The year a ranking underdog broke one of tennis history's greatest streaks
In short: In 2015, the grass courts of Wimbledon witnessed a collapse of the established order. While heavyweights battled for legacy, an unseeded outsider dismantled a titan, marking a recurring pattern of vulnerability for one of the sport's most decorated champions.
The 2015 Wimbledon Championships were defined by high-stakes rematches and historic milestones. Novak Djokovic secured his third Wimbledon title and ninth major overall by defeating Roger Federer in four sets. The victory was particularly significant as it marked Djokovic's 200th match win at the majors. At that time, Federer achieved a personal landmark by becoming the initial male athlete during the Open Era to contest ten finals at one specific major.
However, the most disruptive narrative of the tournament occurred in the second round. Dustin Brown, ranked 102nd at the time, pulled off a stunning upset against two-time champion Rafael Nadal. Such an occurrence was not unique; it represented the fourth year running where Nadal departed Wimbledon prematurely after falling to a competitor ranked below 100 globally. Notably, Brown had already defeated Nadal on grass just one year prior at the Gerry Weber Open.
The tournament also served as a crossroads for various careers. It marked the final appearance for 2002 champion Lleyton Hewitt, who lost in the opening round to Jarkko Nieminen. Conversely, it provided a debut for Alexander Zverev, who would later become a world No. 2 and Olympic gold medalist. Zverev's first main draw appearance ended in a second-round loss to Denis Kudla. Furthermore, because of an elbow ailment, David Ferrer failed to attend the competition, concluding his run of 50 straight major tournament participations.
These results highlight the volatile nature of grass-court tennis, where established dominance can be undone by specific conditions or unexpected upsets. The contrast between Djokovic's steady ascent and Nadal's recurring struggles against lower-ranked opponents illustrates the thin margin between historical greatness and competitive vulnerability.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: 2015 Wimbledon Championships – Men's singles
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