Rafael Nadal shows his frustration during his first-round match Monday at Wimbledon against Steve Darcis of Belgium.(Photo: Ben Stansall, AFP/Getty Images)

Story Highlights

  • Rafael Nadal lost his opening-round match at Wimbledon Monday to Steve Darcis
  • Darcis held off the two-time champion 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (10-8), 6-4
  • Nadal lost early in 2012, as well, falling in the second round to Lukas Rosol

WIMBLEDON, England — Rafael Nadal is out of Wimbledon early for the second year in a row.

Nadal, playing his first match since winning the French Open, was outplayed, outserved and ultimately o usted by Steve Darcis of Belgium, ranked No. 135 in the world, 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (10-8), 6-4.

It's the first first-round loss in a major for the two-time Wimbledon champion, who was 34-0 entering the match.

Last year Nadal lost in the second round to Lukas Rosol of the Czech Republic and then was out for the rest of the year with a knee injury.

Nadal clearly was not at his best on Monday, not moving particularly well and struggling with a sore knee.

It was only the third loss of the year for Nadal, who was 43-2 and on a 22-match winning streak entering Wimbledon. Nadal had reached the final of all nine events he had entered in 2013.

Darcis is the lowest-ranked player to defeat Nadal at a Grand Slam event. He is the lowest-ranked player to defeat Nadal at any event since Sweden's Joachim Johansson (No. 690) at 2006 Stockholm.

Brazil's Gustavo Kuerten was the last reigning Roland Garros champion to lose in the first round of Wimbledon in 1997.< /p>

When told that this match was being called a real shocker, Darcis told a TV interviewer, "I think the same."

Coming into the tournament, Nadal's status as the No. 5 seed was drawing much of the attention. He would potentially have had to face seven-time champion Roger Federer in the quarterfinals.

"So much for that Roger vs. Rafa," American John Isner said when told that Nadal was on the verge of losing.

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