Greatest 'Clutch' player in current ATP tour

[Tennis_Monk]

Who is the greatest Clutch player in current atp?

Clutch : A "clutch" athlete is one who performs well in pivotal or high pressure situations. This includes many instances where a good performance means the difference between a win and a loss.Seizing upon one's opportunities in pressure situations is the common thread among all "clutch" players, though, as a player's poor past performance will be forgotten if he/she can make one big play under pressure. The opposite of being "clutch " is being a "choker".

 

[6-3 6-0]

Currently, its RNadal. He held his nerve at his own backyard to beat the World No. 1 from a break down in the 5th set. Amazing!!

 

[Death Master]

nole, clay warrior, andy murray, and roger.

 

[Tennis_Monk]

As far as i am concerned, It is RP Nadal , while NDjoker is close.
RP Nadal is amazing when it comes to digging out of tough spots.
Beyond me, it would be RP Nadal playing for me, if my life is on the line.

[Djoker is no slouch. His return of serve against RFederer saving match points and winning is stunning]

 

[Death Master]

tennis monk rocks.

 

[r2473]

D Young

...

 

[papertank]

Djokovic, Nadal, Murray and Ferrer right now.

 

[Russeljones]

If current means 'still playing' then it has to be Federer.

 

[Morj]

While Nadal is the strongest mentally in general, when it comes to the most extreme situations, like points where the entire match is at stake, I think Djokovic does it better.

When Djokovic is on the verge of defeat, he actively changes his style and plays more fearlessly than any other player I've seen, going for shots that are much more low percentage than he normally plays. Good examples are against Fed in USO '10 and '11, and Murray at Shanghai '12.

 

[Chico]

Djokovic of course. How is this even a quaetion?

 

[veroniquem]

Borg and Djoko have the best winning % in deciding sets: 74.8 for Borg, 70.8 for Djoko, closely followed by Connors: 69.8 and Nadal: 69.5. Muster has the record for winning % in finals: 81.5.

 

[NADALbULLS]

While Nadal is the strongest mentally in general, when it comes to the most extreme situations, like points where the entire match is at stake, I think Djokovic does it better.

When Djokovic is on the verge of defeat, he actively changes his style and plays more fearlessly than any other player I've seen, going for shots that are much more low percentage than he normally plays. Good examples are against Fed in USO '10 and '11, and Murray at Shanghai '12.

You mean like when Nadal was down a break in the 5th set at RG2013 and hit 22 winners in the 5th set (a career-high for winners in a set) to knock Djokovic on his a##? I agree.

 

[Chico]

You mean like when Nadal was down a break in the 5th set at RG2013 and hit 22 winners in the 5th set (a career-high for winners in a set) to knock Djokovic on his a##? I agree.

No he meant when Djokovic was up a break in the 5th set and should have won it, if it wasn't for biased officials who handed the match to Nadal. Once more, Nadal didn't win that match. Officials and Pascal Maria won it for him. Please deal with this fact.

 

[cjs]

Currently, its RNadal. He held his nerve at his own backyard to beat the World No. 1 from a break down in the 5th set. Amazing!!

Rafa isn't as clutch as he used to be. Rafa got tight in the FO final - Rafa at his clutch best wouldn't of squandered the service breaks he had and would of won that match in straight sets. Same as that backhand down the line he missed in the 5th set of the Aussie Open against Djoker - clutch Rafa would of nailed that shot and gone on to win the title.

 

[NADALbULLS]

Djokovic of course. How is this even a quaetion?

Nadal has overwhelmingly won the poll....

 

[Clarky21]

Cvac.

10Cvacs.

 

[NADALbULLS]

Rafa isn't as clutch as he used to be. Rafa got tight in the FO final - Rafa at his clutch best wouldn't of squandered the service breaks he had and would of won that match in straight sets. Same as that backhand down the line he missed in the 5th set of the Aussie Open against Djoker - clutch Rafa would of nailed that shot and gone on to win the title.

But if you follow Nadal's career you will know that he misses A LOT of backhands when he's running forward to the net. It was a typical miss (and it wasn't even to win the game btw, it would have only given him a 40-15 lead). So if you know Nadal you will know that was a typical miss. And the most clutch set of Nadal's career is 2013 Roland Garros semi-final 5th set when he hit 22 winners (not just any winners, astounding winners). And Djokovic had every mental edge at that stage, having stolen the 4th set, got up a break in the 5th set and the knowledge of having won Monte Carlo. Nadal was still too good, despite that mountain of pressure.

 

[veroniquem]

What Nadal did that was so impressive is beating Djoko 3 times in a row in 2012 after that disastrous 2011 streak across all surfaces and defeating him in RG 2013 (in extremis) after losing to him again in M-C. It takes guts to reverse a losing streak the way he did. Also his big wins on hard (despite hard being his worst surface): Olympics 2008 vs Djoko and AO 2009 vs Fed or WTF 2010 vs Murray. All of them, very gutsy wins. Not to mention his most glorious one of course: getting the better of Fed in a W final. Fed was never able to reciprocate at RG.

 

[Phonco]

It's tough to say since they have different styles when it comes to being clutch. Nadal tends to maximize his topspin and tries to grind for the error. I feel it's easier to grind out and wait for your opponents error. This is perfect for Nadal as his spin gives him a huge margin for error.

Djokovic on the other hand seems to turn up the aggression during crucial moments. I think trying to be aggressive, hitting winners and taking the match from your opponent is a bit more impressive than grinding. Just look at his 2012 QF against Tsonga. Playing against a Frenchmen, at Roland Garros, with the whole crowd against him. His response? He turned up the aggression and saved each match point with a winner. There are numerous instances of Djokovic saving match points with straight winners rather than errors, especially against the top ten.

Kudos to Nadal though. I saw that 5th set and he managed to up the aggression and go for winners; took that match back from Djokovic. Definitely different than what I was used to seeing him do.

Although, I would say the most clutch would probably be someone like Stan Smith. Davis Cup match against Romania, in Romania, whole crowd against AND the linesmen are cheating you on line calls. He still managed to pull out the win. If that isn't clutch or mental strength, then you guys got me.

 

[cjs]

But if you follow Nadal's career you will know that he misses A LOT of backhands when he's running forward to the net. It was a typical miss (and it wasn't even to win the game btw, it would have only given him a 40-15 lead). So if you know Nadal you will know that was a typical miss. And the most clutch set of Nadal's career is 2013 Roland Garros semi-final 5th set when he hit 22 winners (not just any winners, astounding winners). And Djokovic had every mental edge at that stage, having stolen the 4th set, got up a break in the 5th set and the knowledge of having won Monte Carlo. Nadal was still too good, despite that mountain of pressure.

That backhand at AO was an easy miss, and I knew Nadal was going to lose that AO final when he missed that backhand. It was a backhand that he'd make 99 times out of 100 without pressure. He pushed it rather than hit it. I think Nadal is as clutch as they come, but he is human and that was a miss simply due to tension, not due to some sort of technical flaw in his backhand.

As for this years FO, I don't disagree Nadal played great in that 5th set - but the point is if he was as clutch as he was a few ago that match would of been over in 3 or 4 sets. He blew it serving for the match and it took a terrible game from Djoker for Nadal to break to win the match.

 

[ark_28]

If you are looking for clutch then John Isner is your man, 12 match points down against Tommy Haas at the French Open and Big John was able to use his booming serve to save all 12 and win the set.

 

[Dark Magician]

I think it must be Nadal, no doubt. However Djokovic is almost also as clutch as him.

 

[PimpMyGame]

Special mention to Nikishori who (used) to have an excellent record in the final set of matches. Don't know if this is still the case?

 

[Warmaster]

Djokovic or Nadal. Nadal edges it imo.

 

[MichaelNadal]

Senor Parera.

 

[Sentinel]

tennis monk rocks.

Did TS Monk make this thread just to tell us he has figured out everyone's middle name ?

 

[NADALbULLS]

That backhand at AO was an easy miss, and I knew Nadal was going to lose that AO final when he missed that backhand. It was a backhand that he'd make 99 times out of 100 without pressure. He pushed it rather than hit it.

You just proved how little you know about Nadal. You clearly don't watch him play. Even on clay, Nadal misses the 'easy backhand' on the short ball. When he runs forward to those short balls he doesn't like to bend his knees while on the run with both shoulders dipped (for the 2-hander). So he ends up playing the 2-hander without enough knee bend. He's much better with stationary backhands. He is still on the run when he approaches these shortballs and ends up mishitting them. And like I said it wouldn't have even won the game, only put the score on 40-15. And lets not forget, 40-15 means nothing vs Djokovic. Djokovic won because it was his best surface. Can you really imagine Nadal beating Djokovic on Djokovic's best slam surface? It would be a major upset. Djokovic almost won that AO final in 4 sets anyway.

 

[clayqueen]

Djokovic is not a clutch player he's just lucky that his opponent's form drops allowing him to win. The clutch player of all time, without a doubt, is Rafael Nadal.

 

[Bender]

Djokovic is not a clutch player he's just lucky that his opponent's form drops allowing him to win. The clutch player of all time, without a doubt, is Rafael Nadal.

You're going to prompt Chico to accuse you of disrespecting the world #1 and the best player of the last two years, Djokovic.

 

[Flash O'Groove]

Currently it's clearly Nadal. He was playing clearly inferior tennis to Djokovic in the RG SF but shattered him with his will and desire alone. You could see it in his eyes that he was going to win, even when he was a break down.

In the past, Federer has been amazingly good at bringing his A game to the SF and final, exactly the contrary to Murray. I thing this display a lot of mental strength and confidence too. It allowed to be clutch to win a lot of close sets.

Djokovic is disappointing this year. He is still the most complete player in the world, and sometimes his superiority allow him to get himself out of tight situations, but I don't think he is very strong mentally at the moment (especially at RG).

Murray was always struggling in the his slams finals, unable to bring his best game for mental reasons. He is still fragile I guess, but his game is solid enough for him to escape the bad situations.

Overall, we shouldn't forget how the tennis abilities matter in the mental/clutchness abilities. Nadal, Federer and Djokovic displayed their mental strength when they were at the peak of their game (not really the case for Nadal. He is strong mentally even when he is at the bottom of his game). A strong player mentally but weak technically can't show his mental strength.

 

[Eragon]

Currently it's clearly Nadal. He was playing clearly inferior tennis to Djokovic in the RG SF but shattered him with his will and desire alone. You could see it in his eyes that he was going to win, even when he was a break down.

In the past, Federer has been amazingly good at bringing his A game to the SF and final, exactly the contrary to Murray. I thing this display a lot of mental strength and confidence too. It allowed to be clutch to win a lot of close sets.

Djokovic is disappointing this year. He is still the most complete player in the world, and sometimes his superiority allow him to get himself out of tight situations, but I don't think he is very strong mentally at the moment (especially at RG).

Murray was always struggling in the his slams finals, unable to bring his best game for mental reasons. He is still fragile I guess, but his game is solid enough for him to escape the bad situations.

Overall, we shouldn't forget how the tennis abilities matter in the mental/clutchness abilities. Nadal, Federer and Djokovic displayed their mental strength when they were at the peak of their game (not really the case for Nadal. He is strong mentally even when he is at the bottom of his game). A strong player mentally but weak technically can't show his mental strength.

I disagree about Murray. His performance in the Wimbledon final this year was strong. He went for his shots when he had to and he truly believed in himself unlike I've ever seen him do in a Grand Slam final (although he did play Wimbledon 2012 and AO 2013 fairly fine in the first couple of sets). It is that confidence that makes me think he can get to 6 Slams. Even after last year's US Open, I doubted if Murray could even get to 3.

 

[m2nk2]

Nadal, no?

He'd probably be at the top of the list even if you'd include all other sports.

 

[Tenez101]

RNadal.

Proved it at the RG Semi this year.

 

[Tenez101]

Nadal, no?

He'd probably be at the top of the list even if you'd include all other sports.

I honestly can't think of anyone more clutch than Nadal in any sport.

Don't say Jordan, team sports are incomparable to individual sports.

 

[tennis_hack]

In extreme pressure (match points of a GS match) - I'd take Djokovic over Nadal any day.

Djokovic actually becomes something different when his back is against the wall. Nadal just tries his usual spin fest - and if that same spin fest game got him in trouble in the first place, it really shouldn't get him out of trouble. But, then again, it does, cuz the ATP is full of chokers, and Nadal relies on his opponent to choke.

 

[Clarky21]

Currently it's clearly Nadal. He was playing clearly inferior tennis to Djokovic in the RG SF but shattered him with his will and desire alone. You could see it in his eyes that he was going to win, even when he was a break down.

In the past, Federer has been amazingly good at bringing his A game to the SF and final, exactly the contrary to Murray. I thing this display a lot of mental strength and confidence too. It allowed to be clutch to win a lot of close sets.

Djokovic is disappointing this year. He is still the most complete player in the world, and sometimes his superiority allow him to get himself out of tight situations, but I don't think he is very strong mentally at the moment (especially at RG).

Murray was always struggling in the his slams finals, unable to bring his best game for mental reasons. He is still fragile I guess, but his game is solid enough for him to escape the bad situations.

Overall, we shouldn't forget how the tennis abilities matter in the mental/clutchness abilities. Nadal, Federer and Djokovic displayed their mental strength when they were at the peak of their game (not really the case for Nadal. He is strong mentally even when he is at the bottom of his game). A strong player mentally but weak technically can't show his mental strength.

Nadal outplayed Cvac throughout that entire match, so I don't know what match you watched. If Nadal wasn't such a mental midget these days he would have won that match in straights. Nadal had more winners than Cvac, less unforced errors than Cvac, and even hit more backhand winners than Cvac in that match. Cvac was fortunate to be in a 4th set much less a 5th.

 

[cjs]

You just proved how little you know about Nadal. You clearly don't watch him play. Even on clay, Nadal misses the 'easy backhand' on the short ball. When he runs forward to those short balls he doesn't like to bend his knees while on the run with both shoulders dipped (for the 2-hander). So he ends up playing the 2-hander without enough knee bend. He's much better with stationary backhands. He is still on the run when he approaches these shortballs and ends up mishitting them. And like I said it wouldn't have even won the game, only put the score on 40-15. And lets not forget, 40-15 means nothing vs Djokovic. Djokovic won because it was his best surface. Can you really imagine Nadal beating Djokovic on Djokovic's best slam surface? It would be a major upset. Djokovic almost won that AO final in 4 sets anyway.

Dude, all your proving is you got fan boy blinkers on and you know nothing about playing competitive tennis. It was a terrible miss. It was a tight shot.

 

[NatF]

That 5th set of his semi final with Djokovic at the FO compells me to say Nadal. When the chips were down his ground strokes became unplayable. Some monster shots. Djokovic is losing leads etc...all the time these days.

 

[roberttennis54]

At this very moment or in general through out their careers? Apart from Soderling, Murray and Ferrer it's a pretty good list. Murray's been clutch on the serve, but generally he is not one of the best. Ferrer is pretty bad and Soderling was average.

Nadal is the best and then after that Federer slightly ahead of Djokovic followed by Del Potro and Hewitt.

 

[Mainad]

At this very moment or in general through out their careers? Apart from Soderling, Murray and Ferrer it's a pretty good list. Murray's been clutch on the serve, but generally he is not one of the best. Ferrer is pretty bad and Soderling was average.

Why don't you rate Murray as clutch? He's fought back from many tight situations. Some very recent examples (and there are many others):

2012 USO quarter-final v Clic: came back from a set and 0-5 down.

2012 USO final v Djokovic: came back in the 5th set after losing the 3rd and 4th.

2013 Miami final v Ferrer: came back from a set and a break down and facing a match point in the 3rd set.

2013 Wimbledon quarter-final v Verdasco: came back from 2 sets down.

 

[NatF]

Murray's serving has become really clutch, those long games in the Wimbledon 2012 final only went so long due to timely 130mph bombs and sheer determination.

 

[Tennis_Monk]

Murray's serving has become really clutch, those long games in the Wimbledon 2012 final only went so long due to timely 130mph bombs and sheer determination.

Murray played Clutch at wimbledon but long way to go before he can be in "greatest" category.