Great players who have blown a 2-0 lead in sets

Kevin Patrick

Hall of Fame
After Federer's loss yesterday(the 2nd time in his career he lost a 2-0 lead in sets) I looked up some other greats who have blown big leads.

McEnroe:
Connors 1981 Wembley Final 6-3 6-2 3-6 4-6 2-6
Lendl 1984 French Open Final 6-3 6-2 4-6 5-7 5-7

Connors:
Kevin CURREN (USA) 6-4 6-4 3-6 4-6 2-6 1988 Lipton 4th Round
Bjorn BORG (SWE) 6-0 6-4 3-6 0-6 4-6 1981 Wimbledon SF

Sampras:
Jaime YZAGA (PER) 7-6 7-6 4-6 5-7 2-6 1988 US Open 1st Round(17 year old Sampras' 1st slam appearance)
Andrei CHERKASOV (CIS) 7-6(7) 6-1 5-7 0-6 3-6 3rd Round 1992 Olympics
Alex CORRETJA (ESP) 6-4 6-4 6-7(4) 5-7 4-6 2002 Davis Cup QF

Agassi:
Aaron KRICKSTEIN (USA) 6-4 6-4 3-6 5-7 0-1 RET 3rd Round 1988 Lipton
Boris BECKER (FRG) 7-6(4) 7-6(5) 6-7(4) 3-6 4-6 1989 Davis Cup SF
Alberto BERASATEGUI (ESP) 6-3 6-3 2-6 3-6 3-6 1998 Australian Open 4th Round

Lendl:
Guillermo VILAS (ARG) 7-6 6-4 0-6 3-6 3-6 1982 Madrid Final
Henrik SUNDSTROM (SWE) 6-4 6-3 3-6 1-6 1-6 1984 Davis Cup SF
Michael CHANG (USA) 6-4 6-4 3-6 3-6 3-6 1989 French Open 4th Round
Michael CHANG (USA) 6-2 6-4 4-6 6-7(5) 7-9 1991 Grand Slam Cup SF
Jaime ONCINS (BRA) 6-3 6-3 3-6 2-6 6-8 1992 French Open 2nd Round

Borg:
never lost a match after going up 2 sets to love
 

urban

Legend
Tilden lost to Cochet Wimbledon sf 1927 after being 2-0 and 5-1 up. 62 64 57 46 36.
Emerson lost to Laver f RG 1962 after a 2-0 lead and 3-0 in the 4th. 63 62 36 79 26.
von Cramm lost to Budge DC sf 1937 64 62 36 26 68.
 

clmautz

New User
if you don't mind

I'd like to use that as my signature quote... :)

Chip

p.s. - and to think I just bought a McEnroe Maxply... shhh! Lol!
 

Rabbit

G.O.A.T.
clmautz said:
I'd like to use that as my signature quote... :)

Chip

p.s. - and to think I just bought a McEnroe Maxply... shhh! Lol!

(In my best Robert DeNiro) "You talking to me?"

If so, I'd be honored!
 
gugafanatic said:
Federer himself blew a 2 set lead against Hewitt in DC.

You are right, and 5-3 in the 3rd set to boot. It was the deciding match in that Davis Cup semifinal, and Australia went on to win the Davis Cup final over Spain.
 

joe sch

Legend
Nice post Kevin !

I think that Macs loss to Lendl in 1984 French Open Final 6-3 6-2 4-6 5-7 5-7
maybe the most historic loss in tennis history since it started Macs downfall and started Ivans domination of the 2nd half the the 1980s. I think Mac & Ivan pretty much split the domination of the 1980s and I still view Macs accomplishments as greater because of his doubles achievements and davis cup support.

Urbans posts were also very significant tennis matches in this category
 

Kevin Patrick

Hall of Fame
Agree Joe. Mac was basically one match away from winning the Grand Slam(there's no doubt in my mind he would have played & won the Australian Open had he won the 3 earlier slams)
His domination may have lasted longer had he joined Laver & Budge on that very short list.
 

urban

Legend
Mac is still having nightmares about this match. It will be a lasting memory until his last hour. His 82-3 record in 1984 is bittersweet. The second very important match he lost, was the 2nd DC rubber against Henrik Sundstrom on indoor clay. Mac was always devoted to DC, so this final round loss must have hurt him. The third important loss was the deciding doubles, which he lost with Fleming against Edberg / Jarryd. I think, it was the only doubles loss of this team in DC. And these losses were important, because both he and Connors were banned by the USTA from DC play, and Captain Ashe retired..
 

baseliner

Professional
Charlie Pasarell lost to Pancho Gonzales after being up 2 sets to none and Pancho also came back at Forest Hills against Ted Shroeder (I think) in the finals after being down 2 sets.
 
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