Rafael Nadal of Spain loses for in the first round of a major for the first time falling in straight sets to Steve Darcis of Belgium.(Photo Susan Mullane USA TODAY Sports)
WIMBLEDON England Rafael Nadal sat forward with a white cap pulled over his eyes and tried to digest another shocking exit at Wimbledon.
For the second year in a row the Spaniard found himself on the wrong side of a defeat that will rank among the biggest upsets in Open era history.
SERENA DIARY Nerves before opening match
Nobody remember the loses Nadal turning philosophical said. People remember the victories. And I don't want to remember that (loss).
TOUGH FALL Azarenka advances despite injury
Nadal might yet banish Monday's 7 6 (7 4) 7 6 (10 8) 6 4 loss to Belgium's Steve Darcis from his mind. But it is not likely to fade quickly from public consciousness.
Last year 100th ranked Lukas Rosol played a sizzling fifth set to beat Nadal in the second round. The 27 year old from Mallorca later said he had been dealing with a knee injury and did not return to the tour for seven months.
Monday's defeat was more unexpected and more decisive. The two time Wimbledon champion had never lost in the opening round of a major in 34 previous attempts.
Darcis a 29 year old journeyman had won one prior match at Wimbledon. At No. 135 he is the lowest ranked player to defeat Nadal at a Grand Slam event.
He's been the best player in the world this year and that's with missing Australia too American John Isner said when he heard that Nadal 43 2 this season was on the verge of losing. He's only lost two matches right I don't care what the surface is it'll be a big shocker.
It was also troubling. Playing his first match since his record eighth Roland Garros championship and riding a 22 match winning streak Nadal was clearly hobbled by an injury in the latter stages. Nadal stepped gingerly on his left leg at times and failed to track down balls that would normally be within his ability to retrieve.
Afterward he deflected questions about his health and congratulated Darcis.
He played a fantastic match and everything I say about my knee today is an excuse and I don't like to put any excuses when I am losing a match like I lost today he said.
But Nadal's long term health returns again to center stage.
Nadal declined to specify what if anything was hurting. He grew unusually annoyed when he was asked several times about his subpar movement and his chronically injured knees.
I think you are joking he said at one point. I answered this question three times or four times already.
Nadal could have been hurt by pulling out of the grasscourt tune up at Halle Germany to rest after his long clay court campaign.
Of course he didn't play his best tennis said Darcis who scored a big upset against Tomas Berdych in the first round of the London Olympics last summer on Wimbledon's Centre Court. But I knew it is the first match on grass for him. Me I played already four. So I think it helped me today.
Since his return Nadal has played 10 events (counting Wimbledon reached nine finals and won seven titles and logged 45 matches just three shy of the ATP Tour leader David Ferrer (37 11).
Steve Darcis celebrates after his major upset of Rafael Nadal.(Photo Susan Mullane USA TODAY Sports)
Nadal refused to second guess his schedule which he had already tweaked by skipping March's more concussive hard court event in Miami.
Six hours ago was a perfect calendar now is a very negative calendar Nadal said.
ESPN's Brad Gilbert agreed.
It's a lot healthier on his body playing on clay than hardcourt he said.
What's become clear is that it is becoming more difficult for Nadal to transition quickly from clay to grass even though he won the French Open and Wimbledon back to back in 2008 and 2010.
The lower bounce on grass puts more stress on the knee since it forces players to bend down and up repeatedly.
I don't think it's actually length of his schedule at that time of the year Tennis Channel's Rennae Stubbs said of his busy spring. Grass puts much more pressure on your quads. It is a really hard transition for somebody with knee problems.
Paring back his schedule in the period leading up to Wimbledon isn't a great option either since the 11 time major winner's best chance to win more are at Roland Garros.
Nadal said focusing on one major wasn't an option.
In this sport I don't see a way that you can prepare (for) one tournament in particular he argued. I think you don't have that chance because depends on a lot of things. You need to win matches when you arrive to important tournament to be confident. You need to play matches to be enough fit.
He predicted he would back much sooner than his defeat here last year.
Not that late for sure Nadal said.
The loss alters the dynamic of the tournament.
Seeded fifth because of his extended absence much was made of Nadal's potential quarterfinal matchup against defending champion Roger Federer.
That is no longer an issue.
So much for that Roger vs. Rafa Isner said.
GALLERY WIMBLEDON DAY 1
Last SlideNext SlideNadal's losses to players ranked 100 or lower
2003 Madrid Masters (1R) No. 127 Alex Corretja 6 2 3 6 6 4.
2004 Chennai (1R) No. 102 Thierry Ascione 7 6 (5) 6 4.
2004 Milan (2R) No. 107 Mario Ancic 7 5 6 2.
2004 Palermo (2R) No. 113 Olivier Mutis 6 3 6 3.
2005 Halle (1R) No. 147 Alexander Waske 4 6 7 5 6 3.
2006 Stockholm (2R) No. 690 Joachim Johansson 6 4 7 6 (4).
2007 Queen's Club (QF) No. 106 Nicolas Mahut 7 5 7 6 (0).
2012 Wimbledon (2R) No. 100 Lukas Rosol 6 7 (9) 6 4 6 4 2 6 6 4.
2013 Wimbledon (1R) No. 135 Steve Darcis 7 6 (4) 7 6 (8) 6 4.
Nadal trailed No. 107 Chris Guccione 6 5 in the first set at 2007 Sydney before retiring.
Also Monday
Seven time champion Federer had no trouble rolling over Victor Hanescu of Romania 6 3 6 2 6 0 in 68 minutes.
British favorite Andy Murray also had an easy time defeating Benjamin Becker of Germany 6 4 6 3 6 2.
Former champion Lleyton Hewitt upset 11th seeded Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland 6 4 7 5 6 3. Playing his 15th consecutive Wimbledon and his 57th Grand Slam overall the 2002 champion made the most of his opponent's mistakes to progress. Wawrinka had 44 unforced errors and exited the tournament in the first round for the fifth time.
Maria Sharapova had a tough first set but survived a test from Kristina Mladenovic of France 7 6 (7 5) 6 3.
2011 champion Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic needed three sets but she advanced 6 1 5 7 6 4 vs. CoCo Vandeweghe of the USA.
Teenager Monica Puig of Puerto Rico upset the No. 5 seed on the women's side Sara Errani of Italy 6 3 6 2.
Second seeded Victoria Azarenka overcame a right knee injury from a scary fall beating Maria Joao Koehler of Portugal 6 1 6 2.
Two American women advanced No. 17 Sloane Stephens and Christina McHale. Both took out compatriots. McHale defeated Alexa Glatch 6 4 6 4 and Stephens defeated a weary Jamie Hampton 6 3 6 3. Hampton lost in the final Sunday at Eastbourne.
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