Towser83
G.O.A.T.
Inspired by a post DragonBlaze made in the resurrected AO2009 thread, I was thinking what match would Federer fans change if they could? You can look at this in two way, the ripple effect or in isolation - in other words would the change effect all future matches or would they remain the same? I think it's easier to just assume the latter. Here are some of the big ones.
Wimbledon 2008.
Firstly this this is a kinder change for the opponent than most other examples. If Federer wins this, it robs Nadal of Wimbledon and maybe the number one ranking but he achieves these 2 things anyway in 2010. As for what Federer gains, it's a lot. An unbeaten Grass record against Nadal. A record 6 Wimbledon's in a row, which allow him to match Pete Sampras's 7 titles the next year as well as breaking his own consecutive titles record. He would also smash the record for consecutive matches won at Wimbledon with 53 (losing to Hewitt at halle 2010) and 77 consecutive grass court matches - only 4 behind Nadal's clay winning streak which would be incredible seeing the lack of grass tournaments. Federer would have actually had a geat chance to beat 81 and the loss to Hewitt would have been shocking, as but for this it would have reached 82 before the Berdych loss at Wimbledon.
Australian Open 2009
This is unkind to the opponent, because it leaves Nadal still seeking his career slam. Does this change people's choice? What it gives Federer is the satisfaction of winning the only hardcourt slam meeting between him and nadal and take a 2-0 H2H in 5 set hardcourt matches. It also gives him the first 3 slams of the year which I'm not sure if anyone since Laver has done. Might make the US Open loss a bit more stinging though... Another thing Federer gains is having won 3 different slams at least 5 times (he gains this in 2010 of course)
US Open 2009
This is extremely unkind to the opponent as it robs Del Potro of his only slam win. Liking Del Potro a lot I was actually rooting for the guy over my usual favourite Federer, but he had won 5 US Opens and I wanted Delpo to make his breakthrough though I was happy whoever won. I'm still gald he did it but half of me thinks what a shame it was, given that Federer went on to win the AO in 2010... yes, winning the 2009 US Open gives Federer a record 6th consecutive US Open, plus holding all 4 slams when he wins AO2010 which no-one has done since Laver.
TMC 2005
Personally I can't rate this near the previous 3 examples, but it would give Federer an incredible 7 end of year titles, plus he beats McEnroe's best season.
Australian Open 2005 semi
It was a semi, but it's highly likely that Federer would have won the final had he made it past Safin. Poor Safin loses one of his 2 slams, but Federer gains another 3 slam year to make 4 overall as well as 5 AO titles overall to go with 5 US titles and 6 Wimbledons.
French Open 2006
Ok Federer only took it to 4 sets, but he started off so well and had a chance to take it to a decider. Beating Nadal at RG would have added so much to his legacy... I'm not sure if I can really count this though, because he wasn't in a position to win it, just in one to force a decider and then maybe win. But a win would give him a double career slam.
French Open 2011
This year he had another chance. In the lead and serving for the first set, losing the second on a tiebreak, blowing an early chance to break in the 4th. Would it have been even better to beat Nadal at the age of 30? Again the chance of a double career slam.
Rome 2006
Only a masters, but this was the only time on clay over 5 sets, you can say Federer had the chance to win and should have done. He was the better player for most of the match, broke more times, won more games, more points and was ahead on many stats, and had match points but came up short. This match is probably a bigger one to fix under the ripple effect point of view. This could have changed things if Federer had won, it was a big, big match in pyschological terms.
Or is there another match? US Open 2010, 2011, Wimbledon 2011?
Wimbledon 2008.
Firstly this this is a kinder change for the opponent than most other examples. If Federer wins this, it robs Nadal of Wimbledon and maybe the number one ranking but he achieves these 2 things anyway in 2010. As for what Federer gains, it's a lot. An unbeaten Grass record against Nadal. A record 6 Wimbledon's in a row, which allow him to match Pete Sampras's 7 titles the next year as well as breaking his own consecutive titles record. He would also smash the record for consecutive matches won at Wimbledon with 53 (losing to Hewitt at halle 2010) and 77 consecutive grass court matches - only 4 behind Nadal's clay winning streak which would be incredible seeing the lack of grass tournaments. Federer would have actually had a geat chance to beat 81 and the loss to Hewitt would have been shocking, as but for this it would have reached 82 before the Berdych loss at Wimbledon.
Australian Open 2009
This is unkind to the opponent, because it leaves Nadal still seeking his career slam. Does this change people's choice? What it gives Federer is the satisfaction of winning the only hardcourt slam meeting between him and nadal and take a 2-0 H2H in 5 set hardcourt matches. It also gives him the first 3 slams of the year which I'm not sure if anyone since Laver has done. Might make the US Open loss a bit more stinging though... Another thing Federer gains is having won 3 different slams at least 5 times (he gains this in 2010 of course)
US Open 2009
This is extremely unkind to the opponent as it robs Del Potro of his only slam win. Liking Del Potro a lot I was actually rooting for the guy over my usual favourite Federer, but he had won 5 US Opens and I wanted Delpo to make his breakthrough though I was happy whoever won. I'm still gald he did it but half of me thinks what a shame it was, given that Federer went on to win the AO in 2010... yes, winning the 2009 US Open gives Federer a record 6th consecutive US Open, plus holding all 4 slams when he wins AO2010 which no-one has done since Laver.
TMC 2005
Personally I can't rate this near the previous 3 examples, but it would give Federer an incredible 7 end of year titles, plus he beats McEnroe's best season.
Australian Open 2005 semi
It was a semi, but it's highly likely that Federer would have won the final had he made it past Safin. Poor Safin loses one of his 2 slams, but Federer gains another 3 slam year to make 4 overall as well as 5 AO titles overall to go with 5 US titles and 6 Wimbledons.
French Open 2006
Ok Federer only took it to 4 sets, but he started off so well and had a chance to take it to a decider. Beating Nadal at RG would have added so much to his legacy... I'm not sure if I can really count this though, because he wasn't in a position to win it, just in one to force a decider and then maybe win. But a win would give him a double career slam.
French Open 2011
This year he had another chance. In the lead and serving for the first set, losing the second on a tiebreak, blowing an early chance to break in the 4th. Would it have been even better to beat Nadal at the age of 30? Again the chance of a double career slam.
Rome 2006
Only a masters, but this was the only time on clay over 5 sets, you can say Federer had the chance to win and should have done. He was the better player for most of the match, broke more times, won more games, more points and was ahead on many stats, and had match points but came up short. This match is probably a bigger one to fix under the ripple effect point of view. This could have changed things if Federer had won, it was a big, big match in pyschological terms.
Or is there another match? US Open 2010, 2011, Wimbledon 2011?
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