Roger Federer leaves the court after being defeated by Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz.Credit:AP
Federer underwent two operations on his right knee in 2020 and was sidelined for more than 12 months in all. He arrived at Wimbledon having played a total of eight matches this season.
Factor in age – Federer turns 40 on August 8,so this was his last major in his 30s – and maybe it was just too much to ask that he make his way to the closing weekend,even if this is a tournament he’s won more than any other man,and even if it’s contested on a surface,grass,on which he’s best.
He simply never was able to summon the serving and shot-making that have carried him to 20 grand slam titles overall,tied with Rafael Nadal for the men’s record.
Hurkacz,a 24-year-old from Poland,never had made it beyond the third round at any major;that’s when he lost to Djokovic at Wimbledon two years ago.
Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz celebrates after defeating Roger Federer.Credit:AP
Still,Hurkacz looked quite comfortable on this unfamiliar stage. He played sublimely,with three times as many winners,36,as unforced errors,12.
In the opening set,he didn’t face so much as a single break point and was guilty of just four unforced errors to Federer’s 10.