Unheralded Belgian sends Rafa home early

The departure of Rafael Nadal caused the major stir on the opening day of play at this year’s Wimbledon.

While last year’s men’s finalists Roger Federer and Andy Murray cruised through their first round encounters in straight sets, eight-time French Open winner and two-time SW19 champion Nadal was preparing to board a plane back to Majorca.

The 27-year-old fifth seed was a loser in three sets, 7-6 (7/4) 7-6 (10/8) 6-4, against the unheralded Steve Darcis from Belgium, who defied his ranking of 135th in the world to produce the performance of his life.