Wimbledon boilover: Djokovic shocked by Querrey

Novak Djokovic’s Grand Slam hopes have come to a sensational end with a shock third-round exit from Wimbledon.

Big-serving American Sam Querrey sent the all-conquering world No.1 crashing out of the championships with a 7-6(6) 6-1 3-6 7-6(5) victory on Saturday.

Already the first man to hold all four major trophies since 1969, Djokovic had been bidding to become the first since Rod Laver – that same year – to complete a calendar-year grand slam sweep.

But the 29-year-old was unable to claw back the two-set deficit he slept on after rain forced the suspension of play on Friday with Djokovic’s title defence on tenterhooks.

Querrey’s earth-moving triumph ended Djokovic’s open-era record 30-match winning streak and consigned the Serb to his earliest departure from a Grand Slam tournament since the 2009 French Open.

The top-seeded three-time Wimbledon champion had also been striving to become the first player since American Don Budge in 1938 to win five consecutive major titles.

But after quickly taking the third set upon the resumption of play on Saturday, Djokovic was unable to force a decider despite serving for the fourth set at 5-4.

He put a forehand volley into the net to allow Querrey to break back before the 28th seed safely held serve for 6-5.

One game away from victory, Querrey had to endure another nerve-wracking hour-long rain delay before taking the tiebreaker to secure a famous victory after two hours and 58 minutes.

“Incredible,” said Querrey as he basked in the glory of the biggest win of his career.

“Especially to do it here at Wimbledon, the biggest tournament in the world. I’m so ecstatic.”

The stunning result also leaves the top half of the men’s draw wide open, presenting a huge opportunity for the likes of seven-times champion Roger Federer and other leading seeds Kei Nishikori, Milos Raonic and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga to make the final.

Querrey, a former London Queen’s Club champion on grass, will play unseeded Frenchman Nicolas Mahut for a place in the quarterfinals.