Nadal destroyer Brown stays true to his roots

LONDON: Dustin Brown insists he will remain true to his roots after the dread-locked German qualifier stole the Wimbledon spotlight with a stunning upset of Rafael Nadal.

Brown produced an almost flawless display of serve and volley tennis to beat two-time Wimbledon champion Nadal 7-5, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 and secure just the fourth Grand Slam win of his career.

The flamboyant 30-year-old´s striking appearance and eye-catching play made him the talk of the All England Club on Thursday.

But beating Nadal in front of a packed crowd on Centre Court was a rare headline-grabbing moment for Brown, a journeyman ranked 102 in the world who has spent much of his career labouring in relative obscurity.

Brown spent three years travelling and living in a VW camper-van purchased by his parents as he drove to tournaments around Europe, often stopping at laundrettes to wash his own clothes and stringing rackets for other players to make extra cash.

Regardless of his sudden burst of fame, Brown, who still can´t afford a coach, has no intention of letting the adulation affect his beliefs and laid-back personality. (AFP)