Tennis has a long history of thrilling matches, unexpected victories, and surprising upsets. Over the years, Grand Slam tournaments have been the stage for some of the most shocking results in tennis history. Here are ten of the biggest Grand Slam upsets ever.
Perhaps one of the greatest shocks came when 17-year-old Michael Chang defeated Ivan Lendl in the fourth round of French Open in 1989. The world number one was expected to breeze past Chang, but instead found himself ousted from the tournament after a grueling five-set match.
Another memorable upset occurred at Wimbledon in 2002 when seven-time champion Pete Sampras was defeated by Swiss player George Bastl. Ranked 145th at that time, Bastl’s victory over Sampras is considered one of Wimbledon’s biggest upsets.
The Australian Open hasn’t been without its share of surprises either. In 1997, unseeded Patrick Rafter stunned Andre Agassi in four sets during their semifinal clash. This loss marked a significant downturn in Agassi’s career.
In more recent times, Serena Williams’ defeat against Roberta Vinci at US Open semifinals in 2015 stands out as an unforgettable upset. Chasing an elusive calendar Grand Slam title and carrying an unbeaten streak against Vinci, Williams shockingly bowed out after losing to her Italian opponent.
At Wimbledon again in 2013, Rafael Nadal suffered a first-round exit at hands of Steve Darcis who was ranked 135th then. This marked only Nadal’s second first-round defeat at any major tournament.
Similarly noteworthy is Stan Wawrinka’s triumph over Novak Djokovic during French Open final in 2015 where he denied Djokovic his career grand slam by winning his first French Open title.
The list would be incomplete without mentioning Lukas Rosol defeating Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon second round back in 2012 which is still considered one of the biggest upsets in tennis history.
The 2014 Australian Open saw another shocker when Ana Ivanovic defeated Serena Williams in a three-set thriller during the fourth round. This was Williams’ first loss to Ivanovic in their five meetings.
At Wimbledon 2001, Goran Ivanisevic, ranked 125th and entered as a wild card, won his only grand slam title by defeating Patrick Rafter. It was an emotional victory for him as he had lost three previous Wimbledon finals.
Lastly, at US Open 2009, Juan Martin Del Potro’s victory over Roger Federer stands out. The Argentine denied Federer his sixth consecutive US Open title by winning his maiden Grand Slam title.
These are just some of the unexpected results that have shocked fans and players alike over the years. They serve as reminders that on any given day, any player can defy odds and expectations to emerge victorious on tennis’s biggest stages.