Roger and out as Ukrainian springs a shock

Having seen Rafael Nadal bow out of the tournament, Federer seemed to have an easy route to the semi-finals, but Ukrainian Stakhovsky stunned the Swiss with a 6-7 (5/7), 7-6 (7/5), 7-5, 7-6 (7/5) win in the second round.

Federer's earliest exit at Wimbledon for 11 years comes as a huge boost for Andy Murray, who earlier saw his potential quarter-final opponent Jo-Wilfried Tsonga pull out through injury.

Even the most optimistic of Stakhovsky supporters could not have seen this dramatic Centre Court result – one of the biggest shocks in Wimbledon history – coming.

The 27-year-old, who has only made the second round at the All England Club once before, played a superb serve-and-volley game that ended Federer's run of 36 consecutive grand slam quarter-final appearances.

Stakhovsky was good value for the win, with Federer having no answer to his opponent's movement and precision.

Speaking to the BBC in the immediate aftermath, Stakhovsky said: "I am in disbelief that it happened. It was the best tennis I played and incredible.

"I hung in there, tried to go to tiebreaks. I got a little tight when I got up a break in the fourth and I am really happy to go through.

"It's magic. I couldn't play any better. I did everything I needed, it was a fantastic day for me."

After a tight first set, a tiebreak came and, despite Stakhovsky saving two set points, the Swiss took the lead after 45 minutes.

Both players' armour looked more vulnerable in the second set. Another tiebreak arrived, but this time it was Stakhovsky who came out on top.

Stakhovsky gained confidence and showed nerves of steel to serve out for the third set, clinching the game when Federer ploughed a shot into the net.

There was no letting up from Stakhovsky and he broke early in the tense fourth-set tie-break before Federer sent a straightforward backhand wide at 6-5 down to seal his own demise.