Biggest Upsets of 2009

[dlk]

1. Roland Garros 4th Round – Robin Soderling d Rafael Nadal 6-2, 6-7(2), 6-4, 7-6(2)

2. US Open final – Juan Martin del Potro d Roger Federer 3-6, 7-6(5), 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-2

3. US Open 4th Round – Marin Cilic d Andy Murray 7-5, 6-2, 6-2

4. Roland Garros 3rd Round, Philipp Kohlschreiber d. Novak Djokovic 6-4, 6-4, 6-4

5. Rogers Cup quarter-finals, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga d. Roger Federer 7-6(5), 1-6, 7-6(3)

Courtesy ATP.com

For me it was Kohlscheiber over Djokovic. What's everone think?

 

[jamesblakefan#1]

:lol:

Soderling beating Nadal may have been the biggest of all time, let alone this year.

No other one is even in the conversation.

 

[malakas]

I don't believe there should be even a poll on this.

 

[TMF]

No question it's Rafa losing in Paris b/c many people have handed him the trophy before the tourney even got started.

Of course some of Rafa's fans will say it's not much of an upset b/c he's injured.:roll:

 

[dlk]

:lol:

Soderling beating Nadal may have been the biggest of all time, let alone this year.

No other one is even in the conversation.

At the time I believed it was a big upset, but considering how well Soderling played this year, in retrospect, I did not place it that high.

 

[dlk]

I don't believe there should be even a poll on this.

Initial instinct was to tell you to **** OFF. But more mature head previled, so..........Why not?

 

[malakas]

At the time I believed it was a big upset, but considering how well Soderling played this year, in retrospect, I did not place it that high.

You don't judge upsets in retrospect.You judge upsets at how much shocking and upseting they were at that current time.

 

[kOaMaster]

Lol. First thought: hopefully there is more than one possibility to choose in the poll.

Like this: useless. Tsonga vs federer wasnt really an upset, that was tanking big times. Cilic vs murray...well, murray isnt that good and cilic is. Kolhschreiber vs djokovic, right, that kinda was a surprise - on the other hand, this kind of loss just happens from time to time.

Del potro vs federer: bigger than most other choices, considering the records, both h2h and uso. But we saw at wimbledon how hard this may be. And are there any huge upsets in a final?

The winner is soderling

maybe federer vs benneteau should be up there too...

 

[dlk]

You don't judge upsets in retrospect.You judge upsets at how much shocking and upseting they were at that current time.

Can it not be both?

 

[TheMusicLover]

Haha. Yet another thread in the vein of 'let's for godssakes try and keep ourselves amused until tennis finally comes back again'.
Okay there, a 'serious' contribution:

JMDP d. Federer Finals USO - not a genuine upset imho. I think people still had their AO-match in mind too much at that time, but since then, JMDP had proven himself a real top player. He was very close to beating Federer at RG already, but somehow that match went flying under the radar of many. So, not an upset, but a regular 'the better of two top players won'-match.

Cilic d. Murray 4thRD USO - a bit more of an upset I think, but only in the 'occasional tennis fans''s view - Murray suffered a massive dose of over-hyping AGAIN, just like at Wimbledon. But seriously, he just wasn't that good in best-of-five matches in 2009 to allow for all that overhype. He's the man in best-of-three, but in GSs, he still has a lot left to prove, despite his USO final in 2008. Cilic was just playing well and took advantage of Murray's too passive approach.

Tsonga d. Federer QF Roger's Cup - an upset in the sense that whenever a genuine top player is ahead 5-1 in the decider, that player should NEVER lose that match. No excuses, that was a horrid performance from ********. I guess Tsonga needed some pinching after the match to decide whether it really happened or that he was only dreaming!

Kohlscheiber d. Djokovic 3rdRD RG - this comes close to what I'd indeed call a major upset. People had expected a lot more from Djoko as he had his share of tight matches against Nadal earlier on on clay - but apparently he couldn't live up to expectations on the Big Stage. Tired? Oh please, not again...

So, the winner is:
Soderling d. Nadal 4thRD RG - of course, a major upset. Nobody saw it coming, and anyone who had cash on Söderling here has made big bucks on it. Nadal had creamed everyone up till this match, and there was no indication that he'd go down against the Sod whatsoever.

Personally I think the Federer - Benneteau match in Paris should be included in the list as well. Genuine upset. However well Benneteau was playing in that match, whenever the world's #1 loses to a #34, it IS an upset.

 

[Mustard]

Obviously Soderling vs. Nadal at the French Open is the biggest upset. It's arguably the biggest upset of all time, not in terms of ranking, but because one of the most dominant clay-courters of all time was beaten by a player ranked 25 in the world and who had had his best tennis results indoors.

 

[Toxicmilk]

H.

JMDP d. Federer Finals USO - not a genuine upset imho. I think people still had their AO-match in mind too much at that time, but since then, JMDP had proven him a real top player. He was very close to beating Federer at RG already, but somehow that match went flying under the radar of many. So, not an upset, but a regular 'the better of two top players won'-match.

Even so, I had expected Federer to beat delpo, we've all seen Federer raise his game when he needs to before. So this match got my vote.

 

[Mustard]

Can it not be both?

No, it can't. Upsets are judged by the impact it made at the time, not by using hindsight and retrospect.

 

[TheMusicLover]

Even so, I had expected Federer to beat delpo, we've all seen Federer raise his game when he needs to before. So this match got my vote.

Fair point.
It wasn't such a surprise to me. I thought DelPotro had been a lot more convincing than Federer during his first six matches, and as much as you're right that Federer usually raises his game to the occasion, I've seen quite a few performances of his in 2009 where he didn't managed to do so (AO final comes to mind, just to name one). However much I'd like to be in denial about this, Federer's game and as such, his consistency, have been in decline ever since late 2007.

 

[fps]

i'd put del potro's win over federer much lower. the guy grew visibly in every way during 2009, he started as a lamb with a few titles and ended ready to start 2010 as a genuine contender for the top spot. his beating federer wasn't a surprise to anyone who saw their match at the french. you could see he had the potential to do it then. i'm not saying it was expected or inevitable, but it's not kohlschreiber over djokovic (out of the blue), soderling over nadal (out of the great big blue) or cilic over murray (cilic still not a consistent threat to top players).

 

[tudwell]

3 people are wrong.

 

[malakas]

No, it can't. Upsets are judged by the impact it made at the time, not by using hindsight and retrospect.

exactly.That's what an upset means,not judging after years.

 

[matchmaker]

This is a no brainer: Soderling vs. Nadal. Nadal was believed to be invincible at RG at that time.

 

[fps]

This is a no brainer: Soderling vs. Nadal. Nadal was believed to be invincible at RG at that time.

the grand slam predictions 2009 threads were almost unanimous in their predictions that nadal would win, and it wasn't questioned. soderling nadal will go down as one of tennis' great upsets, and great performances. none of the others are in the same league of shock.

 

[kishnabe]

Soderling defeating Nadal at paris was a big upset. Very good upset since it allowed Federer to win. When i heard Nadal lost, I was grinning and shocked.

 

[OddJack]

sorry... but you dont have a poll.

 

[TheMusicLover]

Soderling defeating Nadal at paris was a big upset. Very good upset since it allowed Federer to win. When i heard Nadal lost, I was grinning and shocked.

Hmmm... my initial reaction to Nadal's loss (after my immediate shock of course) was, 'okay, now there's a LOT of pressure on Fed's shoulders, as he now HAS TO WIN IT.' As much as I hoped he'd finally bag that elusive RG-title, I didn't at all take it for granted, as he didn't at all look all that confident himself - he could easily have gone out the very next day himself, against Haas - and later on, to DelPotro!
Of course, I am happy that he took his chance when it came to him.

 

[Feña14]

Easy, Soderling beating Nadal in Paris.

Murray v Cilic wasn't huge really, let's not forget Murray picked up a wrist injury early in the match which kept him out for the next 2 months.

 

[JennyS]

Tsonga over Federer at a Masters tournament is not a huge upset. Isner over Roddick was a pretty big one.

 

[JennyS]

Soderling defeating Nadal at paris was a big upset. Very good upset since it allowed Federer to win. When i heard Nadal lost, I was grinning and shocked.

I had no idea the match had even been played yet when I was looking at the scores and I saw Soderling def Nadal. I was in complete shock and even screamed. Then the thought of "Roger had better win it" crept into my head.

 

[Spider]

For me to was Roddick - Murray at the Wimbledon semi final. A player who relies only on serve and if he ends up beating someone who is as versatile as Murray, it was sad and beyond pathetic.

Many of us were expecting a showdown between Murray and Federer, and that was perhaps the biggest dissapointment of the year.

 

[Spider]

Murray played with a wrist injury, so that match against Cilic, isn't exactly an upset. Had Cilic lost to a player who was playing with a terrible wrist injury, that would be embarassing for him.

 

[Agassifan]

Again, another poll that is criminal. Guys what up?????

 

[malakas]

Many of us were expecting a showdown between Murray and Federer, and that was perhaps the biggest dissapointment of the year.

the many you're talking about,were probably all in one island,not to mention one hill.
Wrong it wasn't the biggest dissapointment,it was the biggest satisfaction of the year,having to see the british press eat crow and then some more. One of the reason I look forward to next Wimby is to watch the british press eat its words once again.:twisted:

 

[srinrajesh]

:lol:

Soderling beating Nadal may have been the biggest of all time, let alone this year.

No other one is even in the conversation.

maybe not .. Doohan beating Becker in 87 wimby 2nd round was a shocker that is probably the biggest .

 

[dlk]

Again, another poll that is criminal. Guys what up?????

What law has this poor poll broke? Nothing much here, how ya doing?

 

[abmk]

no doubt at all. Arguably the greatest upset of all time, soderling def nadal at the FO

 

[abmk]

For me to was Roddick - Murray at the Wimbledon semi final. A player who relies only on serve and if he ends up beating someone who is as versatile as Murray, it was sad and beyond pathetic.

Many of us were expecting a showdown between Murray and Federer, and that was perhaps the biggest dissapointment of the year.

Roddick's FH when on ( like it was at wimby ) is LIGHT years ahead of murray's , even otherwise, its slightly better .....

If roddick is a player who only relies on his serve, what would you call karlovic. By your narrow vision, murray is a player who only relies on on his defense, a pusher !

oh and roddick had the guts to approach the net many times (improving his volleys ) unlike murray who despite having great touch is glued to the baseline making his so called versatality "useless"

 

[bluescreen]

i think soderling beating nadal was the biggest upset of the decade, so it would have to be the biggest upset of the year.

im really surprised people r even debating this.

 

[TMF]

i think soderling beating nadal was the biggest upset of the decade, so it would have to be the biggest upset of the year.

im really surprised people r even debating this.

Because there are people dismissing it as an upset due to Rafa's injury as an excuse. The match can't be an upset when a guy is crippled. That's their argument.

 

[bluescreen]

crippled? that seems like an exaggeration, but i have heard people using that term more than once. imo, if a player is well enough to walk on the court and hit the ball, he's not "crippled." rafa was the victim of his own over-packed schedule. u cant blame soderling for that. that was a win, fair and square, for soderling.

 

[TMF]

crippled? that seems like an exaggeration, but i have heard people using that term more than once. imo, if a player is well enough to walk on the court and hit the ball, he's not "crippled." rafa was the victim of his own over-packed schedule. u cant blame soderling for that. that was a win, fair and square, for soderling.

Crippled is not the best word. Rafa looks fine at RG. There weren't any doubt about him not winning RG after his three round wins. Rafa was a HUGE favorite, how big of a favorite reflect how much of an upset when losing. I think most people would agree Rafa/Soderling is the most shocking loss this year(except a few of his fans).

 

[jackson vile]

1. Roland Garros 4th Round – Robin Soderling d Rafael Nadal 6-2, 6-7(2), 6-4, 7-6(2)

2. US Open final – Juan Martin del Potro d Roger Federer 3-6, 7-6(5), 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-2

3. US Open 4th Round – Marin Cilic d Andy Murray 7-5, 6-2, 6-2

4. Roland Garros 3rd Round, Philipp Kohlschreiber d. Novak Djokovic 6-4, 6-4, 6-4

5. Rogers Cup quarter-finals, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga d. Roger Federer 7-6(5), 1-6, 7-6(3)

Courtesy ATP.com

For me it was Kohlscheiber over Djokovic. What's everone think?

Wow, you left out the 2009 AO final where Nadal beat Roger. This is when all the ****s said Nadal sucked on hard court and could never win a slam on hard court, further more this was after the AO was sped up to be the fastest since it was grass.

 

[AAAA]

Hmmm... my initial reaction to Nadal's loss (after my immediate shock of course) was, 'okay, now there's a LOT of pressure on Fed's shoulders, as he now HAS TO WIN IT.' As much as I hoped he'd finally bag that elusive RG-title, I didn't at all take it for granted, as he didn't at all look all that confident himself - he could easily have gone out the very next day himself, against Haas - and later on, to DelPotro!
Of course, I am happy that he took his chance when it came to him.

Federer likened the experience to playing 'four slam finals' in terms of pressure because the whole tennis world saw it as his big opportunity and he knew it.

 

[TheMusicLover]

Federer likened the experience to playing 'four slam finals' in terms of pressure because the whole tennis world saw it as his big opportunity and he knew it.

That's obvious, he said he was very nervous, and it showed on several occasions during the match.

 

[Emelia21]

Soderling defeating Nadal at paris was a big upset. Very good upset since it allowed Federer to win. When i heard Nadal lost, I was grinning and shocked.

:lol: it must be great to support him beating nobodys in the game of tennis :lol:;-)

 

[babolatking]

I would probably go with Del Po-Fed, because thats where Federer should win: in the finals of a major against a first time major finalist, but he didn't, and the fact that Fed had won it five times in a row makes it the biggest upset of the year

 

[jamesblakefan#1]

I would probably go with Del Po-Fed, because thats where Federer should win: in the finals of a major against a first time major finalist, but he didn't, and the fact that Fed had won it five times in a row makes it the biggest upset of the year

Nadal had NEVER lost at RG, and to lose in the 4th round, I don't see how Federer's loss was bigger than that.

 

[bruce38]

How can Soderling beating Nadal be an upset? Soderling is the better play on both hardcourt and clay and evidenced by their most recent encounters.

 

[dlk]

How can Soderling beating Nadal be an upset? Soderling is the better play on both hardcourt and clay and evidenced by their most recent encounters.

Totally disagree.

 

[mawashi]

Come on... Roger Federer lost to Julien Benneteau that's an upset!

mawashi

 

[malakas]

How can Soderling beating Nadal be an upset? Soderling is the better play on both hardcourt and clay and evidenced by their most recent encounters.

yes,because only 1 encounter in a surface is enough to reach conclusions on who's the better.not even h2h just the lattest encounter.

 

[TheMusicLover]

How can Soderling beating Nadal be an upset? Soderling is the better play on both hardcourt and clay and evidenced by their most recent encounters.

At RG 2009, Söderling was a total NOBODY, who had just been creamed by Nadal a couple of weeks before - 6-1, 6-2, I think it was. And no, clay wasn't at all near to his best surface. So yes, it was a huge upset.

 

[PimpMyGame]

3. US Open 4th Round – Marin Cilic d Andy Murray 7-5, 6-2, 6-2

Murray fan though I might be, this result was not a big upset. Cilic was threatening a big scalp at a slam. He made AM look very ordinary and has game enough to do that to anyone in the top 10 IMO.

 

[tbonegas]

It has to be the Bennetaau win against the Swiss big cheese,and how does that compare with Soderling beating Rafa? it was much bigger because the Frenchman was ranked mid 30's and beat the greatest player in his own mind,wheras Soderling ranked at 25 but year end around 9,beat the world number 2 whilst he was injured and exhausted.Sorry Fed fans but its true