break. Then he played so relaxed, like all the shots go through like so easy. Nothing to lose. I mean, he really deserved to win."
Comments