Best performances you have seen?

[Raining hopes]

For me they will be(without any order) :

Djokovic vs Ferrer 2013 AO:

Unreal depth and pace on almost every shot from Novak in this one and he was moving like it shouldn't be humanely possible.He was both the unstoppable force and the immovable object in this match.



Federer vs Nadal Rome 2006

This was absolutely the best Federer ever played on clay and probably top ten matches of Nadal on it too.The Federer forehand,my lord,such pace, precision ,variety all in one match .Both moving on the court in a manner beyond imagination,Federer on fire outrageous point construction and then some even better improvisation.And it still wasn't enough.Nadal,words do not do justice to his defense, his forehand was as brilliant.Simply too good.


Sampras 1999 Wimbledon final:

How do you beat somebody that isn't even allowing you do anything in the match? Agassi is one of the best returners but he couldn't do anything about Sampras serve and one of the best baseliners,And Sampras was outdoing him there too if they some how got into a rally.Scary,especially because grass was simply perfect for this kind of play.



Nadal 2008 RG(all matches)

This is nearest to invincible any player might have gone.Downright scary.How do you beat a player who would defend everything you are going throw at him until desperation has a new meaning for you,hilariously outgun you from his forehand side and fight on every point as if end of the world depends on it.The very notion of winning three sets against this monster is laughable.


Federer vs Hewitt US OPEN 2004:
Ever thought that Federer is just a elegant player and wondered why so many scoff at the notion that he is playing his best ever now?This match might give you a clue.
Every rally in which the ball had the misfortune of going to his forehand had just one outcome.It wasn't his "weak opponent", even neutral balls and ones were Federer was on backfoot were getting hit with such precision and power from the forehand side that it left me staring blankly at the screen at times.No one was beating him that day.


Cilic vs Federer US Open 2014:
Simply unstoppable and brutal.Serving big,big hits from the forehand side and then backhand too.Too good,and pretty understandable that Cilic has not produced similar performance.

Djokovic Rome 2011(Random moments against Murray and Nadal):

Djokovic was on his streak and a good reason for that was his backhand.In my eyes he has the greatest backhand down the line ever and it was his weapon during these days especially against Nadal.Unreal stuff especially in points where he was outnadaling Nadal himself,on clay.


Edit : forgot Federer vs Blake WTF 2006:
Almost invincible performance from Federer unreal hitting from both sides.

 

[ibbi]

You've named good ones. One I'd throw out there would be Federer against Murray at Wimbledon 2015. Murray was playing so well that grass season, his Queens win may have been his greatest, and his run at Wimby had been terrific (so good against Dr Ivo) and then he played really well in that semi final too. i don't know exactly what his stats were, but I'm 90% sure they wouldn't look like the statistics of a guy that lost the match. Federer just outclassed him at the business end of all 3 sets. it was awe inspiring stuff. Most amazed I'd been by Roger in at least 4 years. Final was such a letdown after it.

 

[Raining hopes]

You've named good ones. One I'd throw out there would be Federer against Murray at Wimbledon 2015. Murray was playing so well that grass season, his Queens win may have been his greatest, and his run at Wimby had been terrific (so good against Dr Ivo) and then he played really well in that semi final too. i don't know exactly what his stats were, but I'm 90% sure they wouldn't look like the statistics of a guy that lost the match. Federer just outclassed him at the business end of all 3 sets. it was awe inspiring stuff. Most amazed I'd been by Roger in at least 4 years. Final was such a letdown after it.

Truly,that match was not a GS final material from Federer but Djokovic in the final was a different challenge all together,his deep returns and defense made Federer doubt a lot both on his serve and groundstrokes.He was a big reason why Federer couldn't bring the same level.His serve gave him the incentive in the Murray match and he wasn't punished enough for ground game.Djokovic didn't let him have that luxury.

 

[ibbi]

Truly,that match was not a GS final material from Federer but Djokovic in the final was a different challenge all together,his deep returns and defense made Federer doubt a lot both on his serve and groundstrokes.He was a big reason why Federer couldn't bring the same level.His serve gave him the incentive in the Murray match and he wasn't punished enough for ground game.Djokovic didn't let him have that luxury.

Oh, absolutely. I specifically remember someone after the Murray match saying "What if he chokes in the final?" I thought to myself "Chances are he's getting beat, but choking?" Then he did. He had no idea how to play Djokovic. I remember after the rain delay he switched tactics briefly, and nothing was really working for him.

So as not to get off topic, that was a hell of a performance from Djokovic. He really needed it after his pretty unremarkable one the year before.

 

[ak24alive]

I have to say Federer vs Nadal IW 2017. Roger was so good on the Backhand Side that each and every ball that went to the BH was hit with such incredibly high confidence, ridiculous power and unparalleled line licking precision that it all seemed unreal. The serve was big and the Forehand was ridiculous too. He outplayed Nadal from the baseline. Have a look at the match point winner Fed hit that day. It sums up the whole match. He didn't need to come to the net. He did come to the net but only when it was necessary unlike what he usually do these days. And boy was he taking the ball early. He deployed all the tactics and confidence from the fifth set of the AO in this match. I strongly feel that even peak Novak wouldn't have beaten him that day even from the baseline. And I can't believe I am saying this.

Also the 5th set of AO 2017. Fed just played the best and the most important tennis of his life in that set. If someone gives me a chance to witness an hour of history live, I most certainly will choose that 5th set and with me being a big history fan that says something about the quality of that set.

 

[Deleted member 756486]

Murray vs Nadal: Tokyo 2011.
It’s not the “best” performance I’ve seen but it was still incredible and it was the first time I truly believed that Murray had it in him to win a slam.

 

[TheAssassin]

Safin destroying Sampras in the US Open final is up there.

 

[Raining hopes]

Murray vs Nadal: Tokyo 2011.
It’s not the “best” performance I’ve seen but it was still incredible and it was the first time I truly believed that Murray had it in him to win a slam.

I didn't know about this one,the very first two minutes make it clear that the entire match is worth watching.Looks like Nadal played well too.

 

[ak24alive]

I didn't know about this one,the very first two minutes make it clear that the entire match is worth watching.Looks like Nadal played well too.

Yeah in the first set Murray's game only stands out in the last two games and Nadal is like all over the place in the first set but after the first set Murray raises his game. That Cross Court BH Winner in the 2nd at 2-1 30all is brilliant.

 

[ibbi]

Safin destroying Sampras in the US Open final is up there.

Oh, God. And so effortlessly casual too. This guy just didn't give a ****. That's natural talent. Any time he's in the mood he can suddenly be capable of that.

 

[Hmgraphite1]

Really liked the Cilic Murray match in Cincinnati 2016

 

[letstakeourshirtsoff]

Tomic vs The Fog obviously

 

[Pheasant]

Safin over Federer, 2005 AO semis. Safin was bombing serves up to 137 mph. His backhand was extremely deadly. And Safin played the net fairly well. Safin, when he is on, was extremely deadly.

 

[ibbi]

Also, you mention that 04 USO final, I think that is part of Roger's glory years holy trinity with the AO07 semi with Roddick (Roddick's post match press conference another one of the best performances I've seen) and his much fawned over W03 semi final also with that poor, poor chap in the baseball cap.

 

[Raining hopes]

Also, you mention that 04 USO final, I think that is part of Roger's glory years holy trinity with the AO07 semi with Roddick (Roddick's post match press conference another one of the best performances I've seen) and his much fawned over W03 semi final also with that poor, poor chap in the baseball cap.

I had forgotten the 2003 SF,commentators were in disbelief half the time during the match perfect grass court tennis.

As for AO 2007 I always thought Roddick played too poorly and gave Federer a lot of chances to appear extraordinary.

Roddick was actually one of my favorites,Federer was just too cruel to him.I remember that during one of their US Open matches Andy hit a 200 kph + serve and Roger landed the return on his feet.Probably,cruel doesn't even begin to describe what Federer did to Roddick's career.

 

[Boom-Boom]

 

[jacob22]

Federer giving Murray a serving clinic, Wimbledon semis 2015.

 

[Thomas195]

Edberg 1991 USO
Safin 2000 USO
Federer 2004 USO
Stich 1991 Wimbledon
Krajicek 1996 Wimbledon
Sampras 1999 Wimbledon
Federer 2003 Wimbledon

 

[Tiki-Taka]

Lendl during most part of his US Open threepeat

Sampras in 1999 Wimbledon final

Federer's first four Wimbledons

Rafa during 2007-08, 2012 and 2017 Roland Garros

Djokovic's 2011 AO and some final performances in 2015-16

 

[Raining hopes]

Well I had forgotten some,

Gonzo vs Haas Ao 2007:
If I remember correctly the guy had only five unforced errors and this was while he was firing bullets from the forehand side.


Djokovic Federer AO 2016
The first two sets were near unplayable.

Nalbandian against the big 3 2007 indoors:

Nalbandian making a point to show how much talent he actually wasted and how much more he could have become.


How I could forget this one? Federer vs Djokovic RG 2011: Federer was brilliant here.People complain about the balls being faster bit they didn't notice one simple thing:Fred was using the slowness of the court to get good hard swings on the ball.He wasn't taking them too early.The balls being heavier would have helped him.Djoker forgot his backhand at home but he was hitting very big from his forehand and moving as well as he did over the season.


And for Murray,:
The Shanghai final against Federer

Nadal vs Federer Wimbledon 2007
Both were pretty good.

 

[Devin]

Add (all Federer):

2003 Wimbledon SF/F
2005 Wimbledon SF/F
2006 Wimbledon 4R/QF

Another one that comes to mind is USO 2007 QF vs. Roddick

The 2005 AO SF vs. Safin was also a great performance with both players playing well. The last 3 sets against Hewitt at AO 2004 were crazy good from Federer too.