Have you ever enjoyed a match where your Favorite player got destroyed?

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nikdom

Guest
I believe that if you're a fan of tennis (and not just personality/muscles/nationality/bandwagon) then there should be at least one match where you enjoyed watching your favorite getting beat handily by an opponent whose performance just made you applaud.

What is such a match you enjoyed?

State your favorite player, then the occasion + opponent they lost to. Bonus points for elaborating on the performance and what appealed to you.

I'll go first. I'm a Fed fan and I truly enjoyed Stakhovsky taking down Federer at 2013 Wimbledon 2nd round. That was an amazing, gutsy performance by a guy who was almost teaching Federer, a guy who'd had a lot of success at Wimbledon playing from the back of the court, how grass court tennis is still done. At the end of the match even the elder Federer was giving him a standing ovation from Roger's player box, with a grin on his face. "Now that's how it's done son", seemed to be the take home message.
 
TennisATP

TennisATP

Professional
I have no favorite player in particular, I simply enjoy to play and to watch tennis. I want to see great rallies, great points, great attitude, great fighting spirit... I love tennis more than any particular player. I just watched Hamburg earlier, it didn't matter who was playing.
 
Antonio Puente

Antonio Puente

Hall of Fame
Destroyed? Not really. I mean, I didn't enjoy it, but was impressed with Murray at the 2008 USO. Best match I've ever seen him play. Djoker was pretty impressive at times in 2011.

I've enjoyed plenty of nailbiters Nadal lost, however. As long as it's a good match, it's fine.

Now Mueller at W... That was just excruciating.
 
N

nikdom

Guest
Antonio Puente said:
Destroyed? Not really. I mean, I didn't enjoy it, but was impressed with Murray at the 2008 USO. Best match I've ever seen him play. Djoker was pretty impressive at times in 2011.

I've enjoyed plenty of nailbiters Nadal lost, however. As long as it's a good match, it's fine.

Now Mueller at W... That was just excruciating.
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Not impressed, but actually enjoyed the match.

Any example of a nailbiter that Nadal lost where you enjoyed the other guy playing?
 
Federer and Del Potro

Federer and Del Potro

Bionic Poster
Probably Murray destroying Federer for Olympic Gold. If I recall correctly Murray had no majors at the time and it really was still uncertain if he was ever going to get one given the landscape of tennis was crazy good at the time and Murray always seemed to come up small in the finals against the rest of the Big 4. OG was a nice consolation prize for him and I really think it gave him a lot of belief going forward. So I wasn't too sour about it especially since Roger had just won Wimbledon and also because it is easier for me to stomach losses where they get blown away versus where its excruciatingly close.

I'm not sure you can ever fully 'enjoy' your favorite getting taken to the woodshed but I was genuinely happy for Andy Murray to snag a big victory, finally.
 
TheAssassin

TheAssassin

Legend
I didn't enjoy it but I was truly amazed by Pete's performance in the 1999 Wimbledon final. Grass perfection. What made it easier for me to appreciate that was Andre completing the Career Slam just a few weeks before so I was still enjoying that. :)
 
InsideOut900

InsideOut900

Legend
Yeah, Roland Garros semifinals in 2007 and 2008.
Djokovic wasn't expected to do anything, but he tried hard and actually played some great tennis in stretches. I was in awe with Nadal's level both times. If the thread is strictly referring to one sided matches.

USO 2010 final too. Same scenario as above.
I love that version of Nadal, the aggressive, heavy hitting was so nice to watch.

I would have listed more matches, but some of them were too heartbreaking, so I didn't enjoy them.
Those three is where the expectations were low, hence why I could enjoy them regardless of the result.
 
aman92

aman92

Legend
Nadal, US Open 2011 Final against Djokovic

Didn't enjoy the match at that time but now I constantly watch highlights of that match from time to time. Nadal was playing at a great level but Djokovic was just outlasting him at every big point. Just a stupendous level of play
 
N

nikdom

Guest
I can't remember if it was Rome or RG, but that's about the only time I actually enjoyed watching Nadal beat Fed as I had no expectations whatsoever from him and Nadal as usual was GOATing on clay. His movement and shotmaking on that surface was something to behold; especially that shot where he backpedals at a million miles an hour and hits a monster forehand into the absolute corner on the opposite side and fist pumps. You know what I'm talking about right ? :eek:
 
N

nikdom

Guest
TheAssassin said:
I didn't enjoy it but I was truly amazed by Pete's performance in the 1999 Wimbledon final. Grass perfection. What made it easier for me to appreciate that was Andre completing the Career Slam just a few weeks before so I was still enjoying that. :)
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I was younger then and could never appreciate Sampras. I was an outright Andre fan and probably more emotionally attached than anything else. Sampras' hang dog look, his seemingly serve-heavy game made him a Karlovic like figure to me.

Looking back he was a mental giant.
 
DreddyTennis45

DreddyTennis45

Hall of Fame
TennisATP said:
have no favorite player in particular
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pbLqP6H_d.jpg
 
N

nikdom

Guest
Nolkobolko said:
Kyrgios - Nadal Madrid 2017
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Never watched that match. I should watch the highlights on youtube.

The Kyrgios - Federer match in Miami this year was monster too... he lost by the slimmest or margins and Roger I guess was just competing like crazy, but it was impressive from Kyrgios. I would have enjoyed his performance more had he not allowed the crowd to get to him ( I blame the crowd tbh)
 
tennisaddict

tennisaddict

Bionic Poster
Robredo - Fred USO 2013

I think the only match that I wasn't upset Fed lost . Even then there was a faint hope he may come back and beat Robredo and then Rafa

The FO losses after 2012 did not matter one bit
 
Mainad

Mainad

Bionic Poster
Don't believe it's ever possible to enjoy seeing your favourite player get destroyed. It's a contradiction in terms. It's bad enough just having to watch them lose!

Nonetheless, there are certain instances where you can't help but admire the ruthless efficiency of the destroyer. For instance, I watched my favourite player perform quite well in the semis at 2015 Wimbledon only to see him fail to make any headway against a near perfect servestorm from a near perfect opponent. Hated the outcome but admired the performance.
 
N

Newcomer

Hall of Fame
aman92 said:
Nadal, US Open 2011 Final against Djokovic

Didn't enjoy the match at that time but now I constantly watch highlights of that match from time to time. Nadal was playing at a great level but Djokovic was just outlasting him at every big point. Just a stupendous level of play
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Nadal served like Wozniacki and couldn't attack, and you say he played at a great level? :rolleyes:
 
DRII

DRII

G.O.A.T.
enjoyed a match where my favorite got destroyed :confused:

no, I don't really see how that's possible.

now there are several great matches I really enjoyed where my favorite lost, both on the men's (Nadal) and women's (Venus) side. and that's because both of my faves are the most exciting players to watch usually (especially when in their prime) win or lose.

matches I can think of off hand are: Venus vs Jankovic 2007 Charleston, this was on clay and both made it to the final. Venus was playing incredibly athletically and powerfully but was making plenty of mistakes. Venus lost in a tight 3 setter, but I knew going off that match she was probably going to win Wimbledon that year and she did.

as far as Nadal is concerned, so many of his nail biters have been classics, but he usually wins them. I will say that in 2011 his IW and Miami finals against Djokovic were both very good matches where Djokovic just stepped it up at crucial times and won. this was right before Djokovic got into Nadal's head that year.
 
DRII

DRII

G.O.A.T.
Newcomer said:
I think Federer vs Nadal in WTF 2011 is the closest for me. Federer played unbelievable and just destroyed him.
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Nadal was clearly spent, and started ailing, from his classic semi match against Murray.

sorry, never mind, that was 2010. I don't even remember the 2011 WTF match between Nadal and Federer. I can't i9maging Nadal was playing that well...
 
X

Xavier G

Hall of Fame
I liked both McEnroe and Connors about equally in 1984. Jimbo had been my original fav.
The peak McEnroe of 1984 was a pleasure to watch and the clinic he put on in the Wimbledon final that year against was "enjoyable" to watch from a tennis fan point of view even though it was so one-sided. I was sure he was going to beat Jimmy beforehand anyway.
 
mike danny

mike danny

Bionic Poster
DRII said:
Nadal was clearly spent, and started ailing, from his classic semi match against Murray.

sorry, never mind, that was 2010. I don't even remember the 2011 WTF match between Nadal and Federer. I can't i9maging Nadal was playing that well...
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He was talking about 2011, not 2010. In 2010 Nadal wasn't destroyed. He played a good final.
 
AnOctorokForDinner

AnOctorokForDinner

Talk Tennis Guru
No, it has to be at least somewhat competitive. Seeing a player you actively root for get beaten to a pulp is just sad.

The least close losses I still enjoyed on some level would be the likes of 2016 AO (Djokovic-Federer) and RG (Murray-Wawrinka) semis. Federer/Wawrinka were mostly dominated, but managed to raise level and snatch a set. Djokovic/Murray were playing quality smart tennis, which was good to see. The final Djokoray clashes ended up being comparatively boring in either tournament.
 
augustobt

augustobt

Legend
TennisATP said:
I have no favorite player in particular, I simply enjoy to play and to watch tennis. I want to see great rallies, great points, great attitude, great fighting spirit... I love tennis more than any particular player. I just watched Hamburg earlier, it didn't matter who was playing.
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:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

Anyone that dare to check this pathetic pos last posts will find this:
TennisATP said:
Nadal definitely has the best backhand overhead. But for regular overhead there are many players who are good (including Nadal of course).
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In the Thread "Will You Ever Like Anyone More Than Roger Federer?"
TennisATP said:
37ecf52504a004012b1143788aaf070a.jpg
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I mean, anyone could label me as a "short temper person", but this guy is so bad at trolling that he even can't make me mad, just feeling sad that someone in this whole world is so idiotic and stupid. Ever since he joined the board he didn't provide a single (not even ONE) productive post. It's all bullcrap and nonsensical nadal-bias post. He's so bad that make octomom look bearable.
 
PrinceMoron

PrinceMoron

Legend
Newcomer said:
I think Federer vs Nadal in WTF 2011 is the closest for me. Federer played unbelievable and just destroyed him.
Click to expand...

Nadal kiddy fans were just sitting there shell shocked all around the O2

Some are still mentally scarred


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Steve0904

Steve0904

Talk Tennis Guru
I can't say I've enjoyed any, but there have been a handful or so where it became so apparently clear that Federer was the 2nd best player because the other guy brought something special. So much so that I was barely disappointed after he lost. He hasn't been legitimately destroyed very often, but I give props to Djokovic for particular special performances. Wimbledon 2015 and AO 2016 at the top of the list.

I'll also mention Murray at the 2012 Olympics. A destruction that didn't rattle me in the least. Federer had the silver. I didn't care about the difference between silver and gold and it was Murray's redemption for Wimbledon 2012. If I had to pick one match for the purposes of this thread it would be that one.

And there've been a few against Nadal on clay. RG 2008 and 2011. Both matches where I basically knew Federer had no chance of winning going in so I was content. The 2011 one in particular coming off the defeat of Djokovic I was still on cloud nine and knew he had already overachieved in making the final.

I have also thoroughly enjoyed some very close Federer losses. 2009 WTF SF against Davydenko, 2005 AO SF against Safin just to name a couple.
 
Phoenix1983

Phoenix1983

G.O.A.T.
Djokovic2011 said:
I'm not sure how it's possible to enjoy a match where your favourite player is getting destroyed. Can I appreciate and respect the level of performance coming from the other side of the net? Absolutely. Do I enjoy watching it? Hmm, not really.
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Yeah, I agree with this.

I have enjoyed/appreciated *close* defeats for players who I've supported (examples: Capriati losing to Henin in the USO SF 2003, Federer losing to Djokovic in the W F 2014).

However, if one of my favourites is being thrashed, I can't really enjoy it. I can say "too good" and accept the defeat, but can't take any kind of positives from the match.
 
D

Deleted member 688153

Guest
DRII said:
Nadal was clearly spent, and started ailing, from his classic semi match against Murray.

sorry, never mind, that was 2010. I don't even remember the 2011 WTF match between Nadal and Federer. I can't i9maging Nadal was playing that well...
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Lmao, the excuse making for the 2010 match wasn't enough! Had to make a theoretical excuse for 2011 too! :D:D
 
augustobt

augustobt

Legend
"Enjoy" it's a bit too much, but Federer vs Djokovic in last year's AO was impressive. Djok played nearly perfect in the first two sets.
 
K

KINGROGER

G.O.A.T.
I didn't mind Federer losing to Murray in the Olympics final. At the time I felt like Fed won the important prize at Wimbledon and it was nice for Murray to have this medal as consolation for having no grand slam.
 
DRII

DRII

G.O.A.T.
abmk said:
don't bother >>> the indoor conditions made nadal both injured and tired, according to the *************. :D
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oh look at you, fedephant praising recent threads that try and rationalize Federer's bad h2h vs Nadal because Nadal usually doesn't reach Federer in the 2nd half of the year because of fatigue etc, but now you ridicule citing that Nadal is often fatigued or suffering from injury during the latter part of the year (when the WTF is played)!

if you're going to be a hypocrite, at least be a good one.
 
DRII

DRII

G.O.A.T.
Firstservingman said:
Lmao, the excuse making for the 2010 match wasn't enough! Had to make a theoretical excuse for 2011 too! :D:D
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try rewatching the match vs being clueless.

Nadal was playing well at the 2010 WTF, but the semi against Murray (which was a classic) took something out of Nadal.
 
abmk

abmk

Bionic Poster
DRII said:
oh look at you, fedephant praising recent threads that try and rationalize Federer's bad h2h vs Nadal because Nadal usually doesn't reach Federer in the 2nd half of the year because of fatigue etc, but now you ridicule citing that Nadal is often fatigued or suffering from injury during the latter part of the year (when the WTF is played)!

if you're going to be a hypocrite, at least be a good one.
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hilarious to see you calling someone a hypocrite.

Its more because of nadal's inability in the 2nd half of the season than the fatigue.

when nadal was actually injured/fatigued, I state it so, same for federer. What you do is make excuses for almost every one of nadal's losses.
 
DRII

DRII

G.O.A.T.
abmk said:
hilarious to see you calling someone a hypocrite.

Its more because of nadal's inability in the 2nd half of the season than the fatigue.

when nadal is injured/fatigued, I state it so, same for federer. What you do is make excuses for almost every one of nadal's losses.
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weak sauce!

oh, so its Nadal's 'inability' that he usually doesn't do as well in the 2nd half of the year :rolleyes:

do you know how idiotic that sounds?

guess not.
 
abmk

abmk

Bionic Poster
DRII said:
weak sauce!

oh, so its Nadal's 'inability' that he usually doesn't do as well in the 2nd half of the year :rolleyes:

do you know how idiotic that sounds?

guess not.
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yes, inability - as in not being that good, atleast nowhere near federer.

which is the biggest reason why they've met a lot more times in the 1st half than in the 2nd half.
 
Last edited:
abmk

abmk

Bionic Poster
DRII said:
try rewatching the match vs being clueless.
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says the guy who can't even remember the actual match being mentioned - WTF 2011 RR :D

DRII said:
Nadal was playing well at the 2010 WTF, but the semi against Murray (which was a classic) took something out of Nadal.
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yeah, cool story. He was tired in the 1st set, when he lost, untired in the 2nd set when he won, tired again in the 3rd set which he lost. :D

Here's what happened in reality in the YEC 2010 final :

1st set, federer was dominant from the baseline in the 1st set, but not returning that well. Hence only one break, otherwise would've been more.
2nd set, nadal got the one break , federer still not returning well and nadal kept holding to take the 2nd set. federer's level dipped in this set, so it was about even from the baseline.
3rd set, federer's return finally started clicking and then he overwhelmed nadal from the baseline as well in the final set to take it 6-1.

Didn't have much to do with nadal being "tired". Just federer being a vastly superior player indoors and in better form as well. The Murray match was indeed tough and long. But didn't have much effect in the final, if at all.
 
Fedeonic

Fedeonic

Hall of Fame
Federer vs Wawrinka at Roland Garros 2015. In fact, I was actually happy that Fed lost that match. Could be the case for the Fedal at AO 2014, but no.
 
DRII

DRII

G.O.A.T.
abmk said:
says the guy who can't even remember the actual match being mentioned - WTF 2011 RR :D



yeah, cool story. He was tired in the 1st set, when he lost, untired in the 2nd set when he won, tired again in the 3rd set which he lost. :D

Here's what happened in reality in the YEC 2010 final :

1st set, federer was dominant from the baseline in the 1st set, but not returning that well. Hence only one break, otherwise would've been more.
2nd set, nadal got the one break , federer still not returning well and nadal kept holding to take the 2nd set. federer's level dipped in this set, so it was about even from the baseline.
3rd set, federer's return finally started clicking and then he overwhelmed nadal from the baseline as well in the final set to take it 6-1.

Didn't have much to do with nadal being "tired". Just federer being a vastly superior player indoors and in better form as well. The Murray match was indeed tough and long. But didn't have much effect in the final, if at all.
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giphy.gif
 
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