Best ever match your favourite played and lost

[BauerAlmeida]

Safin:

Vs Federer Masters and Dubai 2004 (I'd add Halle 2005 given it was his worst surface)
Vs Kuerten Indianapolis and Hamburg 2000

Nalbandian

Vs Federer AO 2004
vs Agassi Masters 2003

Djokovic

Vs Nadal RG 2013
Vs Federer USO 2007

Wawrinka

Vs Djokovic AO and USO 2013

JMDP

Vs Djokovic Shangai 2013
Vs Federer RG 2009

 

[basil J]

You can’t be serious?!

I’d go with that 2021 Wimbledon match when peak Fed faced a cyborg named Hurkacz. That version of Fed was more evolved and he played the best match of his life. He was clicking on all 8 cylinders. However, he wasn’t tall enough to match up against the more evolved Hurkacz. However, I think that version of Fed would have stood a decent chance against Benoit Paire. That’s how good he was.

This is a subjective question. This is just my opinion.

 

[MichaelNadal]

'13 RG

And '23 WB, against anyone else past or present, Djokovic would've won. Alcaraz just outclutched him.

 

[MeatTornado]

Same, exact same. I did root for him at RG exclusively during those years, though. I genuinely could not stand Nadal back then mind, so that might have been a part of it.

Anyway, Rome 2006

And I was kind of the opposite. I didn't like Nadal either, and was the one guy I'd actually root for Fed to beat at Wim/AO. But I was fine with Rafa beating him at RG to at least prevent a CYGS year after year.

 

[RoddickAce]

Fed - I know some will disagree because of the last set but for me it will be AO 2009 Final. Both Roger and Rafa were producing highlight reel shotmaking the whole night.

Roddick - Wimb 2004 or 2009 Finals.

 

[Snafu23]

For Stef, I'd say his loss to Big Stan even above the RG final loss.

 

[Mustard]

McEnroe: 1984 vs Lendl. Is recently rewatched this match. Mac played extremely well throughout most of this match. A couple of things happened where Lendl went into absolute beast mode

1. He started using his topspin lob in the 3rd set. He had some very good lobs after being thrown into a very defensive position as well.

2. He started returning Mac’s serves. He was reading them perfectly, then returning them with interest for outright winners.

3. His rallies became laser-accurate. He was able to hit cross court winners past Max, who was at the net.

Lendl’s adjustments were pure genius, unfortunately. Mac really didn’t choke that match away. There weee a few instances where I was upset. But I would call it a choke. For instance, at 3-3 in the 5th set with Lendl serving at 15-40, Mac hit back-to-back unforced errors to allow Lendl to get to deuce. The one in particular at 15-40 maybe could have been a winner, had he hit it right. But by that point, Lendl had been brilliant at hitting both defensive and offensive topspin lobs. And then on match point, Mac should have put the ball away at the net. But he sent it wide. Otherwise, it was a brilliant match.

McEnroe's first serve percentage went way down in the latter period of the match. This was due to inferior fitness.

 

[mike danny]

For Stef, I'd say his loss to Big Stan even above the RG final loss.

That loss sent him into a downward spiral until Shanghai.

 

[Rafa.the.Magnificent]

2017 Australian Open final for me. That one is a stand-out in my mind.

 

[MichaelNadal]

Yalls disrespect of Doha 2010 is showing

 

[messiahrobins]

Not even close. Horrible tiebreaks from Fed which is totally not his style.

If someone is in their 20's or teens they may see it that way i guess?

 

[messiahrobins]

JIm Courier AO 1995 QF v Sampras.
Still not over it.

 

[messiahrobins]

2017 Australian Open final for me. That one is a stand-out in my mind.

Rafa was pretty poor that match as was Federer. IW 2017 was better quality by both but Federer went into his God mode that day.

 

[DSH]

AO 2012 and 2017. Rafa was leading in the 5th set in both matches.

Even Nadal transformed into "Chokedal" on some occasions in his career.

 

[DSH]

Yalls disrespect of Doha 2010 is showing

Are you a 'Mickey Mouse' fan, Michael?

 

[MichaelNadal]

Are you a 'Mickey Mouse' fan, Michael?

It's just the crispiest Rafa has ever been on the losing end lol, where it happened isn't important to me

 

[Mustard]

JIm Courier AO 1995 QF v Sampras.
Still not over it.

One of the greatest matches of all time.

 

[mike danny]

Even Nadal transformed into "Chokedal" on some occasions in his career.

He transformed into Wimb2019-erer for 1 match against Thiem at AO 2020.

 

[mike danny]

Are you a 'Mickey Mouse' fan, Michael?

It was a better win than many masters 1000.

 

[messiahrobins]

One of the greatest matches of all time.

Spell binding quality and for while at end of 4th set, Sampras played the best level of tennis i have ever seen.

 

[InsuranceMan]

Probably the only tennis match ever played where the better player lost.

 

[Holmes]

Wimbledon 2019

 

[Drob]

del Potro 2013 Wimbledon SF
Laver 1972 WCT Finals F (like a lot of folks, I only saw the last two sets)
Rafter 2001 Wimbledon F

 

[Angrybirdstar]

Maybe the best anyone has ever played in a US Open loss, period. I can’t think of another that approaches it.

Lendl/Chang vs '92 Edberg?

 

[Krish0608]

Federer - Rome 06

 

[MichaelNadal]

Federer - Rome 06

He was crispy AF.

 

[Rosstour]

Current:

Musetti v Djoko RG21

Shapo Nadal AO22

Past:

Wimbledon 2019 was the most heartbreaking but I would put any of the other "Big 3" Fed heartbreakers above it in terms of level. Wimbledon 2008, AO2009, US09

 

[MichaelNadal]

Venus 2008 USO

Lost 7-6(6) 7-6(7) with 80,000 set points in both sets.

 

[Subway Tennis]

That gif says about 10,000 words lol, and it happened at the same time as "the point". So iconic

Add it to the pile of insanely iconic Nadal photos alongside the trophy bite photos, 2008 RG uppercut punch in lime green, the 2016 zverev chainsaw chopping, 2008 Wimbledon collapsing in near darkness after the final point, 2009 AO consoling GOATerer in tears after the final etc etc. So many symbolic moments!

 

[MichaelNadal]

Add it to the pile of insanely iconic Nadal photos alongside the trophy bite photos, 2008 RG uppercut punch in lime green, the 2016 zverev chainsaw chopping, 2008 Wimbledon collapsing in near darkness after the final point, 2009 AO consoling GOATerer in tears after the final etc etc. So many symbolic moments!

Nadal has the best action shots of all time lol.

 

[Drob]

Federer - Rome 06

I'd figure that for the serious Federer fan, Rome 06 has to rank at the top of "disappointing matches" or top three. Wimbledon 19; Wimbledon 14; Rome 06. (Fed, strangely, always gave the impression it was USO 09). My perspective on tennis history and hierarchy, Rome 06 could be the most important disappointment because Roger has no title at this essential championship. As a stand-alone loss, it was huge, and more so because it also would have been one BIG clay victory over Nadal, wh is not to ignore Hamburg/Madrid, but Rome is a step up. Whether it might have led to another BIG win on clay, such as at RG is just too speculative, but it would have helped.

Speaking of Rome, w/o doubt I was upset at Guga's loss at Italian Open F 2001. But I quickly got over that loss.

Speaking of Federer - I guess eventually I started to see Roger as underdog versus his two rivals, and wanted him to pull out a major. The 2014 Wimbledon F was his best chance, but I was not rooting for him yet. It was just a little bit later. I remember having high hopes for 2015 USO F. Roger had wowed us with SABR at Cincinnati and was playing up a storm in the hot, fast conditions at Flushing Meadows. But a real storm came through and cooled the courts down to medium-medium slow . . . and he was outplayed by a just slightly better player. I can't say that falls within the question asked in this thread, as it was not exactly a close or particularly well-played match. Which circles back to Rome 06 - hard to point out a better-played, more intense match. Of those matches I have seen, it is easily top-10, maybe more like top-5.

 

[tennis_pro]

2008 chennai

 

[King No1e]

2013 RG for Novak, 2018 USO for Tim. He was literally blowing Nadal off the court for most of that match, and still lost.

 

[weakera]

Current:

Musetti v Djoko RG21

Shapo Nadal AO22

Past:

Wimbledon 2019 was the most heartbreaking but I would put any of the other "Big 3" Fed heartbreakers above it in terms of level. Wimbledon 2008, AO2009, US09

You are joking? Shapovalov was absolutely awful in that match.

 

[Linelicker]

Fed's loss to joker 2019 Wimbledon. Heart breaker. Both played at a high level.

Both played under their average Wimbledon level. Djokovic was clutch in the tiebreaks, but mediocre otherwise.

 

[ghostofMecir]

Can't believe a Federer fan can honestly think this is the best he played at a match he lost. Truth is, this one is probably not even in the top-10.

Probably true, but but it’s absolutely wild that a 38 year old outplayed Djoko in the in the final only to throw it away and that it might not be in the “top 10 of best matches played yet still lost.”

 

[TheGoldenEra1990’s]

Surprised Pete didn’t take that 2000 Australian match vs Agassi kind of. He was playing very well. Agassi just too much in the end

 

[Phenomenal]

2013 RG for Novak, 2018 USO for Tim. He was literally blowing Nadal off the court for most of that match, and still lost.

It was incredibly intense match. Idk how Rafa turned it out with the way Thiem playing. It's what Nadal does i guess but he eventually got worn out due to this match in SF.

 

[King No1e]

It was incredibly intense match. Idk how Rafa turned it out with the way Thiem playing. It's what Nadal does i guess but he eventually got worn out due to this match in SF.

So underrated too. Shades of Verdasco AO09 in Thiem's relentless power.

 

[Phenomenal]

So underrated too. Shades of Verdasco AO09 in Thiem's relentless power.

How did thiem managed to lost to Delpo in that 2017 USO did you watched?

 

[JasonZ]

Becker - YEC final 1996
Rafter - Wimbledon final 2001
Pete - AO SF 2000 or Stuttgart F 1996
Borg - USO F 1980

Edit: as I was an Agassi fan at the time it happened USO QF 2001 and (considering it was a three-setter) IW final 1995.

wait: you were sad that pete lost in the stuttgart 1996 final against becker, but then a few weeks later you were sad that becker lost the yec 1996 final against pete? how does that make sence?

 

[BorgTheGOAT]

wait: you were sad that pete lost in the stuttgart 1996 final against becker, but then a few weeks later you were sad that becker lost the yec 1996 final against pete? how does that make sence?

I was not really sad no. In the spirit of this thread I just listed the matches where the players who are today my favourites lost despite playing really well. Back in the day 1996 I was neither a Becker nor a Pete fan but an Agassi fan. Was really sad about his 3 straight set losses in San Jose, Stuttgart and YEC against Pete.
If Pete and Becker played today it would be tough but I would probably root for Pete.