So close and yet so far!

LazyNinja19

LazyNinja19

Banned
This thread is about the players who came very close to winning a big title(reached a couple of Finals), but couldn't just pull it off (yet).

The particular title maybe a Slam, Masters 1000, or WTF.

Nadal: He has reached 3 Miami finals, but lost all of them to
-Federer(after winning the first 2 sets) -2005
-Davydenko -2008
-Djokovic (losing the third in a tie breaker) - 2011

He has made it to the finals every 3rd year. Can he make one this year? And can he finally win it? :)

Djokovic: The only big titles missing from his resume are RG, and Cincinnati. Since he has made only 1 RG final, i think Cincinnati is the one which has eluded him even after coming so close ( 3 finals??)

Federer: I dunno. Maybe Rome? Someone else can shed some light here.

Murray: Has to be AO. Lost 3 finals!

Which other players do you think have come very close to winning a particular title(only Slams/Masters/WTF), but couldn't win it?
 
D

Deleted member 77403

Guest
Federer - MC 06,07,08 and Rome 03,06,13

Nadal - Miami 05, 08, 11 and WTF 10, 13

Djokovic - Cincy four times

Murray - Three AO finals
 
Chanwan

Chanwan

G.O.A.T.
Hitman said:
Federer - MC 06,07,08 and Rome 03,06,13

Nadal - Miami 05, 08, 11 and WTF 10, 13

Djokovic - Cincy four times

Murray - Three AO finals
Click to expand...

Perfect summary for the big 4.

Roddick at Wimbledon is perhaps the best example with three RU's to Fed + at least one semifinal loss (to Fed).

Now we just need the rest.
Then again, the rest are not typically characterized with having a lot of RU's at the same tournament.
But Ferrer must have a number of RU's without a win in some clay tournaments?
 
N

Nathaniel_Near

Guest
Julien Benneteau... 9 finals, no wins! No big title finals, but it's amazing to consider!
 
D

Deleted member 77403

Guest
Soderling - Two RGs :(

And he beat the defending champion on route to final both times.
 
N

Nathaniel_Near

Guest
Borg - 4 US Open Finals, but lost out to either McEnroe or Connors on each occasion. He lost 4-6 in the 5th to John McEnroe in 1980.

Rosewall - No Wimbledon title from 4 finals.
 
N

Nathaniel_Near

Guest
Sampras - 13 RG appearances, no finals.

Delete post.
 
D

Deleted member 77403

Guest
ALL of Ferrer's biggest loses, RU positions have been against the Big Four

Federer - WTF 07
Nadal - RG 13, Rome 10, MC 11,
Djokovic - Paris 13
Murray - Shanghai 11, Miami 13

No Ferrer is so close to beating the BIG Four, but yet so far! :(
 
LazyNinja19

LazyNinja19

Banned
Hitman said:
Federer - MC 06,07,08 and Rome 03,06,13

Nadal - Miami 05, 08, 11 and WTF 10, 13

Djokovic - Cincy four times

Murray - Three AO finals
Click to expand...

Nadal lost both the finals of WTF pretty handily. So IMO, he was never that close to winning it. But yes, it can be counted.

Hitman said:
Soderling - Two RGs :(

And he beat the defending champion on route to final both times.
Click to expand...

Again, Soderling lost both the RG finals in straight sets. But looking back now, that his health issues ruined his career, losing 2 Slam finals (beating defending champs in each) & never winning one, is kinda hard on him.
He deserved to win it once, i think.

Chanwan said:
Perfect summary for the big 4.

Roddick at Wimbledon is perhaps the best example with three RU's to Fed + at least one semifinal loss (to Fed).
Click to expand...

Damn! How did i forget Roddick?! He's a perfect example for this thread.
 
D

Deleted member 77403

Guest
LazyNinja19 said:
Nadal lost both the finals of WTF pretty handily. So IMO, he was never that close to winning it. But yes, it can be counted.



Again, Soderling lost both the RG finals in straight sets. But looking back now, that his health issues ruined his career, losing 2 Slam finals (beating defending champs in each) & never winning one, is kinda hard on him.
He deserved to win it once, i think.



Damn! How did i forget Roddick?! He's a perfect example for this thread.
Click to expand...

I thought the question was more about making it through the field to get to the title match, just not being able to deliver on the day. Because in that case, Federer was over his head in Rome 03 and outplayed in Rome 13, so he wasn't winning those. So that throws that out the window.
In MC, he only really had good chances in 08, in 06 and 07 Nadal just rolled him.

You can't also count Djokovic either then. Because he lost all his finals in Cincy in straight sets.

At WTF 10, Nadal actually had the momentum going into the final set. He had very good chance to win it, just faded away.

And we know how badly Murray has performed in the AO finals, winning one set in three visits there. So that won't be close either if we go by your definition.
 
LazyNinja19

LazyNinja19

Banned
Hitman said:
I thought the question was more about making it through the field to get to the title match, just not being able to deliver on the day. Because in that case, Federer was over his head in Rome 03 and outplayed in Rome 13, so he wasn't winning those. So that throws that out the window.
In MC, he only really had good chances in 08, in 06 and 07 Nadal just rolled him.

You can't also count Djokovic either then. Because he lost all his finals in Cincy in straight sets.

At WTF 10, Nadal actually had the momentum going into the final set. He had very good chance to win it, just faded away.

And we know how badly Murray has performed in the AO finals, winning one set in three visits there. So that won't be close either if we go by your definition.
Click to expand...

Ok ok my bad :p
My criteria was too rigid. You are right, all of those Finals made should be taken into account.
 
Last edited:
N

Nathaniel_Near

Guest
So then use your own definition.


When a thread is made it doesn't have to adhere to some hugely stringent rules. Discretion is advised.

As such, all these examples are good other than my deleted post which isn't actually deleted if you take a careful look.
 
LazyNinja19

LazyNinja19

Banned
Nathaniel_Near said:
So then use your own definition.
When a thread is made it doesn't have to adhere to some hugely stringent rules. Discretion is advised.

As such, all these examples are good other than my deleted post which isn't actually deleted if you take a careful look.
Click to expand...

Yep, i acknowledged my mistake. :)

Nathaniel_Near said:
Julien Benneteau... 9 finals, no wins! No big title finals, but it's amazing to consider!
Click to expand...

I really hope Julien wins at least one title before he retires. He's too good a player, to not win one. :sad:
 
N

Nathaniel_Near

Guest
I just didn't realise his losing of finals was that chronic.

He will not rest until he wins a title (please).
 
S

Sid_Vicious

G.O.A.T.
Djokovic2011 said:
When it comes to those tournaments they sure love those runner up plates! :)
Click to expand...

I wonder what successful players like those 3 do with runner up plates. I would just fling it over my shoulder if i were them.

I saw this tv special about Hewitt once where they just followed him around with a camera. Hewitt showed them his runner up plate at the AO which was just tucked away in a bag on the floor and said it would come in handy during barbecues. :lol:
 
Last edited:
Djokovic2011

Djokovic2011

Bionic Poster
Sid_Vicious said:
I wonder what successful players like those 3 do with runner up plates. I would just fling it over my shoulder if i were them.

I saw this tv special about Hewitt once where they just followed him around with a camera. Hewitt showed them his runner up plate at the AO which was just tucked away in a bag on the floor and said it would come in handy during barbecues. :lol:
Click to expand...

How about using them as a frisbee? :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

BGod
  • Poll
Better Career so far? Berdych vs. Tsonga
Replies
25
Views
1K
Jezza94
Jezza94
clout
  • Poll
Thiem vs Ferrero: Better career so far?
Replies
26
Views
809
Cashman
Cashman
tennis_pro
Better career so far - Youzhny or Fish?
Replies
12
Views
2K
Mustard
Mustard
noeledmonds
Greatest 10 Male Players of this decade so far
2
Replies
55
Views
5K
helloworld
H
T
  • Poll
Is Nadal 2nd greatest hard court player of last 10 years
2
Replies
94
Views
6K
HelloNewmann
HelloNewmann
Top