Tennis world stunned as Roger Federer beaten like never before

Roger Federer’s Wimbledon fairytale was crushed in incredible fashion as he received a standing ovation but not for the reason he wanted.

The crowd was shocked at Federer's demise.

Roger Federer crashed out of Wimbledon in the quarter-finals at the hands of Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz on Thursday morning (AEST), potentially bringing down the curtain on the Swiss legend’s All England Club career.

Federer, the 20-time Grand Slam title winner who turns 40 next month, lost 6-3 7-6 (7-4) 6-0 to a player 15 years his junior.

It was only the eight-time Wimbledon champion’s 14th defeat at the tournament in 119 matches and his first straight-sets loss since an opening round exit against Mario Ancic in 2002.

It was the first time he had lost a set 6-0 at Wimbledon, and only the second time this century he has lost a set 6-0 at any tournament as a top 100 player.

Facing reporters are the match, Federer wouldn’t say if it was the last time he would be seen at Wimbledon.

“I really don’t know. I need to regroup. My goal for the last year or more was always to try and play another Wimbledon,” he said. “I was able to make it this year, which I was really happy about.

“We were always going to sit down and talk about what comes after. Obviously we will speak a bit tonight and the next couple of days as well and we go from there.

“It’s like what do I need to do to be in better shape and more competitive and we go from there. Of course I would like to play it again but at my age you just never know.”

There was one particularly grim moment when Federer slipped at the net and missed an easy put-away volley. The crowd’s reaction said it all.

“OH MY GOD! What happened?????” tennis commentator Jose Morgado tweeted. “Federer slips on the line on a big, big point. Shocking stuff.”

Good lord. What a miss that was. He slipped.#Federer#wimbledonpic.twitter.com/3mlN5amcjX

— Tennis GIFs 🎾🎥 (@tennis_gifs) July 7, 2021

Federer is now without a Slam since the 2018 Australian Open.

“Clearly there’s still a lot of things missing in my game that maybe 10, 15, 20 years ago were very simple and very normal for me to do,’ he added.

“I will take my time, not feel rushed by you guys or anybody else.

“I’ve got to take my time, take the right decision, the one decision I want to take and where I feel most comfortable.

“The team and me were actually very happy I made it as far as the quarters here. That’s how it goes. I’ll be fine. I have perspective about it, so it’s all good.”

Will we ever see Federer at Wimbledon again?

Hurkacz was thrilled to share the court with Federer and paid tribute to the living legend.

“It’s super special to have played Roger here, it’s a dream come true,” said Hurkacz. “He’s done so many special things here.”

“Roger was congratulating me and wishing good luck for the next matches. Obviously walking off the court realising that I won against Roger, I mean, just kind of a dream come true, especially here on grass in Wimbledon.

“Felt so special with the crowd around as well.”

World No. 18 Hurkacz, 24, had never got beyond the third round of a Grand Slam before this Wimbledon.

However, boosted by having defeated world No. 2 Daniil Medvedev in five sets in the last 16, he was a break up on a sluggish-looking Federer in the sixth game of the opening set.

The Swiss star, who underwent two knee surgeries in 2020, carved out a break for 2-0 in the second set. He couldn’t hang on and Hurkacz levelled in the seventh game from 1-4 down before dominating the tiebreak.

Federer looked punch drunk and he was quickly down 0-2 in the third set before Hurkacz wrapped up the decider in just 29 minutes.

He is only the second Polish man to reach the semi-finals at Wimbledon — Jerzy Janowicz being the other in 2013.

Up next is a clash with Matteo Berrettini of Italy, who beat Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime in Thursday’s other quarter-final.

“I noticed the mis-hits, awkward looking points from Roger and obviously the last set of course, 6-0,” said former champion Boris Becker commentating on Federer’s performance.

“He would never ever say if there was a niggle, but I don’t know if we will ever see the great man again here.”

Hurkacz was too good for the 20-time Grand Slam champion.

Meanwhile, Berrettini’s quest to become the first player since Boris Becker in 1985 to win Queen’s on debut and then Wimbledon moved a step closer as he beat Felix Augier-Aliassime 6-3 5-7 7-5 6-3 to reach the semi-finals.

Berrettini is only the second Italian to reach the last four at Wimbledon, and the first since Nicola Pietrangeli advanced to the semi-finals in 1960.