Top 5 biggest upsets on the 2010 ATP tour – Part 2
Here is the second part highlighting the top five biggest upsets this season on the ATP tour.
3. Guilermo Garcia Lopez defeats Rafael Nadal, Bangkok semifinal
Few would have expected Garcia to be the one to snap Rafa’s nine match winning streak in the semifinal round of the PTT Thailand Open in Bangkok.
Just a few days after registering his name as the seventh player in the history of tennis to complete his Career Grand Slam, Rafa had made his debut in Bangkok and posted two comprehensive wins in his initial rounds. The Spaniard
also started his final four clash against Garcia strongly with a one set lead.
The World No.1 after taking the opening set, however, lost control as he squandered twenty four of twenty six break point opportunities in the match, including sixteen in the second set and was made to pay the price as his opponent
converted his only chance in the third set to clinch a victory in the end. The final match score was 2-6, 7-6(3), 6-3.
“I had a lot of break point chances in the second set, too many chances. He played a great match, especially in the third set, but I was playing better than him in the beginning. I didn't play the break points well. With twenty
six opportunities to break you have to take your chances. It is a difficult loss to accept. I was playing well and had a good opportunity to get to final,” reflected Nadal after his loss.
4. Ivan Ljubicic beat Rafael Nadal, Indian Wells Semifinal
The Croatian tennis ace just a day after turning 31 got the better of the World No.1, Rafael Nadal, on his way to the title win in Indian Wells. The final match score was 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(1).
“Probably the best I have ever played in my career. I enjoyed it, really… Great, great moment,” said Ivan after recovering from a set down to beat Rafa for the second occasion in seven attempts.
After preventing a total of four break point chances during the sixth game of the second set, Ivan did well to level the clash before pulling off what he termed “the best tie-break of his career” to win the decisive set after two
hours and thirty four minutes of play.
5. Tomas Berdych ousts Roger Federer, Wimbledon quarterfinal
Just a month after his record of making his way into twenty three consecutive major semifinals was snapped at the French Open by the Swedish tennis player Robin Soderling, the 29-year-old Roger Federer was dealt another blow in
the quarterfinal at the All England Club. The Basel born, who was looking to advance into his eighth title battle in a row at Wimbledon, was crushed on the Centre Court by Tomas Berdych, who had also defeated the Swiss man after preventing a match point a
few months earlier in Miami.
It was the first occasion that Federer had not reached a Wimbledon final, since falling in the opening round at Wimbledon back in 2002. Federer committed a total of eighteen unforced errors against Berdych.
The Czech, on the other hand, by virtue of this win, made his way into his first major semifinal round on the tour. He reached the title battle before eventually losing at the hands of Rafael Nadal. The right-hander, after his
victory over Federer said that he played well, with high quality serves with no special tactics to get past the World No.2. The final match score was 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4.
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