The infamous bad matchups for "The Big Four".

[LanceStern]

It seems the "Big Four" all have an interesting "bad matchup" against certain opponents. Either it's an extremely hard-fought battle almost every time they meet, or it's an outright thumping with them on the receiving end.

Very rarely do the big four just steamroll through these opponents except in some of these players twilight years.

I'm trying hard to remember if Andy Murray has any?

Djokovic - Stanislas Wawrinka, Andy Roddick
Federer - Thomas Berdych, Julian Benneteau
Nadal - Davydenko, Del Potro
Murray - Berdych, Wawrinka

What makes these bad matchups for the Big Four (or big three if Murray is impervious)

 

[batz]

It seems the "Big Four" all have an interesting "bad matchup" against certain opponents. Either it's an extremely hard-fought battle almost every time they meet, or it's an outright thumping with them on the receiving end.

Very rarely do the big four just steamroll through these opponents except in some of these players twilight years.

I'm trying hard to remember if Andy Murray has any?

Djokovic - Stanislas Wawrinka, Andy Roddick
Federer - Thomas Berdych, Julian Benneteau
Nadal - Davydenko, Del Potro
Murray - ???

What makes these bad matchups for the Big Four (or big three if Murray is impervious)

Berdych is Murray's kryptonite. I dread to see him in Murray's quarter at any event.

 

[NatF]

Kiefer used to be an odd matchup for Federer, would always lose a set to him. Kohlschreiber is the same for Nadal.

 

[Deleted member 77403]

Federer always has fun against Simon.

And Gulbis always thrives against Nadal.

 

[batz]

Kiefer used to be an odd matchup for Federer, would always lose a set to him. Kohlschreiber is the same for Nadal.

As did Tim Henman when Roger was just a babyGOAT.

 

[Mustard]

Del Potro for Nadal, LanceStern?

Nadal's biggest matchup problem is Djokovic. In the past, matchup problems were with Berdych, Youzhny, Blake, Soderling, Davydenko.

 

[Mustard]

As did Tim Henman when Roger was just a babyGOAT.

Yes. I seem to remember Henman being the first man to beat Federer after Federer became world number 1 (2004 Rotterdam). Henman led his head-to-head against Federer by 6-1 after that match, I believe.

 

[NatF]

As did Tim Henman when Roger was just a babyGOAT.

Yep, but then plenty of people did then lol. Although Henman did beat Federer in 2004.

 

[Towser83]

Del Potro for Nadal, LanceStern?

Nadal's biggest matchup problem is Djokovic. In the past, matchup problems were with Berdych, Youzhny, Blake, Soderling, Davydenko.

I look at a bad matchup being someone who's not as good generally but for some reason holds the upper hand. Hence Nadal is not really a bad matcup for Fed on clay,he's just better on clay, but he's a bad matchup on grass and hardcourt. Djokovic only really has the upper hand vs Nadal on HC where he is a better HC player anyway so it's not really a matchup issue - he's just a better HC player. 2011 is the only year where Djokovic outperformed Nadal on surfaces where Nadal is better, but since then it hasn't really continued like that.

Davydenko was Nadal's worst matchup because Davydenko was way less successfulon HC yet leads 6-1 or something

 

[Engelworks]

I'd say Wawrinka for Murray. He absolutely drubbed Murray at the US Open last year, and their head 2 head is pretty close. I can still see visions of Stan stepping inside the baseline and murdering Murray's 2nd serve at the open.

 

[Mainad]

It seems the "Big Four" all have an interesting "bad matchup" against certain opponents. Either it's an extremely hard-fought battle almost every time they meet, or it's an outright thumping with them on the receiving end.

Very rarely do the big four just steamroll through these opponents except in some of these players twilight years.

I'm trying hard to remember if Andy Murray has any?

Djokovic - Stanislas Wawrinka, Andy Roddick
Federer - Thomas Berdych, Julian Benneteau
Nadal - Davydenko, Del Potro
Murray - ???

What makes these bad matchups for the Big Four (or big three if Murray is impervious)

As batz has pointed out, Berdych is something of a bugbear for Murray. He is the only top 10 player, apart from Nadal and Djokovic, who has had a consistently positive H2H against him, currently 6-4, and he beat him in straights in their last 2 encounters on clay and hardcourt. Wawrinka too has been a recent thorn in Murray's side. Although he still trails their H2H 6-8, he also straight setted him in their 2 most recent encounters, again on clay and hardcourt, the latter in the quarters of last year's USO.

 

[LanceStern]

So Berdych seems to be a problem for the tactitian/all-around play of Murray and Federer. He blows a hole through slices and spins if he keeps his head on straight.

Wawrinka seems to give trouble to attrition style play (Djokovic and pushing-Murray). I don't know why.

Maybe he's just in their head and there's no formula

 

[nethawkwenatchee]

Berdych is Murray's kryptonite. I dread to see him in Murray's quarter at any event.

I admit that 6-4 is pretty good against Murray and Berdych did win the past two masters series matches but "kryptonite"? The head to head in grand slams is 1-1 with Murray winning the biggest match these two have played (2012 US Open Semi-Final in which Murray went on to win the tournament). The only other grand slam match up was at the French Open R16 in 2010 where Berdych came out victorious. I'd have to say last years Cincinnati and Madrid wins may have been predicated by a lingering back issue that finally forced Andy to pull out of the French. It's awfully tough to return a Berdych serve with that kind of back soreness.

 

[burn1986]

Djokovic - Wawrinka,
Federer - Everyone but Wawrinka
Nadal - No one
Murray - Wawrinka