Big Match Chokers

[pjonesy]

Even Federer is capable of getting tight in close matches. Succumbing to pressure is very common. Even the top professional players are not immune.

What players should be on the list?

What elite individual player has handled pressure best in the the open era?

[90's Clay]

Sampras and Nadal hands down. Though Nole may take that title.

[veroniquem]

And Djoko.

[FedererDropShot]

Game Sampras.

[pjonesy]

Originally Posted by 90's Clay

Sampras and Nadal hands down. Though Nole may take that title.

Yes. I can agree that they are 2 of the best at handling pressure. Obviously for different reasons. The Sampras 2nd serve and Nadal's fighting spirit are at the top of the list of great equalizers when the heat is on. However, I can think of a few others that are equal to Sampras and Nadal. IMO. It probably would be helpful to focus on an overall list to narrow down the field.

Is it fair to say that players (overall) in the 60s and 70s were better at performing under pressure?

[90's Clay]

Originally Posted by pjonesy

Yes. I can agree that they are 2 of the best at handling pressure. Obviously for different reasons. The Sampras 2nd serve and Nadal's fighting spirit are at the top of the list of great equalizers when the heat is on. However, I can think of a few others that are equal to Sampras and Nadal. IMO.

Is it fair to say that players (overall) in the 60s and 70s were better at performing under pressure?

Well you got me on that one since the only 60s and 70's matches Ive seen were on youtube.

I'm sure Laver and Pancho and Rosewall should be in the convo . Sampras and Nadal have been the best I've seen under those pressure situations

Ive heard stories regarding how one mentally tough SOB Pancho was

[axel89]

Djokovic ftw

[nikdom]

Originally Posted by 90's Clay

Sampras and Nadal hands down. Though Nole may take that title.

When he made the final that is.

[pjonesy]

Originally Posted by 90's Clay

Well you got me on that one since the only 60s and 70's matches Ive seen were on youtube.

I'm sure Laver and Pancho and Rosewall should be in the convo . Sampras and Nadal have been the best I've seen under those pressure situations

Ive heard stories regarding how one mentally tough SOB Pancho was

That is a very good point. The matches of the 60s and 70s are harder to judge. Very little up close camera work to capture the emotion and body language of the players.

[cluckcluck]

Already a thread started about this today in the same section.

[pjonesy]

Originally Posted by cluckcluck

Already a thread started about this today in the same section.

Damn!! Ok, you can just humor me and play along!

[pjonesy]

Actually it's different, cluck cluck. That thread is limited to 2012 chokes. I'm focusing on the entire open era.

[cluckcluck]

Originally Posted by pjonesy

Actually it's different, cluck cluck. That thread is limited to 2012 chokes. I'm focusing on the entire open era.

In that case, Mark Philippoussis.

[pjonesy]

Originally Posted by cluckcluck

In that case, Mark Philippoussis.

Yeah. Good 1. He was/is a choker.

Didn't handle pressure very well at all.

Who DID handle it well?

[smoledman]

Everyone succumbs to big match pressure if you play enough of them. No one is immune. Remember Fed started out 7-0 in slam finals. But to me the all time choke is the 1993 Ladies Wimbledon Singles final when Jana Novotana choked a 5-2 lead in the 2nd set to lose the match and ended up crying on the shoulder of the Duchess of Kent.

[Mortifier]

I think Hewitt also handles/d preasure very well.

Nalbandian has done some classic choking in his days.

[pjonesy]

Originally Posted by smoledman

Everyone succumbs to big match pressure if you play enough of them. No one is immune. Remember Fed started out 7-0 in slam finals. But to me the all time choke is the 1993 Ladies Wimbledon Singles final when Jana Novotana choked a 5-2 lead in the 2nd set to lose the match and ended up crying on the shoulder of the Duchess of Kent.

Excellent call, smoledman!! Couldn't agree more. That was terrible. A slow motion train wreck. However, Novotana did end up winning a Wimb title.

You're right as far as big match pressure is concerned. I think that is why I'm so impressed with players like Sampras, Connors, Borg, Graf etc. But I do think there is a distinction between Connors and the rest. Laver, Sampras, Borg, Graf performed well under pressure. But it seemed like they just put on their hard hat and went to work in those situations. I never felt that those players enjoyed the pressure of a tight, 5 set final. But they had weapons, were confident and were able to control their emotions. All the characteristics of a Champion were present in those players. But it seemed like Connors actually enjoyed the tight 5 set matches in which he had to step up, make something happen and snatch the victory from his opponent. The gamesmanship and behavior could certainly be seen as less than noble. His mind games got to his opponents and Connors wasn't above tanking a set. That can't be denied. At his best, Connors was intimidating because he never quit and really didn't choke. He could be beaten, but he went down swinging.

[PSNELKE]

It has to be Djokovic.
He handles pressure so well, he Double Faults two consecutive finals away against Nadal.

Mentull Giant.

[wy2sl0]

Federer is the worst of Djoko, Nadal, and himself by FAR.

Djokovic only recently doesn't choke, as he used to be Novak Chokovic for a reason.

Nadal has been extremely consistent in being a rock his entire career.

However, out of them all, Djokovic is the only one to really turn around a match when being down. So my vote, for now at least, has to go to him.

[westside]

Gasquet loves a good choke.