This year’s Wimbledon tournament has already witnessed numerous surprising outcomes.
Notably, Coco Gauff, the champion of Roland Garros, was shockingly eliminated by Dayana Yastremska in the first round.
In addition, several high-profile players fell in the men’s singles draw, including Holger Rune, who faced backlash for his remarks following his defeat to Nicolas Jarry.
These unexpected results have reminded fans of the tumultuous events at Wimbledon in 2013.
Reflecting on the Unforgettable Day at Wimbledon in 2013
The 2013 Wimbledon tournament was already filled with surprises, the most striking being Rafael Nadal’s first-round loss to Steve Darcis.
However, chaos truly erupted on day three of the Championships, when Roger Federer, the defending champion, faced off against world number 116, Sergiy Stakhovsky.
Even though Federer was heavily favored, he was defeated 6(5)-7, 7-6(5), 7-5, 7-6(5), marking one of the most shocking moments in Wimbledon history.
In the aftermath of his upset, Federer expressed his disappointment at a press conference, acknowledging the significance of the loss at such a prestigious tournament.
Criticism of Wimbledon on ‘Black Wednesday’
That fateful day saw a record number of upsets, with a total of eight seeded players exiting the tournament. Notable casualties included Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Marin Cilic, and John Isner in the men’s draw, and Victoria Azarenka, Maria Sharapova, Caroline Wozniacki, and Ana Ivanovic in the women’s.
Interestingly, many of these players did not compete due to injuries sustained on the court. Azarenka, for instance, withdrew after a knee injury, leading her to voice concerns regarding the condition of the courts.
While All England Club chief Richard Lewis rejected claims linking injuries to the court surfaces, he confirmed that the preparations maintained the same high standards as in previous years.
Following the chaos, only two more players retired from the tournament, with Marion Bartoli and Andy Murray eventually claiming titles in their respective events.
