In pictures: Our top 10 upsets of 2020

Swiatek – Halep, Gaston – Wawrinka, Sonego Djokovic … Tennis Majors has drawn up a list of the 10 biggest “upsets” of 2020.

21 December 2020

– Why this match is memorable: Facing Simona Halep, the big favourite for the tournament, Iga Swiatek played her game by sending the Romanian to the four corners of the Roland-Garros court. Impressively, the Polish 19-year-old, 54th in the world, wins, giving only three games to her opponent in a match that lasts just one hour and seven minutes.
– The key moment: The start of the match. From the start, Swiatek suffocated Halep and doesn’t let her breathe until the end of the match.
–The statement: “Before the match, I said to myself that it was possible, that I could do it (last year, she lost 6-1, 6-0 against Simona Halep at the same stage of the competition). But I’m still surprised to have succeeded (laughs)! “- Iga Swiatek

Mathieu Canac

1/10

10. Australian Open - 3rd round: Q. Wang beats S. Williams 6-4 6-7 7-5

- Why this match is memorable : Victorious in Auckland two weeks earlier - her first title since 2017 and her return after pregnancy - Serena Williams is one of the big favourites for the Australian Opent. However, faced with a Qiang Wang in form, she bowed out. It was her first loss before the round of 16 in Melbourn since 2006.
- The key moment : At 5-5 on her serve in the last set, Qiang Wang finds herself under pressure, at 30-15, but she comes through, in particular thanks to a crossed backhand validated by Hawk-Eye at 30-30.
-The statement: “I am really very happy! I always believed I could do this one day, and it finally happened. I worked really, really hard during the preseason, it paid off. "- Qiang Wang
2/10

9. Rio de Janeiro - quarter-finals: Mager beats Thiem 7-6 7-5

- Why this match is memorable : Recent finalist of the Australian Open, Dominic Thiem loses to general surprise against Gianluca Mager, 128th in the world. If he had won in Rio, the Austrian would have climbed on the podium of the ATP rankings.
- The key moment: As Mager leads 7-6, 2-1, the rain interrupts the match. Despite this he does not overthink it and continues to push Thiem until he wins.
- The statement : "It's incredible! For me, just playing against him was a dream. Now I beat him, it's even crazier! He's a great guy and a fantastic player...I'm very moved." - Gianluca Mager
3/10

8. US Open - 3rd round: Pironkova beats Muguruza 7-5 6-3

- Why this match is memorable : Back after a pregnancy and the creation of her clothing brand, Tsvetana Pironkova plays her first tournament since Wimbledon 2017. Impressive, she dismisses, without pausing for a second, Garbiñe Muguruza, the finalist of the Australian Open at the start of the year.
- The key moment : The tenth game of the first set. As Garbiñe Muguruza serves for the set, Tsvetana Pironkova manages to break thanks, among other things, to an unstoppable shot to lead 30-15.
- The statement : "Having a child changes my priorities. Before, it was a matter of life and death to win a match. It's not really like that now, it is above all pleasure that counts. "- Tsvetana Pironkova
4/10

7. Roland-Garros - 3rd round: Altmaier beats Berrettini 6-2 7-6 6-4

- Why this match is memorable : Coming through qualifying, Daniel Altmaier wins in three sets against Matteo Berrettini, seeded number 7. Aged 22, the German, who had not won a match on the main circuit before the tournament, reached the round of 16 to everyone's surprise.
- The key moment: As Berrettini serves for the set, Altmaier manages to block before pocketing the decisive game to lead two sets to zero.
- The statement: "If I say 'Go' to encourage me, it is a little to be like my idol, Stan Wawrinka. He always says 'Come on, Stan!', So I shout 'Come on, Dan!'” - Daniel Altmaier
5/10

6. Rome - 1st round: Musetti beats Wawrinka 6-0 7-6

- Why this match is memorable : Qualifier Lorenzo Musetti, 18, shocks Stanislas Wawrinka - and begins by taking the first set 6-0. At home, the Italian grabs his first victory on the main circuit.
- The key moment: The decisive game of the second set. Despite the pressure linked to the event and the prestige of the opponent, Musetti remains in control of his nerves to complete the tie-break 7-2.
-The statement: “My first set was almost perfect. In the second, he tried to play better, he was more focused, but I served very well. I knew how to vary services to the T, external services and services to the body. I think that was the key ”- Lorenzo Musetti
6/10

5. Roland-Garros - quarter-finals: Podoroska beats Svitolina 6-2 6-4

- Why this match is memorable : Completely unknown to the general public at the start of the tournament, 131st in the world, Nadia Podoroska defeats Elina Svitolina, one of the big favourites for the Roland-Garros title.
- The key moment:Behind from the start of the second set, Nadia Podoroska finds herself behind 4-3 on Svitolina's serve. The Argentinian breaks and does not lose a game until the end of the match.
-The statement: "It made me good to work with a mental trainer, who practises Zen Buddhism. He taught me to take a step back, to stop looking for excuses. Instead of seeing the negative, I take the opportunities. (...) My dream is to become the best player in the world. "- Nadia Podoroska
7/10

4. Rome - Quarter-finals - Schwartzman beats Nadal 6-2 7-5

- Why this match is memorable : In his first tournament since returning to the circuit, Rafael Nadal lost, on clay, against an impressive Diego Schwartzman. The Argentinian gives one of the most beautiful performances of his career, and his first victory against the Spaniard.
- The key moment: At 6-2, 5-4, Schwartzman loses his concentration while serving for the match. He looks distressed but he comes back to win 6-2, 7-5.
-The statement:: "It's the best game of my life!" I have played against the Big 3 several times and, until this day, I had never won. I am so happy! "- Diego Schwartzman
8/10

9. Vienna - quarter-finals: Sonego beats Djokovic 6-2 6-1

- Why this match is memorable : Assured to finish world No 1 at the end of the year for the sixth time - and to equal the record of Pete Sampras - thanks to his victory in the previous round, Novak Djokovic is swept away by Lorenzo Sonego. For the first time in his career, the Serbian bowed out to a "lucky loser".
- The key moment: From the start of the second set, Sonego keeps the world No 1's head underwater by breaking his service.
-The statement:“It's true that getting the world No 1 place had an effect on me today. I accomplished what I needed by coming here, securing that number one spot. And I'm moving on with today's result. (...) He simply swept me off the court." - Novak Djokovic
9/10

2. Ronad-Garros - 3rd round: Gaston beats Wawrinka 2-6 6-3 6-3 4-6 6-0

- Why this match is memorable : Before Roland-Garros, Hugo Gaston, 20, 239th in the world, had not won a single match on the main circuit. Facing Stan Wawrinka, he enchanted the French public by achieving one of the greatest exploits of French tennis on the courts of Roland-Garros.
- The key moment:Crushed by the power of the "Stanimal" in the first set, Gaston succeeds with a break at the start of the second. There, more relaxed, he begins to relax into his game while varying his shots and becomes "more creative", as he later explains in a press conference.
-The statement: “I tried to play my game, I came on the field to win. Even though I didn't necessarily think I would win (smile). But I did everything thanks to you (the public)." - Hugo Gaston
10/10

1. Roland-Garros - round of 16: Swiatek beats Halep 6-1 6-2

- Why this match is memorable: Facing Simona Halep, the big favourite for the tournament, Iga Swiatek played her game by sending the Romanian to the four corners of the Roland-Garros court. Impressively, the Polish 19-year-old, 54th in the world, wins, giving only three games to her opponent in a match that lasts just one hour and seven minutes.
- The key moment: The start of the match. From the start, Swiatek suffocated Halep and doesn't let her breathe until the end of the match.
-The statement: "Before the match, I said to myself that it was possible, that I could do it (last year, she lost 6-1, 6-0 against Simona Halep at the same stage of the competition). But I'm still surprised to have succeeded (laughs)! "- Iga Swiatek