Roger Federer was the defending champion, but lost in the second round toSergiy Stakhovsky.[3] Federer's loss marked the first time since the2004 French Open that he failed to reach the quarterfinals at a major, ending a streak of 36 consecutive quarterfinals at majors. It was his earliest exit in Wimbledon since2002, and the first time he lost to a player ranked outside the top 100 since2005.[4]
Djokovic advanced to the final after a five-set semifinal againstJuan Martín del Potro. At 4 hours and 43 minutes this match was the then-longest semifinal ever contested at Wimbledon, breaking the previous record set byBoris Becker andIvan Lendl in1989.[5]
In the first round, world No. 135Steve Darcis defeated world No. 5 and two-time Wimbledon championRafael Nadal, the first time Nadal lost in the first round of a major, winning his first 34 consecutive first round matches at grand slams.[6] Federer and Nadal's early exits made this the first time since 2002 that neither of them contested the Wimbledon final. For the first time since1912, no Americans advanced past the second round.[7] For the first time, a Polish man reached a major semifinal afterJerzy Janowicz defeated compatriotŁukasz Kubot in the quarterfinals.[8]
^Although commonly reported as a 77-year drought – as there are 77 years between Perry's 1936 win and Murray's 2013 win – Perry reigned as the Wimbledon men's singles champion until the 1937 Championships.[1]