French Open champion Rafael Nadal says world number 100 Lukas Rosol was “more than unbelievable” as he produced the shock of the tournament to knock him out of the 2012 Wimbledon Championships on Thursday.
The Czech won 6-7 (9-11), 6-4, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 against the world number two in the second round of Wimbledon, in a major upset result.
“In the fifth set he played more than unbelievable. First three sets I didn’t play well,” Nadal told reporters afterwards. “It wasn’t the best decision for me to close the roof (which caused a 45-minute delay) but I have to accept it and he came back to play unbelievable in the fifth.
“He is able to hit the ball very hard without feeling the pressure so everything was going right for him in the fifth. I am very very disappointed.”
Meanwhile, Rosol couldn’t believe the achievement which he called a “miracle”.
“It’s like a miracle for me. So many emotions. He’s a superstar, I am sorry for that. I played unbelievable. I guess Nadal is only human,” Rosol said.
Elsewhere, Gilles Simon and Alexandr Dolgopolov were high-profile seed exits, while fourth seed Andy Murray beat Ivo Karlovic in four sets on a great day for the Brit, with the draw now opening up for him.
In the women’s, France’s ninth seed Marion Bartoli was knocked out, while Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova, Victoria Azarenka and Petra Kvitova all were victorious.