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?
Avatar
Roar Guru
It was 1998 that Rafter beat Scud in the US Open final. From memory, Rafter committed just five unforced errors that match.
Renee Matey
Roar Rookie
Little Lleyton beating Agassi in the 1998 Adelaide International as a 16 year old and going on to beat Stoltenberg in the final.
Existentialist
Guest
For me ... And that is the beauty of the roar. Achieving the pinnacle of 'the' tournament is the catalyst for success ... Given my alcohol reduced memory I will say current 'team' wins hold precedence. That is, when was I most happy: 1) NSW origin win 2014 (long time waiting - have not been in Aus since last series win) 2) Ashes white wash ... Did I say whitewash 5-0 2014 3) Socceroos vs Uruguay for World Cup qualifier (being at the game was awesome) 4) last Swans grand final against west coast (I am old) 5) Nick beating Rafa ... Pretty amazing. Next!
Deep Thinker
Guest
Boomers beat Croatia at the Atlanta Olympics on the back of a clutch 4 point play from Tony Ronaldson with about 30 seconds to go,. It was the first time the Boomers had ever beaten a major European nation - it was the only team remotely competitive with the US at the time. Unfortunately, I cannot find Australian commentary, but here it is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbcrLRHmcAg
ten four
Guest
ralph doubell winning the 800 metres in Mexico(i think)
Statler and Waldorf
Roar Guru
damn those Tigers!
Punter
Guest
Great swims by Sieben & Armstrong (lucky lane 6). Moscow 1980 had no Americans amongst others.
bigbaz
Roar Guru
The tigers 69 v souths
JoC
Guest
You could add CWC 87, Border brings aussie cricket out of the dark ages or the 89 tour to england, where australia was tipped to win 0 tests. I think they won five and 1 draw. League. Parra v Canterbury 98 semi. Parra up by 18 points with ten mins to go. Dogs storm back to draw (no golden point thank god). After two extra times the dogs win. It still hurts. RWC 2011 Australia v SA quarter final. With less than 20% of the ball, Australia beat a monsterous SA team, who were basically camped on the australian try line for about 50 mins. Origin 95. Qld were rubbish on paper following th3 unavailability of the super league players. Neville nobody's coached by fatty. Take the series 3 nil. No one expected that. I still dont know how that happened. Royce simmons scoring in 91 gf Swans v geelong semi in 2005 maybe. Nick davies kisking a goal at time at the scg to win. 1999 davis cup win in spain Brumbies v British Lions in 2013 Wallabies v SA 2010 jo burg. Kurtley kicks a 50 m penalty on full time to beat SA on the high velt for the first time in 40-50 years We've had a few.
Johnno
Guest
For sure, as was Duncan Armstrong's 1998 swim gold at Seoul Olympics beating Matt Biondi. Matt Micham diving gold at Beijing Olympics 2008. The thing though with Seiben's gold too take the gloss off it, the East Germans or Russians weren't at LA, where as Duncan Armstrong had to beat everyone. Awesome 4oursome relay swim gold at Moscow 1980 was an upset.
Hughster
Guest
John sieben taking gold over gross at the LA Olympics was up there.
bunger
Guest
What. He's from Canberra. Not Melbourne or Sydney!? How perplexing... :p
mactheblack
Guest
Well done Kyrgios. He deserved the victory. Congratulations and a great match to have watched. But ...let's see whether Kyrgios can get into the final at least. It's good to have one good game on grass, where the stars are all aligned - and that against the world's No 1, but it's a different ball game being consistent. Guys like Nadal, Federer, Sampras and before them McEnroe, Borg, Rosewall etc, showed what it is to be a champion - consistency! Let's hope that this is not another wunderkid, who will make an impression in one or two big-time matches and then ride off into the sunset, never to reach the dizzy heights again. Federer lost in the early rounds last year, Nadal was bundled out in the first round of the same edition and also crashed out early in 2012. What's happened to these opponents who caused the upsets? We'll give it to Kyrgios - he played well, above himself and is deserved winner, but we the fans and he himself has to remember. Class is PERMANENT, form is temporary. We're not going to see the likes of Nadal in a hurry once he quits the game - so let's revel in it now- and enjoy the elements he brings to the game! Of course - Nadal will still have to do it against opponents who would want to beat him at every turn - but 13 Grand Slams say it all!
SandBox
Roar Guru
Was referring to the kick itself more so
Chris
Guest
Australia has won a World Cup 6 months previous. That's hardly an upset victory.
Chris
Guest
Australia beating South Africa in 99 wasn't even an upset, let alone a big one.
SandBox
Roar Guru
I would add John Eales' shot for goal to win the BC, Wellington 2000
Johnno
Guest
JB I used to think that maybe he did take him to pieces but now after reading the match scoreline, it may be misleading. Scud won 6-4 7-6 7-6, straight sets. But the tie-break scores were (11-9) (7-3), so that scoreline 2-sets going to tie-breaks hardly blowing Sampras off the court.
Johnno
Guest
1988 Bicentential Gold Cup beating then current World champs Argentina 4-1 in Sydney. Charlie Yannnkoss what a goal. Wayne Gardner 1987 500cc motorbike world title Lionel Rose aged 19, World bantamweight boxing title 1968 Jeff Harding aged 24 in only his 15th pro fight, world light heavyweight title 1989 Graham "Spike Cheney aged 19," 1988 Seoul Olympics silver medal light welterweight silver medal boxing, the boy from Lithgow. Ian Baker-Finch golf 1991 British Open champion
Statler and Waldorf
Roar Guru
South Sydney wins the 2014 NRL Grand Final :)