LONDON (AFP) ― Rafael Nadal suffered Wimbledon humiliation at the hands of Belgian world number 135 Steve Darcis on Monday, a shock first-round defeat which cleared the title paths of Andy Murray and Roger Federer.

Journeyman Darcis clinched a 7-6 (4), 7-6 (8), 6-4 win to condemn the fifth-seed Spanish superstar to a first ever loss in the opening round of a major.

It also came just two weeks after 12-time Grand Slam title winner Nadal, the 2008 and 2010 Wimbledon champion, had celebrated a record eighth French Open crown.

The sensational result was the first time since Gustavo Kuerten in 1997 that a French Open champion had lost in the opening round at Wimbledon.

The defeat followed Nadal’s second round shocker at the hands of Lukas Rosol of the Czech Republic at last year’s Wimbledon.

But he refused to blame his constant struggles with his knees for defeat.

“It’s not the right day (to discuss my knees). I tried my best in every moment, but it was not possible this afternoon,” said Nadal.

“On grass, it’s difficult to adapt when you don’t have a chance to play on the surface before Wimbledon.

“Darcis deserved to win today.”

Darcis, 29, and nicknamed ‘Shark’, had come into Wimbledon with just two wins under his belt on the tour all year.

“Nobody was expecting my win today,” said Darcis, who has now matched his best performance at the All England Club having reached the second round in 2009.

Nadal had won 43 of his 45 matches and seven titles since his return to the tour in February after a seven-month injury lay-off to rest his notoriously suspect knees.

But he was flat-footed and half-hearted as Darcis fired 13 aces and 53 winners past the hapless Spaniard.

Darcis will next face Poland’s Lukasz Kubot.

Second seeded Murray made history as the world number two cruised into the second round with a 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 victory over Germany’s Benjamin Becker.

Murray’s dominant display on Center Court made him the most successful British man in Grand Slam history as he surpassed Fred Perry’s total of 106 matches won at the four majors.

The U.S. Open champion will next play Taiwan’s Lu Yen-Hsun, who beat him at the 2008 Olympics.

“It’s a good start. There are always nerves before the first match at a Grand Slam, especially here for me. I’m glad to get it out of the way and keep improving,” said Murray, the runner-up to Federer last year.

Federer began his bid for a record eighth Wimbledon title with a 69-minute demolition of Victor Hanescu.

Federer, 31, swept to a 6-3, 6-2, 6-0 win on Center Court to celebrate the 10th anniversary of his first triumph at the All England Club.

The seven-time champion Swiss fired 32 winners and just six unforced errors as he clinched a sixth career victory over the 47th-ranked Romanian.

Sharapova into 2nd round

LONDON (AFP) ― Maria Sharapova came through a tough battle with France’s Kristina Mladenovic on Monday to make it into the second round at Wimbledon.

The 2004 Wimbledon champion secured a straight sets win in the first women’s match on Centre Court, but it was a tight affair, with the third seed eventually triumphing 7-6 (5), 6-3.