Los Angeles Times: Rafael Nadal makes fast, and stunning, Wimbledon exit

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By Art Spander
For the Los Angeles Times

LONDON — When Steve Darcis, a Belgian whose basic language is French, saw last Friday that he would be playing Rafael Nadal in the first round of Wimbledon, his response was an English vulgarity. Four letters, and that's about as far as it goes.

Nadal, a Spaniard, may be echoing Darcis' reaction today, because in this 127th Wimbledon, the world's fifth-ranked player and recent French Open champion already has gone as far as he can go. Nowhere.

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Copyright © 2013, Los Angeles Times

Newsday (N.Y.): Wimbledon shocker: Rafael Nadal falls to Steve Darcis in first round

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By Art Spander
Special to Newsday

WIMBLEDON, England — Rafael Nadal said he had no excuses. Neither did he have any way to halt a rapid, early tumble out of the All England championships a second consecutive year.

In 2012 it was in the second round to the 100th player in the men's rankings, Lukas Rosol. On Monday, in the first round of the 127th Wimbledon, Nadal was beaten by No. 135th-ranked Steve Darcis of Belgium, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (8), 6-4.

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