WHAT CAN DUSTIN BROWN DO FOR YOU? RUIN WIMBLEDON, IF YOU ARE A RAFAEL NADAL FAN! BY RICKY DIMON

Written by: Staff on 2nd July 2015

WHAT CAN DUSTIN BROWN DO FOR YOU? RUIN WIMBLEDON, IF YOU ARE A RAFAEL NADAL FAN! BY RICKY DIMON

Rafael Nadal of Spain gives a press conference after being knocked out in the second round of the the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, in London, Britain, 02 July 2015. EPA/AELTC/Thomas Lovelock |

After reaching the final–and winning the title twice–in five consecutive Wimbledon appearances, Rafael Nadal has now lost prior to the quarters on four straight occasions. His latest premature setback came on Thursday, when Nadal fell to qualifier Dustin Brown 7-5, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4.

Brown befuddled Nadal throughout this third-round showdown that lasted two hours and 33 minutes, just as he did to the Spaniard last season in Halle (won by the German 6-4, 6-1). He did so with his typical reckless abandon, rushing the net on every possible occasion while mixing in all kinds of drop-shots and chip-and-charge plays.

“I’m happy I got to play him on [Centre Court], win or lose,” Brown said of Nadal. “All the kids that play tennis dream about being able to play on that Centre Court. Playing against him there is special. Also being able to put that performance together, it was definitely very difficult and I’m very happy that I held it together for the whole match.”

The Jamaican-born German seemed to come close to cracking late in the fourth set, when he could have smacked a forehand volley to clinch victory with his opponent serving at 3-5. Instead, Brown let it go and helplessly hoped to see it sail long. Instead, Nadal’s backhand passing shot landed inside the baseline and the favorite saved another match point with an ace.

Dustin Brown of Germany in action against Rafael Nadal of Spain during their second round match for the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, in London, Britain, 02 July 2015. EPA/FACUNDO ARRIZABALAGA

After Nadal held for 4-5, Brown promptly double-faulted on the first point as he tried to serve things out for the biggest win of his career. Suddenly, however, the world No. 102 righted the ship. Brown delivered bomb after bomb to thwart Nadal’s faint hopes of breaking serve.

“Obviously [Nadal is] one of the best players of the sport, and for me, being able to play against him twice, obviously on my favorite surface, is probably my luck,” Brown admitted. “I wouldn’t want to play him on clay or hard court because obviously it would make playing my type of tennis even more difficult.”

Among those who joined Brown in the last 32 on Thursday were Roger Federer, Andy Murray, and Ivo Karlovic. Federer delivered another Wimbledon masterclass in a 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 demolition of Sam Querrey. The 33-year-old Swiss did not drop serve a single time while cruising in a mere one hour and 25 minutes. Murray made similarly quick work of Robin Haase via a 6-1, 6-1, 6-4 decision. Karlovic, on the other hand, outlasted Alexandr Dolgopolov 13-11 in the fifth set.

“Today was definitely a good day,” Federer assured. “I sort of returned well. I definitely think I can serve a little bit better. I didn’t check my match stats, but I feel like things are definitely good out there.”

The world No. 2 will look to keep it rolling on Saturday against Sam Groth. Meanwhile, Brown moves on to a meeting with Viktor Troicki and Murray awaits Andreas Seppi.

Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand.

Topics: AELTC, Andy Murray, Atp World Tour, Dustin Brown, Rafa Nadal, Ricky Dimon, Roger Federer, Sam Querrey, Sports, Sw19, Tennis News, Wimbledon 2015

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10sBalls_com says:

July 2, 2015 at 11:42 pm

WHAT CAN @DreddyTennis DO FOR YOU? RUIN @Wimbledon, IF YOU ARE A @RafaelNadal FAN! BY @Dimonator- http://t.co/t81m4YTHP7 #Wimbledon2015 #ATP
Dimonator says:

July 3, 2015 at 8:59 am

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