Roger Federer's future was cast into doubt on Wednesday after tumbling out of the Wimbledon quarterfinals just five weeks before his 40th birthday.
Federer, an eight-time Wimbledon champion and 20-time Grand Slam winner, was defeated by Hubert Hurkacz of Poland, a player 15 years his junior, 6-3, 7-6 (7/4), 6-0.
It was Federer's 14th loss in 119 matches at the competition, and his first straight-sets loss since losing in the first round to Mario Ancic in 2002.
At Wimbledon, it was the first time he had lost a set 6-0.
Former champion Boris Becker commented on Federer's performance, saying, "I observed the mis-hits, uncomfortable looking points from Roger, and certainly the last set of course, 6-0."
"He would never admit to having a niggle, but I doubt we'll ever see the great guy here again."
Hurkacz, the world number 18, has never advanced past the third round of a Grand Slam before 2018 Wimbledon.
He was a break up on a sluggish-looking Federer in the sixth game of the opening set, inspired by having defeated world No 2 Daniil Medvedev in five games in the last 16.
In the second set, the Swiss great, who had two knee operations in 2020 and was attempting to become the oldest man in the Wimbledon last-four in nearly a half-century, carved out a break for 2-0.
Hurkacz leveled the match in the seventh game from a 1-4 deficit before dominating the tiebreak.
He is only the second Polish player to reach the Wimbledon semifinals, after Jerzy Janowicz in 2013.
For a spot in Sunday's final, he'll face either Italy's Matteo Berrettini or Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime.
"It's an honor to play Roger here; it's a dream come true, He's done a lot of unique stuff here," Hurkacz remarked.
Novak Djokovic, the world No. 1 and five-time Wimbledon winner, advanced to his 10th Wimbledon semifinal and 41st Grand Slam final.
Marton Fucsovics of Hungary was defeated 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 by Djokovic, who was chasing a record-tying 20th major title.
Denis Shapovalov, the 10th seed from Canada, defeated Russia's Karen Khachanov 6-4, 3-6, 5-7, 6-1, 6-4.
He will face Canada's 10th seed Denis Shapovalov, who defeated Russia's Karen Khachanov 6-4, 3-6, 5-7, 6-1, 6-4, for a place in Sunday's final
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