Roger Federer detail as Wimbledon star succumbs to 11-year curse
Tennis fans have pointed out a wild tennis 'curse' after one of the favourites and Halle winner Hubert Hurkacz suffered a stunning first round loss at Wimbledon.
World No.37 Alejandro Davidovich Fokina triumphed over the seventh-seeded Pole 7-6 (7/4), 6-4, 5-7, 2-6, 7-6 (10/8) in a match interrupted twice by rain.
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Hurkacz was tipped to go far on the same side of the draw as Novak Djokovic having just defeated World No.1 Daniil Medvedev in the Halle final.
But, Hurkacz appeared way off his game as he lost in a remarkable five-set super tiebreak against the Spaniard.
The Pole's loss in the first round sparked yet again another remarkable stat.
Every player other than Federer to have won the Halle Open since 2011 has lost in the first round of Wimbledon.
This now includes six winners of Halle in a row to lose in the first round of Wimbledon since 2011.
Federer won Halle in 2013-15, 2017 and 2019 before advancing past the first round at SW19.
Fans reacted to the incredible upset at Wimbledon, which has ripped the men's draw wide open.
The "Halle-curse" is real for anyone not named Federer.
2011: Kohlschreiber wins, loses 1st round
2012: Haas, loses 1st round
2013-2015 Fed
2016: Mayer, loses 1st round
2017: Fed
2018: Coric, loses 1st round
2019: Fed
2021: Humbert, loses 1st round
2022: Hurkacz, loses 1st round— Alex | Tennis 🎾 (@Alex_Boroch) June 27, 2022
Big first round surprise:
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina knocks out #7 Hubert Hurkacz in a fifth set tiebreak.
Hurkacz, the Halle champion and #Wimbledon semifinalist last year, had been a fairly prohibitive pick to make the semifinals in the Ruud quarter.
Wide open there now.— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) June 27, 2022
Djokovic dropped a set in the opening round.
Hurkacz looking to be on his way out.
This Wimbledon could be a wild one.— Pamela Maldonado (@pamelam35) June 27, 2022
That Hurkacz match is one of the wildest I have ever seen. After all that he still lost???
— Matt Dowell (@MattDowellTV) June 27, 2022
First BIG Upset 🚨 at #Wimbledon
Hubert Hurkacz, the 7th seed & 2021 semifinalist (you know the player who bagel-ed Roger Federer in QF last year) is out in a five-set first-round match.
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina beats him 7-6(4), 6-4, 5-7, 2-6, 7-6(10-8).— Zenia D'cunha (@ZENIADCUNHA) June 27, 2022
2021 semifinalist and Halle champ Hurkacz in big, big troubles.
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) June 27, 2022
Alcaraz could be Djokovic's biggest threat in the top half now with the exit of Hurkacz.
They are drawn to meet in the QF...— Ru 🦜 (@RuTheRealest) June 27, 2022
Absolutely bat-guano crazy match - and a considerable upset...Davidovich Fokina fails to serve out the third set, 5-3 against Hurkacz...loses third and fourth...resets and wins 7-6 in the fifth. Tennis....
— Jon Wertheim (@jon_wertheim) June 27, 2022
That Viking-Hurkacz match WAS nuts. Davidovich Fokina wins it 7-6 (4), 6-4, 5-7, 2-6, 7-6 (10-8) after failing to convert three match points on serve in the third and after Hurkacz served for it in the 5th
Tennis...... https://t.co/JnjYoE33Tk— Christopher Clarey 🇺🇸 🇫🇷 🇪🇸 (@christophclarey) June 27, 2022
Hubert Hurkacz stunned at Wimbledon
Incredibly, Hurkacz was the man to defeat Federer in the quarter-finals last year.
Against Fokina, Hurkacz saved three match point in the third set.
And in a huge turnaround, Hurkacz also had the opportunity to serve for the match at 5-4 in the fifth.
"When the rain came at 5-5 in the third set, I didn't know whether to have lunch or take a siesta," said 2017 junior champion Davidovich Fokina.
"I was struggling a little bit but I kept playing my game."
On the same side of the draw, six-time Wimbledon champion Djokovic was all smiles on centre court after shaking off some rustiness and indifferent recent form to kick off his title defence in record-breaking mode.
Seeking a fourth successive Wimbledon title, Djokovic was made to work for his laborious 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory under the centre court roof on a rainy opening day.
The No.1 seed, out of sorts at times, still notched up an extraordinary new milestone, becoming the first player - man or woman - to record at least 80 singles victories at all four grand slams.
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