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Nick Kyrgios has caused one of the biggest upsets in Wimbledon history, defeating Rafael Nadal in the round of 16 last night.
David Lord believed he could do it, but not many others did, with the bookies installing him a $9 outsider in a two-horse race yesterday.
But just watch the video above to see how he overcame the odds. It was truly a remarkable match, that included one of the shots of the year so far.
His win inspired us to think, what are some of Australia’s other great underdog victories of the past? Here’s a shortlist. Feel free to add your own in the comments below.
Steven Bradbury wins Gold in Salt Like City
To have Aussie jargon named after you means you did something very special, and Bradbury’s done just that.
Most Aussies would know what ‘doing a Steven Bradbury means’, and if you don’t watch this footage from the gold medal race in the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics.
And if you think he doesn’t deserve that gold medal, he begs to differ.
1983 America’s Cup
The New York Yacht Club had never had a successful challenge mounted to their America’s Cup reign. Liberty was the defending champion, and Australia II from Perth, skippered by John Bertrand, was the challenger.
It took the full seven races to find a result, but in the gruelling conditions, the Aussies tacked their way to a victory.
Bob Hawke also made his way into history on the very same morning, with the famous comment that set the precedent for public holidays on days of great sporting achievement.
That drop goal from Stephen Larkham
Stephen Larkham was a brilliant footballer, and one of Australia’s great fly halves.
But he wasn’t Jannie de Beer or Joel Stransky. That was, until the 1999 Rugby World Cup, where he snapped this pearler to put Australia in the lead against a very strong South African side.
It’s the type of kick that will make you believe in a higher power. Along with this one.
Kieren Perkins wins gold in Atlanta
Too slow. Out of form. Past it.
That was the assessment of Perkins’ chances to take a win from lane 8 in Atlanta.
The defending gold medallist and world record holder was out of sorts, and there was no indication from his heat that he would turn it around, while compatriot Daniel Kowalski was the raging favourite.
But all the way from the side of the pool, Perkins said nuts to that, and swum sub-15 minutes to take his second Olympic Gold. He went on to swim at the Sydney Games too, coming second to Grant Hackett.
Ashes 5-0 whitewash
England came to Australia on the back of a comprehensive victory at home. The Australians came to the Gabba with a side in all sorts, that had shown plenty of fight but not much follow through.
Furthermore, the dice was cast and the new ball was thrown to Mitchell Johnson, the mercurial, talented, but previously scattergun quick who most thought should have been discarded.
37 wickets at under 14 apiece, to go with a masterclass from Brad Haddin and many other memorable performances, and the urn were back in Australia. Not just back in Australia, either, but 5-0 back in Australia.
I know we at the Roar had a couple of Illawarra Brewing’s 5-0 pils to celebrate.
Socceroos beat Uruguay to get into the World Cup
The ‘Golden Generation’ of Socceroos made it all the way to the round of 16 at the World Cup, arguably one of Australia’s greatest achievements in sport.
They could have made it further too, but we won’t go there.
But it was the win over Uruguay in penalties to get to the Cup that set the nation alight.
Let’s let the commentators tell the story.
What do you think Roarers? What are Australia’s greatest sporting upsets?
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