Qualifier Brown dumped Nadal out of the third grand slam of the year in the second round, winning 7-5 3-6 6-4 6-4 to maintain an unlikely ideal record against the Spaniard.
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“Obviously Rafa is one of the best players of the sport”, he said.
Nadal who generally takes more time within points (maximum of 30 seconds against the 25 seconds rule) was left to see flashbacks of 2012 before his eyes when he lost to Lukas Rosol in the second round as well. I was ready to compete. I need to accept these things can happen… it’s not the end. “And I guess all that led to this day, which is probably the best day of my life”.
When a reporter asked whether he would stick around at his rented place before heading home, Nadal replied: “I don’t have more work here in London, so if you want to use the house, (it’s) going to be free tomorrow”.
Brown, who was born in Germany to a Jamaican father and German mother, moved to Jamaica at the age of 12.
In 2004, his parents gifted him a Campervan, much like the one above, for him to live and travel throughout Europe for his tennis assignments.
As you’d perhaps expect with his multi-cultural upbringing, Brown can speak three languages, German, Jamaican and English.
Tenth seed Nadal, the 2008 and 2010 champion in SW19, lost his only previous encounter with Brown on grass in Halle a year ago and he fell to the flamboyant world number 102 once again. “I thought he played some really courageous tennis as well”.
Six foot five inches, dread locks nearly to his waist, a couple of rings punched through his ears and a tongue stud, Dustin Brown looked the least likely of king slayers on Centre Court.
Wimbledon’s slick grass-courts have also provided the ideal medium in recent seasons for players to upset Nadal’s baseline rhythm and Brown made the most of his chance. I am lucky to have played him twice on my favourite surface. In a story from the New York Times, Brown described how he would get by on earnings from tournaments and sometimes cooking pasta for a week. Although Brown’s level of play on the centre court was very high but it would be safe to say that Roger Federer and Andy Murray would have beaten him considering the form in which they now are.
While Nadal slumped out, the other big names sailed through to the third round. On one of he hottest days in Wimbledon history, Federer ousted the American 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 with some dazzling shots that only he could have completed. “It was a flawless shot”.
“People who condemn me should show up right after a match – then there would be a different outcome”. I am confident there will be a tipping point and he will get his game back. I just felt like I had the time. But, you know, if you dont win the point you do look a little bit silly..
Murray, who became the first homegrown men’s champion in 77 years when he won Wimbledon in 2013, is setting himself up for another serious title run this year.
Defending women’s champion Petra Kvitova was on Court 1 against Japan’s Kurumi Nara.
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Now McEnroe has added his voice to the debate, saying that Nadal should consider the unthinkable and dispense with the services of his uncle and mentor Toni, who has coached him his entire career.
