Italian Andreas Seppi sent shockwaves through the Australian Open on Friday as he toppled four-times champion Roger Federer in one of the greatest Melbourne Park upsets in recent memory.
The 33-year-old Swiss second seed went down 6-4 7-6 (7-5) 4-6 7-6 (7-5) to Seppi, who is ranked 46 in the world.
Seppi, 30, had never beaten the 17-time Grand Slam champion in 10 previous meetings and his win ends a 23-match losing streak against top 10 opponents.
“I just tried to enjoy to play center court again,” the unshaven Italian said in a courtside interview after ending Federer’s 13-year run to the last 16 at Melbourne Park.
“I just tried to do my best and I think it was one of the best matches (of my career).
“It was great to play in front of a full stadium.”
Having lived dangerously in the second round with a four-set win over another Italian in Simone Bolelli, 33-year-old Federer was off-color from the start, shanking wild forehands well outside the lines and failing to convert a raft of break-points on a glorious, sunny day.
“I guess I won the wrong points out there today,” a gloomy Federer told reporters.
“The end wasn’t pretty… I just somehow couldn’t play my best tennis today and it was partially because Andreas played very well today.
“Maybe the rhythm was missing but I feel like that very often (before matches).”
However, there had been signs in his previous match against another Italian, Simone Bolelli, that the Swiss was not at his best as he dropped the opening set.
Seppi, who is nicknamed Andy, speaks Italian, English and German.
The Italian turned pro in 2002 and reached a career-high ranking of 18th in 2013
Seppi has won three ATP Tour titles – Moscow (2012), Belgrade (2012) and Eastbourne (2011)