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There are no certainties in sport. Sam Querrey pulled off the biggest shock in men’s tennis for 13 months by defeating Novak Djokovic, the world No.1 and – until this – the holder of all four Grand Slam titles in just the third round of Wimbledon 2016.
In a match frustratingly played out over five rain-interrupted chapters, the world No.41 was the one to hold his nerve to take the stunning triumph 7-6(6), 6-1, 3-6, 7-6(5).
Defeat brought to an end Djokovic's run of 30 straight Grand Slam wins - his last loss in a major was in the final of the 2015 French Open, to Stan Wawrinka.
It is seven years since Djokovic lost so early in any Grand Slam, at Roland Garros in 2009; moreover, it is the first time in two years that he has surrendered so much as a single set before the fourth round of any Grand Slam.
“It’s incredible to do it here at Wimbledon, the biggest tournament in the world,” a still stunned Querrey told the BBC as he came off No.1 Court. “I’m so ecstatic right now. I played the break points well, kept delivering the big serves, and I fought hard in the tie-break. I’m so happy.”
Querrey, who at 28 has never progressed beyond the last 16 of any Slam, held a two-set lead overnight when rain stopped play on Friday evening, carving out his thoroughly merited lead by dint of some astonishingly consistent serving.
He was so dominant in the second set that he sprinted off with it in a scant 22 minutes.
But that unexpected advantage meant the 6ft 6in American now had something to lose, and on the (first) resumption on Saturday he seemed to feel the weight of it. The serve which had been so sure on Friday was now hampered by uncertain footwork, allowing Djokovic to reel off five successive games, despite a two-hour break for rain at 4-0. But it was significant that Querrey stopped the steamroller and grabbed back three games before the third set was sealed.
Bear in mind that, simply by reaching this third round, the American had won back-to-back matches at a Slam for the first time since the US Open of 2014, where he lost at the same stage to… Novak Djokovic. That defeat was one of eight he had previously suffered at the hands of the Serb, compared with just one win of his own in the Paris Masters 1000 of 2012. So at Wimbledon 2016, it seemed very likely that Djokovic would reassert the natural order and duly prevail.
But no. As in the second set, throughout the fourth it felt very much as if the Serb’s focus was not laser-sharp on the match alone, as if an external factor were playing some role in his thinking.
Whether that might be an injury or some other issue was impossible to tell. A 10-minute rain interruption at 1-1 did not seem to help him, and he was making thoroughly uncharacteristic misjudgements. Time and again break points came his way, but Querrey – who was ranked as high as No.17 in January 2011 – repelled them with ace after ace.
There was no doubting Djokovic’s frustration. When he finally breached the defence, with his 12th opportunity of the set, for 5-4, it seemed perfect timing. But a fabulous Querrey backhand set up 15-40, and on the second of those break points Djokovic fluffed a half-volley. Agonisingly, another deluge halted proceedings with the American at 6-5, within touching distance of victory. As he walked off court, Djokovic gestured frantically towards his co-coach Boris Becker in the stands, in a signal which clearly announced: “Meet me – I need to talk to you.”
But whatever was said, it was not enough. When the players returned 64 minutes later, it would prove to be the final resumption. Djokovic took the set into the tie-break, and it was nip and tuck until the Serb sent a forehand long to give Querrey two match points. The 12-time Grand Slam champion saw off one with an ace, only to punch a forehand long on the second, and send Querrey leaping into the air with joy.
Querrey said: "It's an unbelievable win. To do it here at Wimbledon is really special. I slept great. I'm a pretty relaxed guy. Had an easy dinner at the house. My parents are there, some friends, my girlfriend. We just kind of hung out. Nothing exciting. Got back here today and went to work. Just stayed the course, didn't do anything special. Can be tricky with all those rain delays, but fortunately just went out there, served well the whole time, played a great tie-breaker at the end to get the win."
