What would be a better start to dig deep down in the history to find out more sensational matches on the court, let me take you to 90’s to share details of some extraordinary upsets of that era.
1990 US Open & 1991 Wimbledon
In 1990 US Open, Edberg couldn’t keep his nerves against a very low ranked player. (Image Credit: Twitter)
In 1990 US Open first round, the then ranked no. 52 Alexander Volkov defeated top seed Stefan Edberg in the first round by 6-3, 7-6 (3), 6-2.
Moving further there were two shockers in 1991 Wimbledon. A nine-time Champion Martina Navratilova tasted defeat to a 15-year-old Jennifer Capriati by 6-4, 7-5. Later Capriati became the youngest semi-finalist of 1991 Wimbledon. Another match was between then 10th seed Goran Ivanisevic and Nick Brown. Then World’s No. 591 Nick Brown created a sensational victory by beating Goran by 4-6, 6-3, 7-6, 6-3.
Grand Slams and Shock defeats during 1992-2000
Steffi Graf became the first defending ladies champion at Wimbledon to have faced shock defeat. (Image Credit: Sky Sports)
From 1992 to 2000 there were few more interesting matches played on the court and sports icons were born. In the history of Wimbledon, Steffi Graf became the first defending champion to lose in the first round in 1994. Steffi wasn’t able to stood by the better play of Lori McNeil and was ousted by 7-5, 7-6 (7-5).
It was Wimbledon 1996, 1999 & 2000 that saw more and more players creating amazing moments. In 1996 Wimbledon, the American Champion Pete Sampras was beaten by Richard Karjicek in straight set. In 1999 Wimbledon then World No. 1 Martina Hingis was defeated by 16yrs old Jelena Dokic ranked 129th in the world. Venus William won her first Grand Slam, Wimbledon in 2000, she then crushed defending champion Lindsay Davenport by 6-3. 7-6. Later Venus won four more Wimbledon titles.
2001-2008: Pete Sampras lack of luck continued & other defeats
Pete Sampras has had some real shock defeats in the history of Wimbledon. (Image Credit: Daily Mail)
The greatest defeats at Wimbledon continued. In 2001, it was the only time when Switzerland’s then No. 15 Roger Federer and Pete Sampras played against each other as active player. Federer ended Pete 31- match winning streak by beating him in the fourth-round by 7-6(7), 5-7, 6-4, 6-7(2). Pete Sampras bad run at Wimbledon continued in 2002 as well when seven-time American Champion crashed out of tournament by then 145th ranked George Bastl in second round by 6-3, 6-2, 4-6, 3-6, 6-4.
Another Wimbledon exciting moment came when in 2003 top seed Lleyton Hewitt was out in first round by then 203rd ranked Ivo Karlovic by 1-6, 7-6, 6-3, 6-4.
The last but not the least defeat that I was able to search in 2000’s was the match between Julie Coin and Ana Ivanovic. It was the US Open 2008 when then world no. 188 Julie Coin sunned everybody by beating then top seed Ivanovic by 6-3, 4-6, 6-3. This was for the first time in Open era when a world no. 1 women’s top seed was out of the US Open before the third round. (Read more from tennis)
The story doesn’t end here, in the next decade of 2011-16, there have been more thrilling matches. Stay tuned for the third and last part of the story with more breathtaking matches.