The story of Steve Darcis, the Belgian journeyman who accomplished what seemed impossible—defeating Rafael Nadal in the first round at Wimbledon—stands as one of tennis’s most stunning upsets. Remarkably, Darcis managed this feat despite never breaking into the top 30 ranked players in the world. This piece dives deep into that iconic match, the man behind the racket, and the ripples this moment caused in tennis history.
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1. The Stage: Wimbledon 2013 and Nadal’s Stature 🏆
By June 2013, Rafael Nadal had already etched himself into tennis legend. A 12-time Grand Slam champion and a dominant force on all surfaces, he entered Wimbledon fresh off winning his eighth title at the French Open just two weeks prior . Seeded No. 5 at Wimbledon, expectations were sky-high for another deep run.
For Nadal, however, grass had always been his least favorite surface. He struggled to replicate his usual intensity and movement, a challenge only exacerbated by a lingering knee injury that had sidelined him for seven months following his 2012 Wimbledon loss . Yet, for many, Nadal was still nearly unbeatable in the early rounds—until June 24 changed all that.
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2. The Underdog: Who Is Steve Darcis?
Born March 13, 1984, in Liège, Belgium, Steve Darcis turned professional in 2003 . His journey was defined by grit, resilience, and modest triumphs:
High Career Ranking: He peaked at world No. 38 in May 2017 .
Titles: Claimed two ATP singles titles—one in clay (Dutch Open 2007) and another on hard courts (Memphis 2008) .
Grand Slam Record: Never advanced past the third round in majors; Wimbledon’s best effort was the second round (2009, 2013, 2017, 2019) .
A consistent professional, but never elite—a player who ground through the circuit without fanfare.
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3. The Legend Meets Reality: Match Build-Up
Before his legendary win, Darcis had no victories over top-5 players and only two on grass courts detours—defeating Tomas Berdych at the 2012 Olympics and earning one previous Wimbledon win (2009) .
In contrast, Nadal was riding high, having just posted a remarkable 43–2 record since returning from injury, including nine finals and seven titles . However, he came to Wimbledon without any warm-up tournament on grass—a risky strategy .
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4. The Epic Battle: Scoreline & Highlights
On June 24, 2013, at the All England Club, Darcis played like a man possessed:
Final Score: 7–6 (7–4), 7–6 (10–8), 6–4 .
Darcis held firm under pressure, saving multiple set points, especially in the second-set tiebreak. His net play and aggressive grass-court tactics kept Nadal guessing .
He fired 53 winners and tallied 13 aces, many at pivotal moments .
Interestingly, at the time, Darcis was world No. 135—making him the lowest-ranked player to defeat Nadal at a major since Joachim Johansson in 2006 .
He also snapped Nadal’s 22-match win streak in 2013 .
The upset resonated not just because it unseated Nadal—it was the first time Nadal had ever lost a first-round match at a Grand Slam .
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5. After the Shock: Immediate Reactions
Nadal’s Poise
In a press conference post-match, Nadal deflected questions about injuries, refusing to use them as excuses. Instead, he lauded Darcis:
> “Everything that I will say about my knee is an excuse, and I don’t like to put forward any excuse when I’m losing…He deserves not one excuse.”
His humility and respect reflected the character that defined his legacy .
Darcis’s Joy
For Darcis, the win was career-defining:
> “Nobody was expecting me to win today… I tried to come to the net… I think it worked pretty good today.”
It cast him from obscurity into the spotlight.
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6. Historical Context & Significance
A few record-breaking facts make this match even more noteworthy:
Lowest-ranked Grand Slam victor over Nadal: No. 135 Darcis versus the highly ranked Nadal .
Reigning French Open winner eliminated early: First such Wimbledon first-round loss since Gustavo Kuerten in 1997 .
Betting shock: Darcis was a 1500–1 underdog—one of the lowest odds upsets in tennis history .
Grass court specialist pays off: His aggressive style and tactics fully utilized the surface to torment Nadal .
Largest first-round upset in Nadal’s career: He had never lost a Slam opener before .
Adds still more meaning: it ended a 35-Slam streak without a first-round loss, signaling a seismic shift .
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7. What This Meant for Darcis’s Career
After Wimbledon 2013:
Darcis never replicated such a monumental win, but his ranking climbed modestly, eventually cracking No. 38 in 2017 .
He became a revered figure in Belgium, both as a player and later as a coach.
He confirmed his aptitude on grass by returning to win matches at Wimbledon in 2017 and 2019 .
Notably, in 2015, he helped lead Belgium to the Davis Cup final as a valuable member of the squad .
That stunning victory didn’t make him a star, but it cemented a legacy of resilience and capability.
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8. The Ripple Effect: Nadal & Grass Court Tennis
The defeat was more than a footnote:
It highlighted Nadal’s vulnerability on grass, exposing limitations stemming from his body and style .
It served as a cautionary lesson about tournament planning—Nadal’s lack of pre-Wimbledon grass play was scrutinized .
Though he bounced back with further Slam titles, the match emphasized the importance of grass readiness and adaptability.
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9. The Human Angle: Character and Class
Beyond the upset’s spectacle lies something deeper:
Nadal’s humility in defeat remains one of his signature traits. His refusal to leverage injury as explanation preserved the dignity of sport .
Darcis’s poise under pressure and grinning acceptance of victory highlighted sportsmanship’s beauty. His achievement was less a fluke and more a testament to belief and execution.
This match became a narrative of human quality triumphing amid global attention.
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10. Legacy: Upsets That Shape Tennis History
While numerous big-name losses have occurred in tennis, Darcis’s win stands out:
It was one of only seven 1000-to-1 betting upsets since 2009, and one of just three against Nadal .
Unique among first-round upsets, it carried the weight of ending a perfect Nadal Grand Slam opener record.
The result became a touchstone example for underdogs worldwide—proof that even the elite aren’t invincible.
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11. Aftermath and Reflection
Nadal’s Response
Nadal didn’t wallow in bitterness. He would go on to capture further Grand Slams and consistently display an admirable balance of intensity and grace—the Darcis match, he said, was merely part of the game’s highs and lows .
Darcis’s Evolution
Post-retirement in 2020, Darcis embraced coaching and mentorship in Belgium, cultivating new talent through hard-earned experience and insight .
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12. Enduring Lessons and Takeaways
1. Surprises are part of sport: Even legends like Nadal are beatable—especially by opponents who embrace their chance.
2. Preparation matters: Grass-court readiness and planning can make or break outcomes.
3. Mental strength = match winning: Darcis’s confidence and tactics unshaken by occasion.
4. Sporting character elevates the game: Nadal’s humility and Darcis’s grace inspire beyond the scoreboard.
5. Legacy is shaped by moments: In a career of ups and downs, Darcis found immortality in three sets.
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13. Conclusion: A Match That Lives On
Steve Darcis’s 2013 win over Rafael Nadal in Wimbledon’s first round stands as a case study in tennis lore—a phenomenon of stat-defying skill and preparation meeting legend beside the net. It forms a unique “once‑in‑a‑career” moment: Darcis, a player who never cracked the top 30, conquering Nadal with clarity and nerve.
This story resonates not only because of the upset itself, but for the human qualities it revealed—humility, resolve, respect, belief. In three captivating sets, Darcis provided a masterclass in opportunity; Nadal demonstrated class under adversity.
Among countless matches woven into tennis history, those three sets remain exceptional—a legacy of the unforgettable day a journeyman dethroned a giant at Wimbledon.