26.06.2013: Wimbledon's date with fate

Switzerland’s Roger Federer reacts after a point against Ukraine’s Sergiy Stakhovsky during their second round men’s singles match on day three of the 2013 Wimbledon Championships at the All England Club in London, on June 26, 2013. (Getty Images)

If tennis is a religion, there must be a god. If there is a tennis god, I will call him the most unkind and cruel of all. What has he done? Spoilt an entire day at one of the most prestigious tournaments, where he has been reigning from for over a century?

It was a usual day at SW19 with the same courts, the same grass, and the same players but plagued by a horrible disease. The disease called ‘Upsetitis‘. The general notion is that prevention is better than cure and in case of this disease, there is no cure. Once you lose, you fly back home.

It is Wimbledon time and all excitement is centred towards entertainment and competition. Today was nowhere near exiting. Many top players withdrew. Some retired hurt and others lost disgracefully and uncharacteristically. Every tennis fan was hooked onto digital screens anticipating loss and withdrawals and praying for their favourites to remain undisturbed. What a tense day it was!

The morning began with Rafael Nadal‘s conqueror – Steve Darcis – withdrawing from his second round match. He was followed by Victoria Azarenka, the second seed in the women’s draw, John Isner, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Radek Stapanek, Marin Cilic, and Yaroslava Shvedova either giving a complete walkover or retiring midway.

Interestingly, Maria Sharapova, the 2004 Champion and third seed lost uncharacteristically to Portuguese qualifier Michelle Larcher de Brito. Sharapova has been appreciated and lauded for being consistent thorough the season, and her only conqueror apart from Serena Williams has been Li Na. She and many others complained about the tough conditions on court and the AELTC’s rigid rules prohibiting players from practicing on the main courts.

The most devastating of all results was from the centre court. The last to play and the last to depart: Roger Federer. You did read the name right. The defending champion, King of Grass and all of tennis lost a four-setter to unheralded Ukrainian Sergiey Stakovskiy.

It is an almost unimaginable upset. The Swiss might be nearing his career’s end and may have lost his charm, but not to the extent of losing to a qualifier, who had for the past two years lingered around 100 in the rankings.

What one witnessed on Wednesday is not a normal day at Wimbledon. It was an unusually catastrophic day, to word it mildly. Thousands of hearts had broken, millions of fans shocked and stunned at the results.

It seems weird that such a multitude of upsets, that too of top ranked players, took place on the very third day of competition. Another day awaits us and one should not be upset if it turns out to be similar. For, forces beyond injury and bad form seem to be threatening the Championships. Could it be the god’s wrath or the devil’s handiwork?