From the penthouse...

Just 15 days ago Rafael Nadal was the toast of the tennis world when he won a record eighth French Open title at Roland Garros.

What a difference a fortnight makes. Overnight, Nadal had his worst-ever Grand Slam result; a first round loss to Belgian Steve Darcis; the BBC reports:

Ex-champion Rafael Nadal slumped to a shock first-round exit as world number 135 Steve Darcis pulled off one of the biggest upsets in Wimbledon history.

The Belgian was inspired as he recorded a 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (10-8) 6-4 win on Court One to condemn the fifth seed to a second successive early exit at SW19.
It was his first competitive grass tie since Lukas Rosol beat him last year. 

Spaniard Nadal, crowned French Open champion for a record eighth time earlier this month, showed signs he was struggling to adjust from the clay to grass in the opening set and Darcis took advantage.

The 2008 and 2010 Wimbledon winner saved four set points in a second set tie-break and then failed to take one of his own before Darcis claimed it at the fifth opportunity.
And the Belgian showed no signs of nerves as he broke in the first game of the third set before serving out for a famous win which condemned Nadal to his first ever first-round defeat at a Grand Slam.
He became the first reigning Roland Garros champion to lose in the first round of Wimbledon since Gustavo Kuerten in 1997.
Nadal refused to use the knee problems which kept him sidelined for a lengthy period after last year's Wimbledon exit as an excuse for the defeat.
He said: "There were not a lot of good things for me. I tried my best all the time I had my chances but I did not make it.
"It is difficult to adapt your game on grass. Now is not the right time to talk about my knee. The only thing I can do is congratulate my opponent. It is not a tragedy, I lost, it is sport. 

Kudos to Nadal for not using his injury as an excuse, although it is clear that Father Time has Nadal in his sights. From the reports we've seen, Darcis played well above what his world ranking of #135 would indicate.

Nadal's loss does have big implications for the tournament though, and especially for Roger Federer. Nadal and Federer were seeded to meet in the quarterfinals, so that will be one impediment out of Federer's way in his quest to defend his Wimbledon crown and win an eighth title, equally Nadal's domination of the French Open. But Father Time has his eye on Federer as well.

Rafa Nadal may be missing, but Wimbledon is shaping up to be a wonderful fortnight of tennis, especially in the men's division.