Nadal scalp more bitter than sweet memory for 'Shark' Darcis

London - Beating Spanish legend Rafael Nadal in the first round of Wimbledon in 2013 should have been a happy memory to live off for the rest of his life, but for Steve Darcis it was bittersweet.

The 35-year-old Belgian didn't even have time to celebrate the famous scalp of the Spaniard as he suffered a serious shoulder injury which forced him out of the tournament.

Darcis -- known as 'The Shark' for sporting a tattoo of the predatory fish on his arm -- was speaking after he had bowed out of this year's Wimbledon.

He lost to another Spanish opponent, Roberto Bautista Agut, retiring when 6-3, 6-2, 4-2 and hindered by a lung complaint.

"Yes, it changed my life a lot because the next year I did not play one match," said Darcis as he reflected on that famous win over Nadal.

"It changed it a lot, not because of the match but the injury.

"Of course it was good to beat Nadal but the rest of the year was so bad. It was just a tennis match and nothing more."

Darcis, who has won two ATP titles, will hope he gets another chance next year to leave Wimbledon on a happier note.

On Wednesday, he engaged in a heated debate with German umpire Roland Herfel when he was warned for spitting on court.

"He told me not to spit on the court otherwise I would get a fine," said Darcis.

"Ok if I get a fine I will give the fine to the doctor as I have been there since one week and I am not getting better.

"I don't think you can say that when you are an umpire. I think he should go home and find another job."

Darcis, who reached a career high ranking of 38 in May 2017, said despite fighting back from several injuries down the years, the wear and tear might force him to call it a day come the end of the season.

"I didn't play last year and it has been tough for me," said Darcis.

"I try to fight and come back because I like the game. I don't know if I will still fight.

"Okay I won the first round but I am not here (Wimbledon) to lose the second round.

"I will be back in the top 200 but it is not where I want to be. I will try for a few more months then see if I carry on."

Darcis, who also played a pivotal role in Belgium reaching two Davis Cup finals (2015 and 2017), said it was all very well for giant 40-year-old Ivo Karlovic to say he thought many players would play into their 40s.

"Karlovic is 2.10m and serves three aces a game, I push my serve and I have to run," said Darcis.

"If I am Karlovic I can play till 50 years of age; with me it is a bit different."

Darcis' style of game was entirely ill-suited to his lung complaint and he had no option but to retire.

"I could not breathe, I was coughing and my head was spinning, it just was not fun," he said.

"I was not going to run myself into the ground for just a tennis match."

However, despite the ailment and the thoughts about retirement there was still some fire left in his belly.

"There is still life in the shark," he said.

Wimbledon results on Wednesday (x denotes seeding):

Men

2nd round

Hubert Hurkacz (POL) bt Leonardo Mayer (ARG) 6-7 (4/7), 6-1, 7-6 (9/7), 6-3

Daniil Medvedev (RUS x11) bt Alexei Popyrin (AUS) 6-7 (6/8), 6-1, 6-4, 6-4

David Goffin (BEL x21) bt Jeremy Chardy (FRA) 6-2, 6-4, 6-3

Fernando Verdasco (ESP) bt Kyle Edmund (GBR x30) 4-6, 4-6, 7-6 (7/3), 6-3, 6-4

Thomas Fabbiano (ITA) bt Ivo Karlovic (CRO) 6-3, 6-7 (6/8), 6-3, 6-7 (4/7), 6-4

Reilly Opelka (USA) bt Stan Wawrinka (SUI x22) 7-5, 3-6, 4-6, 6-4, 8-6

Milos Raonic (CAN x15) bt Robin Haase (NED) 7-6 (7/1), 7-5, 7-6 (7/4)

Karen Khachanov (RUS x10) bt Feliciano Lopez (ESP) 4-6, 6-4, 7-5, 6-4

Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP x23) bt Steve Darcis (BEL) 6-3, 6-2, 4-2 - retired

Benoit Paire (FRA x28) bt Miomir Kecmanovic (SRB) 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 - retired

Jirí Vesely (CZE) bt Pablo Cuevas (URU) 4-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-4, 6-4

Women

2nd round

Elina Svitolina (UKR x8) bt Margarita Gasparyan (RUS) 5-7, 6-5 - retired

Maria Sakkari (GRE x31) bt Marie Bouzkova (CZE) 6-4, 6-1

Karolina Muchova (CZE) bt Madison Brengle (USA) 6-3, 6-4

Anett Kontaveit (EST x20) bt Heather Watson (GBR) 7-5, 6-1

Hsieh Su-Wei (TPE x28) bt Kirsten Flipkens (BEL) 7-6 (7/3), 6-3

Karolina Pliskova (CZE x3) bt Monica Puig (PUR) 6-0, 6-4

Simona Halep (ROU x7) bt Mihaela Buzarnescu (ROU) 6-3, 4-6, 6-2

Victoria Azarenka (BLR) bt Ajla Tomljanovic (AUS) 6-2, 6-0

Zhang Shuai (CHN) bt Yanina Wickmayer (BEL) 6-3, 6-2

Dayana Yastremska (UKR) bt Sofia Kenin (USA x27) 7-5, 4-6, 6-3

Viktorija Golubic (SUI) bt Yulia Putintseva (KAZ) 6-4, 7-6 (7/3)