The 2022 season has been momentous for both Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic as they both surpassed Roger Federer's Grand Slam tally of 20. Nadal won the season's first two Majors in Melbourne and Paris, moving to the top of the pile with 22. Djokovic responded by capturing his seventh Wimbledon title and 21st Grand Slam in what has been a topsy-turvy season for the Serb. Despite their splendid success, the duo, along with other top players, were not immune to the odd upset. Here's a list of the five biggest upsets of 2022
1. Iga Swiatek vs Alize Cornet (Wimbledon)
Alize Cornet defeated World No. 1 Iga Swiatek in the third round of the 2022 Wimbledon Championships. Heading into the match, Swiatek was on a 37-match winning streak, the highest this millennium. But that did not hinder the experienced Cornet as she showcased her grass court prowess to snap Swiatek's streak and advance to the second week with a straight sets win, 6-4, 6-2. The French player lost in the very next round to Ajla Tomljanovic.
2. Rafael Nadal vs Frances Tiafoe (US Open)
Frances Tiafoe registered the biggest win of his young career at the US Open and also gave Rafael Nadal his first loss at a Grand Slam in 2022. The American hadn't taken a set off the Spaniard in their two previous meetings. But that didn't hinder him from blasting 49 winners past the four- time US Open champion in their fourth-round encounter, winning it 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3. By the end of the encounter, Nadal was struggling with his movement due to an abdominal injury and wouldn't play his next professional match until the Paris Masters a couple of months later. Tiafoe made it all the way to the semi-finals before suffering a heart-breaking loss to eventual champion Carlos Alcaraz.
Also Read | Rafael Nadal Net Worth
3. Serena Williams vs Harmony Tan (Wimbledon)
There was a lot of anticipation surrounding Serena Williams Comeback after a year on the side-lines as she took on Harmony Tan of France in the first round at Wimbledon. Tan, ranked outside the top 100, surprised the 23-time Major winner with her unorthodox groundstrokes and took the first set. An hour into the contest, Williams finally found her feet and brushed aside Tan in the second set. But the French player showed great resilience and intellect to outclass the American and register one of the biggest upsets in Wimbledon history, 7-5, 1-6, 7-6(7). Tan would make it as far as the Round of 16 before losing to Amanda Anisimova.
4. Novak Djokovic vs Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (Monte-Carlo Masters)
After beginning his season late in Dubai, Novak Djokovic headed into the clay-court swing woefully short of match practice. In his opening match at the Monte-Carlo Masters, he found himself up against rising star Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. Djokovic looked rusty right from the start and lost the opening set 6-3. However, he fought hard and was more than competitive in the second set, taking it in the tie-break. But his lack of match fitness caught up with him in the deciding set, with Fokina winning it with ease to score the biggest upset of his career, 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-1. The young Spaniard would make it all the way to the final before falling to Stefanos Tsitsipas.
Also Read | Novak Djokovic Net Worth
5. Brandon Holt vs Taylor Fritz (US Open)
Taylor Fritz had the best year of his career in 2022. But he also registered one of his worst defeats at his home slam in New York. The Californian
was defeated by compatriot Brandon Holt in the first round of the US Open. Fritz made a bright start to the match and took a competitive first set in the tie-break. Holt, however, slowly grew into the encounter and took control from the second set onwards to register the biggest win of his career, 6- 7(3), 7-6(1), 6-3, 6-4. Holt was unable to make the most of the big win, falling in the second round to Pedro Cachin.
Also Read | List of all grand slams won by Roger Federer
