'No way': Disbelief over Roger Federer's historic Wimbledon humbling
Roger Federer has been dramatically dumped out of Wimbledon after copping a never-before-seen humbling against Poland's Hubert Hurkacz in the quarter-finals.
The Swiss star's dream of a ninth Wimbledon title was crushed by Hurkacz, who cruised into the semi-finals with a 6-3 7-6 (7-4) 6-0 win on Centre Court.
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It was the first time in his storied career that Federer had been bagelled on his favoured grass surface at Wimbledon, and just the third time it's happened in his whole grand slam career.
The 39-year-old had played himself into form through the first week at the All England Club to raise hopes of an improbable trophy run after two knee operations and a month short of his 40th birthday.
But Hurkacz, seeded 14 and 15 years Federer's junior, was simply too good on the day for his opponent, who suffered a straight-sets loss at Wimbledon for the first time in 19 years.
After a poor first set in breezy conditions, Federer led 4-1 in the second but he could not find his timing and Hurkacz kept his wonderfully to seal his spot in the final four.
Afterwards Federer conceded he may have played his last match at Wimbledon, saying: "I really don't know. I've got to regroup. My goal was always for the last year and more to try to play another Wimbledon.
"The initial goal was to play last year. That was anyway never going to happen. Plus the pandemic hit.
"I was able to make it this year, which I'm really happy about. With everything that comes after Wimbledon, we were always going to sit down and talk about it because clearly now Wimbledon is over."
Tennis fans were understandably devastated by the manner of Federer's defeat and the very real possibility that it could be his last grand slam at the All England Club.
Have we seen the last of #RogerFederer at the #Wimbledon ? I shudder to think that but then all good things come to an end one day. Bagel for Federer, when was the last time we saw it! https://t.co/eDgo4z0lHz
— Rahul Rawat (@rawatrahul9) July 7, 2021
If Federer ended with a bagel at Wimbledon, then there is something really wrong with the universe
— Asma Faiz (@faiz_asma) July 7, 2021
There is no way Federer's #Wimbledon career ends on a bagel, though.
He will comeback.— José Morgado (@josemorgado) July 7, 2021
ROGER FEDERER GETS HIS FIRST BAGEL SET AT WIMBLEDON AFTER 119 MATCHES. 🥲
— Yash Patel • યશ પટેલ (@yash_8005) July 7, 2021
Federer dropping a 6-0 set on Centre Court at Wimbledon is just so strange. I watched the first two sets and then left for work. I figured he would lose but not with a bagel in the third. Father Time is a cruel foe.
— Chuck Keenum (@ChuxTennis) July 7, 2021
Devastated that Federer lost😭😭
— Neelam✨ (@NeelamChelseaFC) July 7, 2021
Hurkacz, who will play seventh seed Matteo Berrettini in the last four, said: "Walking off the court realising that I won against Roger was just kind of a dream come true, especially here on grass in Wimbledon."
Berrettini became the first Italian man in 61 years to reach the Wimbledon semifinals when he beat Felix Auger-Aliassime in four sets.
The seventh-seeded Berrettini won 6-3, 5-7, 7-5, 6-3 on No. 1 Court against a player he called "one of my best friends on tour."
He is the second Italian man to ever make the last four at Wimbledon, after Nicola Pietrangeli in 1960.
Djokovic closing in on grand slam record
Novak Djokovic surprised no one when he moved into the final four - and a step closer to chasing down Federer and Rafael Nadal.
The world No.1's 6-3 6-4 6-4 victory over Marton Fucsovics has left him just two wins away from claiming a 20th grand slam title.
That would see Djokovic draw level with Federer and Nadal's haul of majors.
Djokovic will next face 10th seed Denis Shapovalov after the Canadian won a five-set marathon against Karen Khachanov.
Shapovalov on Wednesday showed he is ready for the challenge after his epic 6-4 3-6 5-7 6-1 6-4 victory over the Russian.
Shapovalov said: "Honestly I felt that he was outplaying me for most of the match. Obviously I had some chances, but he was playing really, really well.
"In the fourth set I tried to actually step in a little bit and play a little bit more aggressively. I felt that he fell a little bit physically, got a little bit tired there in the fourth set. I also stepped up. I felt really good going into the fifth set. I'm super, super happy to win."
The Canadian, who won the boys' crown in 2016, proved he belongs on the biggest stage, coming from two sets to one down with his trademark flamboyance, and is likely to be a contender at this tournament for years to come.
with AAP
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