fedr AO’07 Still The Gold Standard HC Slam Title Run

[stringertom]

Never dropped a set. First and still only HC set sweep. First set sweep at a slam since Borg at RG’80

Only 3 sets went to TBs. Lost 72 games in 7 matches

Played the maximum number of seeds (5) with only 1 top 4 seed eliminated early (#4 Ljub 1R). Teenager #14 Joe Kovic was 4R victim (2,5&3).

Neutralized redlining Gonzo (#10) in the final after the Chilean had dispatched #5 Blake, #2 Nadal and #12 Haas in 9 straight sets with the loss of just 29 games (Blake 4R got 15 of those).

Elicited the classic of all pressers from #6 seed Roddick after the 4, 0 & 2 beatdown in the SFs:

Discuss, no disgust.

 

[MeatTornado]

Nadal was the moral winner of AO 07, not Roddick.

He would have crushed Federer if he just could have gotten past that weak era mug in the QF.

 

[zagor]

Nadal was the moral winner of AO 07, not Roddick.

He would have crushed Federer if he just could have gotten past that weak era mug in the QF.

 

[Hitman]

In all fairness, this is correct. Only time in history that a HC slam has been won without dropping a set, and it was done by taking out a zoning player in the form of his life, among other notable performances. Federer's greatest run in a slam for overall level IMO.

 

[stringertom]

Nadal was the moral winner of AO 07, not Roddick.

He would have crushed Federer if he just could have gotten past that weak era mug in the QF.

He was tired/injured in 5 sets vs teenage mury goat in 4R.

 

[stringertom]

20-year-old Joe Kovic could have made it two years in a row if Tsonga hadn’t taken the first set in the AO’08 final.

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

2003-2007

 

[Hitman]

20-year-old Joe Kovic could have made it two years in a row if Tsonga hadn’t taken the first set in the AO’08 final.

So could have Nadal if Djokovic hadn't taken three sets in a row at AO 2019.

 

[125downthemiddle]

Whether you win in 3 or 4 sets in early rounds doesn't matter. Surprised to see AO 08 listed and not 11. Yes it's "title run" but with the top guys before the semis or maybe quarters unless they got super challenged in an earlier round (think Djokovic 13 R 4 ) , it seems a stretch to go by number of sets won the entire tournament.

Djokovic beat Federer and Murray in straights SF and F 2011 with a very high level. I'd pick him over Fed 07 but either way its close and certainly not indisputable.

 

[ND-13]

Very impressive from Roger. He was invincible those times. No wonder he is the gold standard.

 

[Red Rick]

I wish Federer would clobber me into marrying a swimsuit model

 

[buscemi]

As you note, this is the only HC set sweep, but Federer lost 72 games. I wonder if anyone beats that latter number. First that comes to mind is Lendl at the 1987 U.S. Open:

1R: beats Moir, 6-0, 6-0, 6-0​

2R: beats Fleurian, 6-4, 6-2, 6-2​

3R: beats Pugh, 6-1, 6-1, 6-2​

4R: beats Jarryd, 6-2, 7-6, 6-4​

QF: beats McEnroe, 6-3, 6-3, 6-4​

SF: beats Connors, 6-4, 6-2, 6-2​

F: beats Wilander, 6-7, 6-0, 7-6, 6-4​

So, 1 set dropped, but he only lost 59 games. Also, it looks like Lendl lost 1 set and lost 60 games in 1986. And 1 lost set and 61 lost games in 1985.

 

[King No1e]

Probably, although Djokovic's 2011 performance would have a place in the conversation

 

[Third Serve]

As you note, this is the only HC set sweep, but Federer lost 72 games. I wonder if anyone beats that latter number. First that comes to mind is Lendl at the 1987 U.S. Open:

1R: beats Moir, 6-0, 6-0, 6-0​

2R: beats Fleurian, 6-4, 6-2, 6-2​

3R: beats Pugh, 6-1, 6-1, 6-2​

4R: beats Jarryd, 6-2, 7-6, 6-4​

QF: beats McEnroe, 6-3, 6-3, 6-4​

SF: beats Connors, 6-4, 6-2, 6-2​

F: beats Wilander, 6-7, 6-0, 7-6, 6-4​

So, 1 set dropped, but he only lost 59 games. Also, it looks like Lendl lost 1 set and lost 60 games in 1986. And 1 lost set and 61 lost games in 1985.

Triple bagels in R1?!

 

[stringertom]

As you note, this is the only HC set sweep, but Federer lost 72 games. I wonder if anyone beats that latter number. First that comes to mind is Lendl at the 1987 U.S. Open:

1R: beats Moir, 6-0, 6-0, 6-0​

2R: beats Fleurian, 6-4, 6-2, 6-2​

3R: beats Pugh, 6-1, 6-1, 6-2​

4R: beats Jarryd, 6-2, 7-6, 6-4​

QF: beats McEnroe, 6-3, 6-3, 6-4​

SF: beats Connors, 6-4, 6-2, 6-2​

F: beats Wilander, 6-7, 6-0, 7-6, 6-4​

So, 1 set dropped, but he only lost 59 games. Also, it looks like Lendl lost 1 set and lost 60 games in 1986. And 1 lost set and 61 lost games in 1985.

Will add that three-year domination. Thanks.

Wilander had to go to the practice courts to add a ohbh slice to deal with the Lendl brutality.

 

[Knovax]

As a Djokovic fan, this was long before my time, but I think I can trust a guy with a name like stringertom.

 

[stringertom]

Probably, although Djokovic's 2011 performance would have a place in the conversation

I listed just one for both The Nadal and Joe Kovic and chose ‘08 because he was 21-1 in sets and beat both home crowd favorite Hewitt and defending champion fedr in straight sets.

In ‘11, obviously as it played out to be a far superior season, Joe Kovic gets more attention for his run but he lost a set to unseeded Dodig 2R and benefited from a retirement by Troicki after one set (19-1 set count) in 3R.

In 2008, it was his first slam defeat of fedr, having dropped six straight sets at AO/USO’07...very much more of an upset.

 

[King No1e]

I listed just one for both The Nadal and Joe Kovic and chose ‘08 because he was 21-1 in sets and beat both home crowd favorite Hewitt and defending champion fedr in straight sets.

In ‘11, obviously as it played out to be a far superior season, Joe Kovic gets more attention for his run but he lost a set to unseeded Dodig 2R and benefited from a retirement by Troicki after one set (19-1 set count) in 3R.

In 2008, it was his first slam defeat of fedr, having dropped six straight sets at AO/USO’07...very much more of an upset.

In 2011 he went into God mode against Murray and completely destroyed him. In 2008 he started slow and went down a set and a break vs Tsonga.

 

[stringertom]

In 2011 he went into God mode against Murray and completely destroyed him. In 2008 he started slow and went down a set and a break vs Tsonga.

To be expected, that final was a bit spotty in sustained momentum. ND was in just his second slam final after upsetting fedr. Tsonga was on fire that tournament, his own breakthrough, brimming with confidence after a 2,3&2 thumping of The Nadal. He was a tricky first time matchup but came down to earth after that first set.

 

[AnOctorokForDinner]

Lendl BOAT of course. 51-1 in sets between 1985 USO 4R (dropped first set to Yzaga) and 1987 USO F (dropped first set TB to Wilander having missed SP). Includes double pwnage of JMug and Conn in '85 and '87.

 

[ChrisRF]

Triple bagels in R1?!

Talking about coincidence: Of only 5 triple bagels in Open Era Slams 3 happened in 1987: Apart from Lendl/Moir it was Karel Novacek over Eduardo Bengoechea at RG and Stefan Edberg over fellow Swede Stefan Eriksson at Wimbledon.

The other 2 were Nikola Spear d. Daniel Contet at RG 1968 and the last one Sergi Bruguera d. Thierry Champion at RG 1993.

 

[zagor]

In 2011 he went into God mode against Murray and completely destroyed him. In 2008 he started slow and went down a set and a break vs Tsonga.

Murray was pretty listless in the 2011 final as was his norm at the time (he lost his first 3 slam finals in straights), it was as much as Novak's God Mode as Murray's level sucking. Jo on the other hand was playing the best tennis of his career in 2008 AO and has a bigger game than Andy. Everyone would be a in a bit of trouble against that Tsonga, he was zoning, it's hard to tame that type of player in that type of form without some degree of difficulty.

On the whole, Novak's 2011 >>>>>>>>>> Novak's 2008 but their AO runs are comparably in level IMO. Novak was playing some really inspired tennis in 2008 AO, was aggressive from the baseline, serving great (people forget how good his serve used to be before shoulder issues in 2009) and already had some of that ridiculous defense like his signature BH pass on the run. His 2008 AO run was akin to Pete's in 1990 USO, they both played some of their peak tennis for one whole tourney before actually reaching their peak career wise.

 

[Lew II]

Hardcourt Slam wins over top2 ranked players:

Djokovic 8
Federer 0

 

[lelopez]

Elicited the classic of all pressers from #6 seed Roddick after the 4, 0 & 2 beatdown in the SFs:

Discuss, no disgust.

I miss Roddick, he is the interview room GOAT in my book

 

[MeatTornado]

Hardcourt Slam wins over top2 ranked players:

Djokovic 8
Federer 0

Are you saying every one of those was a better win than Australia 2007?

 

[Alfred Chicken]

Hardcourt Slam wins over top2 ranked players:

Djokovic 8
Federer 0

The way you keep dropping obsessional holy water gospel song aerosol bombs on every party scene like a missionary zeal makes me wonder whether your face is just as punchable as might be expected...anyway, you won't get more respect for spitting repetition reminiscent of a record skipping.

 

[buscemi]

Agassi at the 1995 Australian Open is pretty impressive. He lost 0 sets heading into the final, where he beat Sampras in 4 sets.

 

[stringertom]

Hardcourt Slam wins over top2 ranked players:

Djokovic 8
Federer 0

Which is a harder task:

1. To beat the #2 player

or

2. To beat the #10 player who beat the #2 player 2,4 & 3

???

 

[Hitman]

The way you keep dropping obsessional holy water gospel song aerosol bombs on every party scene like a missionary zeal makes me wonder whether your face is just as punchable as might be expected...anyway, you won't get more respect for spitting repetition reminiscent of a record skipping.

A like for that gif. Love that movie.

 

[AnOctorokForDinner]

Agassi at the 1995 Australian Open is pretty impressive. He lost 0 sets heading into the final, where he beat Sampras in 4 sets.

It's a funny look that non-peak Sampras was centimeters away from going two sets to one up against peakest Agassi. Leads one to believe Pete peaked higher at (the business end of) 1994 AO than Andre in 1995.

 

[King No1e]

The way you keep dropping obsessional holy water gospel song aerosol bombs on every party scene like a missionary zeal makes me wonder whether your face is just as punchable as might be expected...anyway, you won't get more respect for spitting repetition reminiscent of a record skipping.

40-15

 

[buscemi]

It's a funny look that non-peak Sampras was centimeters away from going two sets to one up against peakest Agassi. Leads one to believe Pete peaked higher at (the business end of) 1994 AO than Andre in 1995.

I actually think Sampras might have played better in the final two rounds of the 1997 Australian Open. His first serve percentage against Moya was 75% in the 1997 final, which basically makes him unplayable.

 

[metsman]

I actually think Sampras might have played better in the final two rounds of the 1997 Australian Open. His first serve percentage against Moya was 75% in the 1997 final, which basically makes him unplayable.

Yeah he absolutely trashed Moya and Muster. But Courier and Martin were tougher opponents on a HC in 94.

 

[AnOctorokForDinner]

I actually think Sampras might have played better in the final two rounds of the 1997 Australian Open. His first serve percentage against Moya was 75% in the 1997 final, which basically makes him unplayable.

Courier was much more dangerous though. Double defending AO champ, starting to decline but still firmly in his prime at that point. Sampras comes and routines him 6-3 6-4 6-4 without losing serve. Mighty impressive considering the calibre of opponent.

 

[Alfred Chicken]

40-15

 

[Pheasant]

Lendl’s 1985 USO run was quite impressive. As another poster mentioned, he only dropped 60 games along the way. His finish is what put this one over the top. He straight-setted Noah in the QF(slam title holder), then straight-setted Connors in the semis(5 USO titles), then straight-setted McEnroe in the final(4 USO titles). It was the last victory that was most impressive. World #2 Lendl(58-7) was going up againt world #1 McEnroe(61-4). Those two guys hated each other and world #1 would be awarded to the winner of this match.

 

[AnOctorokForDinner]

Lendl’s 1985 USO run was quite impressive. As another poster mentioned, he only dropped 60 games along the way. His finish is what put this one over the top. He straight-setted Noah in the QF(slam title holder), then straight-setted Connors in the semis(5 USO titles), then straight-setted McEnroe in the final(4 USO titles). It was the last victory that was most impressive. World #2 Lendl(58-7) was going up againt world #1 McEnroe(61-4). Those two guys hated each other and world #1 would be awarded to the winner of this match.

That final, in particular the first set, may be the ultimate example of turntables in tennis. Mac was already showing some cracks, most egregiously the monstrous Wimbledon upset by Curren but he almost lost 1R at the USO too - still he arrived to the final an otherwise dominant #1 having straight-setted Lendl in two HC finals pre-USO. Lendl had improved overall compared to '84 but was slamless again following a disappointing loss to Wilander in RG final after winning 19 consecutive sets (Mats really cut him up in the wind, damn his defensive smartness).

McEnroe started the final where he left off the year before, heavily thumping Lendl to get within a point of winning the set 6-2, a set point on Lendl's serve. Lendl saves it with a good pass, ends up holding but should be no problem for Mac to serve it out anyway considering his unbreakableness so far as he was yet to lose a single service point (four consecutive love holds, isn't it beautiful?), right? Except his series of love holds is rudely interrupted by a love break out of nowhere, then Lendl holds to love to even the score at 5-5. McEnroe though rebounds with yet another love hold and, after a procedural Lendl hold, still looks like the favourite going into the tiebreak... only Lendl plonks him 7-1 and never looks back from then on, dominating the last two sets 6-3 6-4 without facing one BP.

The two men's careers sharply diverge after that match: McEnroe suffers a mental loss at the AO with a fifth set bagel then has a breakdown at The Masters after losing to Gilbert who he had much derided, takes half a year sabbatical and comes back a streaky choker with a strongly declined serve who's good enough to be notable but never makes another slam final, while Lendl goes on to massively dominate non-grass tennis and win six more slams in total. Those 25 minutes, Lendl coming back from *2-5 40-AD to taking the set 7-6(1), seemingly changed everything. (Though McEnroe probably breaks down eventually even if he wins that USO, as his personal life wasn't going the right way...)

 

[Deleted member 768841]

Who’s Joe Kovic?

 

[djokovicthebest]

The gold standard is USO 2011 & AO 2012 double. Federer - Nadal, Murray - Nadal back to back at both slams. 4 times beating fellow GOATs in epic battles. Not beating weak era pigeons Roddick and Gonzalez (who never made another slam final)