If you could remove one loss from your favorite player's resume, which one would it be?

[The Blond Blur]

This has probably been done before, but more matches have been played and more losses come with time.

For me it still has to be the 2014 AO final loss to Stanimal. In their previous 12 matches, he had not even taken a set from RAFA. Stanimal did great to take the first set (although RAFA did manage to flub up 3 BP's on 3 straight 2nd serves). But, had it not been for the back injury early in the 2nd set I think RAFA would have worked his way back into the match and won.

A close 2nd has to be the 2012 AO final. RAFA had to fight and claw his way back into the match, was up a break in the 5th, and then missed the easiest backhand of the night after Joker already gave up on the point.

Then of course there's the historical ramifications of these losses. If wins just one of the matches he has the Double Career Slem.

Disgust.

 

[Lleytonstation]

Hmm let me think, either 08 WC or the whole fourty and 1 and five thingy.

 

[The Blond Blur]

Hmm let me think, either 08 WC or the whole fourty and 1 and five thingy.

Surely the one that shall not be named was worse.

 

[ollinger]

Undoubtedly it would be his (Gulbis) only loss in a final, Oct. 2018 in Stockholm, when Ernests lost to Tsitsipas 6-4 6-4 in the final. All of his other finals appearances, 6 in singles and 2 in doubles, resulted in titles. The GulbisOAT, the Gulbinator, Gulbiver's Travels!

 

[TennisFan3]

AO 2014 Final Without a shadow of doubt. It was the biggest loss of Nadal's career:

• He missed the opportunity to do a double career grand slam. Something that his rivals had never achieved. And that would have been a very historical achievement for Nadal.
  • It would have been a record that Fed will likely never achieve. Again Novak might eventually get another F.O - but even that is not certain.
• The loss caused a crisis of confidence for Nadal and put him into a downward spiral which resulted in SEVERELY underperforming in 2015-2016.

For Djokovic it would be F.O 2011 SF. He almost certainly would have beaten Nadal in the final. He somehow lost the plot against Fed. Djokovic seemed a little off after a long break between matches. Had he won that match, he would have likely got his first F.O eleven years ago. On top of that - he would have achieved the elusive CYGS. That would put Novak in the HOF as the GOAT.

 

[Fedforever]

2009 US Open since Fed would have had a four-in-a-row.

One of the FO losses to Nadal is the more logical choice but really it's no disgrace to lose to the greatest clay court player ever. Losing to Del Potro on the other hand.......

 

[Deleted member 744633]

@Zara @Azure @Sentinel

Jimmy White to Stephen Hendry. World snooker final.

 

[Third Serve]

RG 2006. If Fed wins that, he makes a CYGS as well as seven Slams in a row (starting from Wimby 2005). He also gets Double Career Grand Slam, which isn't a noteworthy accomplishment by any means, but it's still nice to have.

You might expect me to pick the ones that he should have won (like one of those many 40-15 matches), but I think that winning RG 2006 against none other than Nadal in a French Open final would greatly boost his resume alone, even if you completely disregard the effects of a CYGS on Fed's legacy.

Winning here on Nadal's home turf would also give him a lot of confidence going into future meetings on clay. This doesn't guarantee any extra wins, but at least it wouldn't hurt his chances.

That one French Open would also allow Fed's 2006 season to be taken into consideration as the best season in the history of the Open Era.

That match would do so much.

 

[MichaelNadal]

Gimme that AO2019 final. 10 years after his first win, and accomplishes the same thing that the AO14 would but it would be more recent

 

[Standaa]

Montreal 2017 F

it’s a blasphemy Zed has a Montreal title and Fed doesn’t

ABZ

 

[dr. godmode]

Seems like 2014 AO is the biggest one for most Rafa fans. I dont mind this loss because it was freak accident with the back injury.

I would prefer Nadal to have won the 2012 or 2017 AO finals. Those matches had tremendous historical value. Probably 2012 is slightly more valuable because it would mean Rafa won two of the greatest matches of all time W2008 and AO2012, plus I love what AO2017 did for Federer's career.

 

[KINGROGER]

1. RG 2006
2. Wimbledon 2008
3. RG 2011

If we include butterfly effect, then RG 2006 for potential future implications of his match up with Rafa. Wimbledon 2008 for potential 7 in a row.

 

[ElChivoEspañol]

2012 AO final.

 

[Poisoned Slice]

@Zara @Azure @Sentinel

Jimmy White to Stephen Hendry. World snooker final.

Which one?

 

[J011yroger]

I kinda wanna say RG 05.

Presuming Fred could mop up Puerta in the final.

J

 

[Sport]

AO 2017 for obvious reasons.

 

[StrongRule]

AO 2014, no doubt. Nadal had lots of heartbreaking losses during his career, but that one was the worst. I think he was broken mentally because he knew what a chance it was, but then the back injury happened. He entered the match being the best player in the world, in his prime, ready to break the biggest records in tennis...And then he left with nothing. In a very short time he became an old, injured and irrelevant player. And that's how it been until 2017.

 

[MichaelNadal]

AO 2014, no doubt. Nadal had lots of heartbreaking losses during his career, but that one was the worst. This loss broke Nadal, ended his prime and caused a decline which lasted 3 long years. I think he was broken mentally because he knew what a chance it was, but then the back injury happened.

Maybe im weird but this loss didn't hurt that much. None in the past few years have really. 2011 USO I was determined to let be the last time I let tennis results bother me.

 

[StrongRule]

Maybe im weird but this loss didn't hurt that much. None in the past few years have really. 2011 USO I was determined to let be the last time I let tennis results bother me.

You looked worried during USO 2019 though.

 

[MichaelNadal]

You looked worried during USO 2019 though.

Very bc he was 2 sets up and 1 smash from winning an epic and getting #19. Had he lost though I'd have had the same epic day I would have had regardless. Im too old to sit around pouting over Nadal not winning something. 2011 and before I would be mad for days. Did you see me mad after the AO final or Wimby semis? Ok then

 

[TheGhostOfAgassi]

AO14 final.

 

[Turning Pro]

Ao 2017. Nadal would be 20-19 ahead now with the double career grand slam. A close second would be ao12/wimby 07 as i believe he should have won those matches and the value of them too.

 

[NoleFam]

Maybe im weird but this loss didn't hurt that much. None in the past few years have really. 2011 USO I was determined to let be the last time I let tennis results bother me.

If I was a Nadal fan, 2017 AO would be a far harder loss to take than 2014.

 

[StrongRule]

Ao 2017. Nadal would be 20-19 ahead now with the double career grand slam. A close second would be ao12/wimby 07 as i believe he should have won those matches and the value of them too.

Nobody knows what would have happened if you change the result of AO 2017 final. Sure thing something would go differently.

 

[StrongRule]

If I was a Nadal fan, 2017 AO would be a far harder loss to take than 2014.

And why is that?

 

[MichaelNadal]

If I was a Nadal fan, 2017 AO would be a far harder loss to take than 2014.

The way I see it I guess is I stopped expecting things from Nadal a long time ago. The fact that he was even in a position to be in an AO final is already enough for me. Really, no loss has been hard after 2011. If I owe Djokovic anything, it's thanks for reminding me Nadal is human and I can't control him winning or losing

 

[NoleFam]

And why is that?

Isn't it obvious? He was 3 games away from a DCS, and a break up. He was never in any position at any point to win in 2014.

 

[NoleFam]

The way I see it I guess is I stopped expecting things from Nadal a long time ago. The fact that he was even in a position to be in an AO final is already enough for me.

Well true. At that time, I never saw Nadal making that AO final but I was never one of those people to be foolish enough to write him off either since I knew all it would take was one spark, and he would be back and that's just what happened.

 

[Doctor/Lawyer Red Devil]

One of the US Open final losses. Most preferably 2013 or 2016.

 

[Frank Bannister]

1. 2019 Wimbledon - Seals goathood forever

2. 2008 Wimbledon - Wins the greatest match of all time + Beats Nadal 3 straight times there.

3. 2011 French Open - Finally beats Nadal at the French Open.

 

[StrongRule]

Isn't it obvious? He was 3 games way from a DCS, and a break up. He was never in any position at any point to win in 2014.

Nadal in 2017 was coming from two and a half years of being totally irrelevant in tennis. No slam 1/4 finals for a year a half, no semifinals for two years and a half. Him reaching AO 2017 final was already a miracle. I fully expected him to lose the third round to Zverev, but instead of that he managed to win a few very close matches. So as tough as the loss was (and it was tough), but there were lots of positive things to take from this tournament. And as we found out it wasn't a fluke run, Nadal was really back to competitive level.

On the other hand 2014 was a total disaster. He was coming from a great 2013, going for a second career slam. Djokovic suddenly lost in the 1/4 finals, so Nadal's final opponent was a player he totally owns. Nadal wasn't playing his best tennis during the tournament, but he was playing decent enough to win. And then that injury happened in the final and it was over. In a very short time he went from being the best player in the world who was going for big records to being an old, injured and almost irrelevant player. For a very long time.

 

[TagUrIt]

Just recently at the 2019 US Open Julia was serving for the match in the second set against Donna Vekic. She ended up losing the second set and had to play a third, which she lost. That second set really got to her and she didn’t play her best in the third set. I truly believe she would have at the very least made it to the semis maybe even the final had she won that match.

 

[Red Rick]

Roddick fan.

You know which match.

Spoiler

Would love if he beat Nadal in 2008 DC on Bo5 clay. The memes would be so godly

 

[MichaelNadal]

Venus 2017 Wimbledon final! (or AO final vs Serena)

 

[NoleFam]

Venus 2017 Wimbledon final! (or AO final vs Serena)

Yes that 2017 Wimbledon final was a hard pill to swallow. That 2009 final was hard to take as well since she had destroyed everyone for two years and then laid an egg in that final.

 

[MichaelNadal]

Yes that 2017 Wimbledon final was a hard pill to swallow. That 2009 final was hard to take as well since she had destroyed everyone for two years and then laid an egg in that final.

2017 was equally kind and cruel to Venus. She gave us a slew of classic matches (like the QF against Kvitova and semis vs Sloane at the US open), was the WTA prize money leader for 2017, was the only woman on tour to make it to the second week of the past 8 slams by the time the USO had come around, and made it to 2 slam finals and the WTF finals, yet didn't win any of them out of those 3 big finals she really deserved one. Had Serena gotten pregnant a month earlier, she would have at least won the AO.

 

[NoleFam]

Nadal in 2017 was coming from two and a half years of being totally irrelevant in tennis. No slam 1/4 finals for a year a half, no semifinals for two years and a half. Him reaching AO 2017 final was already a miracle. I fully expected him to lose the third round to Zverev, but instead of that he managed to win a few very close matches. So as tough as the loss was (and it was tough), but there were lots of positive things to take from this tournament. And as we found out it wasn't a fluke run, Nadal was really back to competitive level.

On the other hand 2014 was a total disaster. He was coming from a great 2013, going for a second career slam. Djokovic suddenly lost in the 1/4 finals, so Nadal's final opponent was a player he totally owns. Nadal wasn't playing his best tennis during the tournament, but he was playing decent enough to win. And then that injury happened in the final and it was over. In a very short time he went from being the best player in the world who was going for big records to being an old, injured and almost irrelevant player. For a very long time.

If Djokovic had lost that 2018 Wimbledon SF, that loss would have stung just as much if not more than his other tough losses, and him being a non-factor for two years wouldn't have made a difference for me, because he would have been so close to another Slam. I guess Nadal winning two Slams in 2017 may help erase that AO loss but close losses like that, especially with a Slam on the line are harder for me to take than losses when he was never even close.

 

[MichaelNadal]

If Djokovic had lost that 2018 Wimbledon SF, that loss would have stung just as much if not more than his other tough losses, and him being a non-factor for two years wouldn't have made a difference for me, because he would have been so close to another Slam. I guess Nadal winning two Slams in 2017 may help erase that AO loss but close losses like that, especially with a Slam on the line are harder for me to take than losses when he was never even close.

Agree here. The one loss that does annoy me a bit is the 2018 semis (even though I love the match and still watch highlights of it) It just seems like a huge missed opportunity. Nadal was a point away from winning the match in 4 sets. That's what's so good about Djokovic though, no matter how close you are, even with set points or 2 CP's on your serve, it's not over.

 

[NoleFam]

2017 was equally kind and cruel to Venus. She gave us a slew of classic matches (like the QF against Kvitova and semis vs Sloane at the US open), was the WTA prize money leader for 2017, was the only woman on tour to make it to the second week of the past 8 slams by the time the USO had come around, and made it to 2 slam finals and the WTF finals, yet didn't win any of them out of those 3 big finals she really deserved one. Had Serena gotten pregnant a month earlier, she would have at least won the AO.

Yea those were some tough losses but that Wimbledon final was the worst because after she had set point in the first set, it was like she mentally shut down. Hard to believe she blew that one so bad but that's the way cookie crumbles I guess. No lie, I borderline hated Serena in 2003. Venus was so close to so many Slams and then she came. Lol.

 

[StrongRule]

If Djokovic had lost that 2018 Wimbledon SF, that loss would have stung just as much if not more than his other tough losses, and him being a non-factor for two years wouldn't have made a difference for me, because he would have been so close to another Slam. I guess Nadal winning two Slams in 2017 may help erase that AO loss but close losses like that, especially with a Slam on the line are harder for me to take than losses when he was never even close.

As I said AO 2017 was tough to take. Especially given that it was his only good run in a very long time so nobody could know if he will continue improving or that is the true end of his career. But there were positive things to take from it, and we could hope for the best.

Still, AO 2014 is the worst for me and so far nothing really comes close to it. It's wrong to say Nadal wasn't close to winning the title. He was, from the moment when Wawrinka beat Djokovic. All he had to do is to play against Wawrinka on the same level like he did in their matches in Shanghai or WTF 2013 and I'm pretty sure he would have won. But instead of that he was hardly moving in this match, probably because of the injury.

 

[NoleFam]

Agree here. The one loss that does annoy me a bit is the 2018 semis (even though I love the match and still watch highlights of it) It just seems like a huge missed opportunity. Nadal was a point away from winning the match in 4 sets. That's what's so good about Djokovic though, no matter how close you are, even with set points or 2 CP's on your serve, it's not over.

Vice versa. It's that 2013 RG match for me. Ugh. Worst loss ever but on the flip side that's the power of Nadal.

 

[MichaelNadal]

As I said AO 2017 was tough to take. Especially given that it was his only good run in a very long time so nobody could know if he will continue improving or that is the true end of his career. But there were positive things to take from it, and we could hope for the best.

Still, AO 2014 is the worst for me and so far nothing really comes close to it. It's wrong to say Nadal wasn't close to winning the title. He was, from the moment when Wawrinka beat Djokovic. All he had to do is to play against Wawrinka on the same level like he did in their matches in Shanghai or WTF 2013 and I'm pretty sure he would have won. But instead of that he was hardly moving in this match, probably because of the injury.

And that was the loss that taught me not to count chickens before they hatch. I was so sure he would win and practically already celebrating before the match. This is why even with how it looked like the USO was his for the taking with Fed/Novak out, I was not going to give him the trophy till it was over.

 

[StrongRule]

And that was the loss that taught me not to count chickens before they hatch. I was so sure he would win and practically already celebrating before the match. This is why even with how it looked like the USO was his for the taking with Fed/Novak out, I was not going to give him the trophy till it was over.

Lucky to me I learned that lesson much earlier, in RG 2009. Who could ever imagine Soderling will be a problem? Back then I thought Nadal on clay was almost unbeatable, and I never repeated that mistake again. To be honest I expected him to come back and win during the whole match, until he was 4-1 down in the tie break of the fourth set. Then I suddenly realized he was losing it.

So I didn't think Nadal was a lock to the title in 2014 (especially when I remembered how bad he played against Nishikori and Dimitrov earlier in the tournament), but for sure he was the big favorite. Everybody knew it.

 

[Poisoned Slice]

O'Sullivan vs Higgins (Masters 2006) (9-10 ) An awesome counter clearance from Higgins (64) after a (60) from O'Sullivan. You knew deep down that Higgins was not going to miss. Hoping and praying for a kick, kiss or some other dodgy connection etc etc.

 

[StrongRule]

O'Sullivan vs Higgins (Masters 2006) (9-10 ) An awesome counter clearance from Higgins (64) after a (60) from O'Sullivan. You knew deep down that Higgins was not going to miss. Hoping and praying for a kick, kiss or some other dodgy connection etc etc.

Higgins had too many lucky wins during his career.

 

[StrongRule]

If we do such a thread for Snooker then it has to be Selby losing to Higgins in WC 2009 1/4 finals. That was daylight robbery. But ok, at least Selby won World Championship 3 times since then. But back then it was a terrible loss.

 

[jm1980]

Easy: 2015 FO Final

 

[The Blond Blur]

Maybe im weird but this loss didn't hurt that much. None in the past few years have really. 2011 USO I was determined to let be the last time I let tennis results bother me.

That's how I felt about the 2017 AO. I didn't get to watch that match live since I was competing in a track meet. I was more surprised by the outcome, but the loss didn't bother me. I was more happy for Ol' Rog than I was sad for RAFA. I honestly thought he was done winning slems after 2015-2016 so I saw just making the final as a positive. The EPIC moments he's had since then have more than made up for it. RAFA has always been good at finding something positive in just about any situation

 

[pat200]

RG 1989 Women's Final. If Steffi won that final, it would be 9 Grand Slams in a row, including 2 CYGS in a row. Damn cramps.

 

[vive le beau jeu !]

can we also add losses to our 'least favorite'?...