Is 2005 AO Greatest Slam In History?

[triforce defender]

The 2005 Australian Open might have been the greatest grand slam tournament ever played, at least on the Men's side. Consider:

1. Epic Federer - Safin SF match (9-7 Safin in fifth set)
2. Epic Hewitt - Nalbandian QF match (10-8 Hewitt in fifth set)
3. Breakthrough slam for Rafael Nadal (lost in 5 sets to Hewitt in fourth round)
4. Hewitt's only run to the finals of his home slam.
5. Debut slam of Novak Djokovic

 

[President]

Definitely one of the best slams I can remember. AO 2009 was a fantastic slam as well, if only for the phenomenal SF and Final matches, both of which are easily top 10 in the Open Era. The AO just seems to produce a really high quality of play, probably because the surface is pretty neutral and all the players are fresh and rested (in contrast, they are beaten up and fatigued by the time the US Open rolls around).

 

[RFRF]

no!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[AssaultJoker]

AO2012 and it's not even close. Murray and Nadal were playing the best hardcourt tennis of their lives, but still not enough to beat Nole.

 

[Vensai]

What about 2001 Wimbledon? Goran Ivanisevic winning Wimbledon was pretty special.

 

[BringBackSV]

AO2012 and it's not even close. Murray and Nadal were playing the best hardcourt tennis of their lives, but still not enough to beat Nole.

Haha, are you being serious?

 

[swordtennis]

AO2012 and it's not even close. Murray and Nadal were playing the best hardcourt tennis of their lives, but still not enough to beat Nole.

It was one of the greatest matches along with Murray Djokovic Australian open 2012.

2 of the greatest matches in a row. Proved just how good Novak Djokovic is.

 

[torpantennis]

Haha, are you being serious?

2005 was great indeed. 2012 was bad, final was the worst in a long while.

 

[MichaelNadal]

AO2012 and it's not even close. Murray and Nadal were playing the best hardcourt tennis of their lives, but still not enough to beat Nole.

:lol: Please take off the rose-tinted glasses.

 

[Wynter]

I think it was, Hewitt's run was one of the toughest I've seen

A rebounding Blake in the second, Nadal in the 4th, Nalbandian, Roddick

But Fed vs Safin was just so special. The quality of play through the whole tournament was fantastic

 

[Deleted member 307496]

AO2012 and it's not even close. Murray and Nadal were playing the best hardcourt tennis of their lives, but still not enough to beat Nole.

Murray USO 2012 was better.

 

[NatF]

Incredible tournament. So many great matches, Hewitt's run was one of the toughest ever.

 

[Anti-Fedal]

AO2012 and it's not even close. Murray and Nadal were playing the best hardcourt tennis of their lives, but still not enough to beat Nole.

The Djokovic/Nadal final was boring, slow, snail-pace slugfest on a slow hardcourt. Probably the most overrated match those two have ever played.

 

[Deleted member 307496]

The 2005 final had a feeling of improbability too. Would Safin fold? Would Hewitt finally win the title?

 

[Djokovic2011]

The 2005 final had a feeling of improbability too. Would Safin fold? Would Hewitt finally win the title?

Was that Lleyton's last ever Slam final Saby?

 

[Deleted member 307496]

Was that Lleyton's last ever Slam final Saby?

As unlikely as it seemed at the time, it was his final slam final. His results afterwards were;

French Open - Missed.
Wimbledon - Semifinal.
US Open - Semifinal.

In 2006, he had worse results than in 2005 (he had some patches of good form towards the end of the year).

Australian Open - Second Round.
French Open - Fourth Round.
Wimbledon - Quarterfinal.
US Open - Quarterfinal.

 

[Wynter]

Was that Lleyton's last ever Slam final Saby?

Yeah D2011 after that he started to break down.

Freak part was that he was only 24, he essentially had just started his prime.

 

[Wynter]

Multipost.

 

[acesampras]

AO2012 and it's not even close. Murray and Nadal were playing the best hardcourt tennis of their lives, but still not enough to beat Nole.

It's amazing what Novak did. He wasn't playing close to his best HC tennis against either, especially Nadal, but he should have won in 5. All after having a much tougher semi and Nadal getting an extra days rest. I disagree though, Nadal's best HC tennis was 2011 US open final. But Novak was just too good. The rallies they had in that match were epic. What was scary about Novak in 2011 was that he had dips in form, but was still good enough to destroy his main competition.

Anyway, on topic, the AO 2005 was a great tournament. The Safin vs Roger match is one of the best matches I have ever seen.

 

[swordtennis]

^^^
I agree with that. US Open 2011 Nadal was in great form. I thought he had that match after he won the 3rd set. Murray Djokovic AO 2011 was the most clean hard hitting match I might have ever seen.

Fedal fans truly believe they are judge jury and executioner. Legends in their own minds. Remove your SH*T STAINED glasses.

 

[tennis_pro]

1992 US Open.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSKncevxLHM

Man...what a tournament that was.

Connors, McEnroe, Agassi, Chang, Sampras, Edberg, Lendl, Ivanisevic, Becker, Courier, Krajicek all in 1 tournament, epic matches from day 1 to day 14, the last few years the first 4 rounds are total bores more often than not.

 

[Mustard]

The 2005 Australian Open might have been the greatest grand slam tournament ever played, at least on the Men's side. Consider:

1. Epic Federer - Safin SF match (9-7 Safin in fifth set)
2. Epic Hewitt - Nalbandian QF match (10-8 Hewitt in fifth set)
3. Breakthrough slam for Rafael Nadal (lost in 5 sets to Hewitt in fourth round)
4. Hewitt's only run to the finals of his home slam.
5. Debut slam of Novak Djokovic

I think 2001 Wimbledon was better.

 

[Mainad]

1992 US Open.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSKncevxLHM

Man...what a tournament that was.

Connors, McEnroe, Agassi, Chang, Sampras, Edberg, Lendl, Ivanisevic, Becker, Courier, Krajicek all in 1 tournament, epic matches from day 1 to day 14, the last few years the first 4 rounds are total bores more often than not.

It's notable that the players you listed were all Grand Slam champions. You could have added Stich as well. That's 12 current and former Grand Slam champions who played at the 1992 US Open. These days, there are only 8 active Grand Slam champions and 1 of them is chronically injured and unable to play (Del Potro) and the other long past winning Slams (Hewitt). So, for all practical purposes, only 6, half the number who competed back in 1992. The level and standard of competition and the way seedings are arranged these days, makes it unlikely you will see early rounds at the Slams as exciting and competitive as they were back then.

 

[triforce defender]

I think 2001 Wimbledon was better.

Please list 5 reasons why besides Goran winning the title.

 

[fundrazer]

Please list 5 reasons why besides Goran winning the title.

I dunno about 5, but Roger beat Pete that year and Agassi + Rafter had an awesome rematch. Henman reaches the semis for England hype and gives Goran a tough fight.

 

[eldanger25]

I dunno about 5, but Roger beat Pete that year and Agassi + Rafter had an awesome rematch. Henman reaches the semis for England hype and gives Goran a tough fight.

Agreed. Goran took out Roddick and Safin as well in his run, and Henman took out Fed in the QFs - sort of a last ride of the old guard on fast grass at SW19 '01.

2005 AO was a fun slam, but it's slightly over-romanticized due to Safin being seen in some quarters as this great tragic hero gunslinger type, when in reality he just didn't have the work ethic Fed and Nadal (and guys like Roddick) had. And I say that as someone who loved Safin's game and personality, and wishes he was still around.

Still a great edition of the AO - but no way the greatest slam in history.

 

[oberyn]

Agreed. Goran took out Roddick and Safin as well in his run, and Henman took out Fed in the QFs - sort of a last ride of the old guard on fast grass at SW19 '01.

2005 AO was a fun slam, but it's slightly over-romanticized due to Safin being seen in some quarters as this great tragic hero gunslinger type, when in reality he just didn't have the work ethic Fed and Nadal (and guys like Roddick) had. And I say that as someone who loved Safin's game and personality, and wishes he was still around.

Still a great edition of the AO - but no way the greatest slam in history.

Very well said.

 

[mike danny]

As unlikely as it seemed at the time, it was his final slam final. His results afterwards were;

French Open - Missed.
Wimbledon - Semifinal.
US Open - Semifinal.

In 2006, he had worse results than in 2005 (he had some patches of good form towards the end of the year).

Australian Open - Second Round.
French Open - Fourth Round.
Wimbledon - Quarterfinal.
US Open - Quarterfinal.

Federer was the main reason Hewitt didn't reach another slam final in 2005. Take Fed out and Hewitt reaches both the W and USO final.

 

[Deleted member 307496]

Federer was the main reason Hewitt didn't reach another slam final in 2005. Take Fed out and Hewitt reaches both the W and USO final.

Take Federer out and Hewitt probably wins both.

 

[swordtennis]

I think 2001 Wimbledon was better.

I just might agree. The path Goran had to wade through to win the title was beyond a hard draw. Maybe the most deserved title of all time. That tournament had many epic matches.
Agassi Rafter SF. I am still hurting from that match.
Sampras Federer
Hewitt Escude great match Escude won.
Ivanisevic Henman
Henman Martin
There were other 5 setters that were epic in the early rounds.

 

[Deleted member 307496]

I just might agree. The path Goran had to wade through to win the title was beyond a hard draw. Maybe the most deserved title of all time. That tournament had many epic matches.
Agassi Rafter SF. I am still hurting from that match.
Sampras Federer
Hewitt Escude great match Escude won.
Ivanisevic Henman
Henman Martin
There were other 5 setters that were epic in the early rounds.

It was a good tournament, but by Djokovic fan standards it was a weak tournament, no?

 

[Djokovic2011]

It was a good tournament, but by Djokovic fan standards it was a weak tournament, no?

So sad that you feel so much antagonism towards Novak and his fans Saby when he has nothing but respect for your favourite player. Sigh.....

 

[Deleted member 307496]

So sad that you feel so much antagonism towards Novak and his fans Saby when he has nothing but respect for your favourite player. Sigh.....

I like Djokovic and some of his fans, but it's the crazy ones (AssaultJoker for example) that entice me to make such posts.

 

[swordtennis]

It was a good tournament, but by Djokovic fan standards it was a weak tournament, no?

Not sure what you are talking about. I must have missed something. Wimbledon 2001 has always been in my #1 Wimbledon tournament of all time.

 

[West Coast Ace]

But Fed vs Safin was just so special.

I recently pulled out the DVD and watched it. The twists and turns of the match - the subplot of Fed's ex-coach being in Safin's box; the combination of attacking tennis and great backcourt exchanges.

 

[Chico]

No. AO, W and USO 2011 were all much better.

 

[beast of mallorca]

No. AO, W and USO 2011 were all much better.

Obviously Chico. Obviously................:roll:

 

[Big4MoreLikeBigBORE]

No. AO, W and USO 2011 were all much better.

I think Nole fanatics will be the ones who finally figure out how to build a time machine, specifically so they can go back and relive AO '11-AO '12 for the rest of their lives.

 

[pc1]

Agreed. Goran took out Roddick and Safin as well in his run, and Henman took out Fed in the QFs - sort of a last ride of the old guard on fast grass at SW19 '01.

2005 AO was a fun slam, but it's slightly over-romanticized due to Safin being seen in some quarters as this great tragic hero gunslinger type, when in reality he just didn't have the work ethic Fed and Nadal (and guys like Roddick) had. And I say that as someone who loved Safin's game and personality, and wishes he was still around.

Still a great edition of the AO - but no way the greatest slam in history.

I don't look at whether a major is the greatest but the 2001 Wimbledon is one of my favorites because of Goran.

However I may propose the 1927 Wimbledon as a possibility because of the dramatics of Henri Cochet, the superstar Frenchman. He rallied from two sets to none down in the last three matches to win. In the quarters it was a routine comeback against Frank Hunter but the semis was one of the legendary matches. Bill Tilden, arguably the GOAT, past his prime but still great led Cochet two sets to none and was ahead 5-1 in the third set! Cochet won 17 consecutive points on his way to winning the set 7-5. Cochet of course won the semi in the fifth.

In the final Cochet as you know lost the first two sets but in the fifth he trailed 5-3 in games to his follow countrymen Jean Borotra. Also he had six match points against him but saved them all. One was very controversial in the there was a quick volleying exchange with Borotra in which Cochet appeared to have a double hit which was illegal in those days and would have ended the match. Cochet finally won 7-5 and won Wimbledon.

 

[eldanger25]

I don't look at whether a major is the greatest but the 2001 Wimbledon is one of my favorites because of Goran.

However I may propose the 1927 Wimbledon as a possibility because of the dramatics of Henri Cochet, the superstar Frenchman. He rallied from two sets to none down in the last three matches to win. In the quarters it was a routine comeback against Frank Hunter but the semis was one of the legendary matches. Bill Tilden, arguably the GOAT, past his prime but still great led Cochet two sets to none and was ahead 5-1 in the third set! Cochet won 17 consecutive points on his way to winning the set 7-5. Cochet of course won the semi in the fifth.

In the final Cochet as you know lost the first two sets but in the fifth he trailed 5-3 in games to his follow countrymen Jean Borotra. Also he had six match points against him but saved them all. One was very controversial in the there was a quick volleying exchange with Borotra in which Cochet appeared to have a double hit which was illegal in those days and would have ended the match. Cochet finally won 7-5 and won Wimbledon.

Sounds like a more than worthy candidate (and I agree that it's impossible to say which is the "greatest" edition of a major). What're your thoughts about either of Pancho's US National runs - sounds like he was on the razor's edge multiple times in the '49 edition.

Open Era wise, I've been partial to the '91 Open in the past (the great Connors run, Lendl going deep for the last time at a major as well, plus that clinic Edberg put on in the final and some fun young-old matchups like Mac-Chang and Lendl-Stich earlier in the tourney).

In the swashbuckling spirit of the 2005 AO, I'll note that the 1987 Wimbledon was pretty epic as well - Cash just took a machete to the draw.

 

[Deleted member 688153]

No. AO, W and USO 2011 were all much better.

What about RG 2011?

Oh, wait...

 

[Deleted member 688153]

Agree that the Australian Open tends to have the best matches.

2005 was quite good, but AO 2009, 2012, and 2014 all seem great to me.

2012 AO was Novak's most deserved GS, amazing SF and F performances from him, far more exciting than 2011 (except for the Djokovic-Federer 2011 AO SF, which was Novak's finest ever match vs. Federer, even if it wasn't an epic)

2014 AO - Stan was simply the most deserved winner of a GS in years. He had to go through Djokovic, then Berdych (who was playing well), then Nadal. That was inspiring to see.

2009 was great also.

 

[Mustard]

Please list 5 reasons why besides Goran winning the title.

Just some of the classic matches at 2001 Wimbledon:

El Aynaoui def. Kempes
Parmar def. Sa
Hewitt def. Dent
Federer def. Malisse
Sampras def. Cowan
Ivanisevic def. Roddick
Ivanisevic def. Rusedski
Escude def. Hewitt
Federer def. Sampras
Henman def. Martin
Henman def. Federer
Ivanisevic def. Safin
Rafter def. Agassi
Ivanisevic def. Henman
Ivanisevic def. Rafter

 

[Mustard]

Sounds like a more than worthy candidate (and I agree that it's impossible to say which is the "greatest" edition of a major). What're your thoughts about either of Pancho's US National runs - sounds like he was on the razor's edge multiple times in the '49 edition.

He was, and I think Gonzales annoyed Kramer and Riggs with that victory because they felt compelled to offer Gonzales a professional contract after Gonzales retained his US Championships title in 1949. Kramer and Riggs had really wanted Schroeder to turn professional, and when Kramer badly beat Gonzales on their head-to-head world pro tour in 1950, by 96-27, they basically told Gonzales that he was finished as a market attraction. This created a monster, with Gonzales turning into "the lone wolf", antagonising virtually everybody he came into contact with, and becoming a winning machine. The sacrifices that Gonzales made to become so dominant only seemed to make him more bitter.

In his amateur days in the late 1940s, Gonzales had been described as "happy-go-lucky", which is nothing like what he became.

Open Era wise, I've been partial to the '91 Open in the past (the great Connors run, Lendl going deep for the last time at a major as well, plus that clinic Edberg put on in the final and some fun young-old matchups like Mac-Chang and Lendl-Stich earlier in the tourney).

The 1991 US Open is amongst my favourites, also.

 

[pc1]

Sounds like a more than worthy candidate (and I agree that it's impossible to say which is the "greatest" edition of a major). What're your thoughts about either of Pancho's US National runs - sounds like he was on the razor's edge multiple times in the '49 edition.

Open Era wise, I've been partial to the '91 Open in the past (the great Connors run, Lendl going deep for the last time at a major as well, plus that clinic Edberg put on in the final and some fun young-old matchups like Mac-Chang and Lendl-Stich earlier in the tourney).

In the swashbuckling spirit of the 2005 AO, I'll note that the 1987 Wimbledon was pretty epic as well - Cash just took a machete to the draw.

The 1949 US Nationals had a lot of excellent players also in Sedgman, Gonzalez, top seed Ted Schroeder (the 1949 Wimbledon Champion), Art Larsen, the talented lefty, Bromwich. Schroeder, like Gonzalez was well known for surviving five set matches so in the finals it was a great collision of excellent serve and volleyers. Gonzalez survived a five set match in the quarters against Larsen. Schroeder also went to five sets against Sedgman in the quarters, Bill Talbert in the semi and finally lost to Gonzalez in the final. That final match changed tennis history as Mustard pointed out earlier in that if Schroeder won, he would have faced his best friend Jack Kramer in a head to head tour in the pros. Gonzalez would have remained an amateur and most likely would have won a few amateurs majors in my opinion.

The 1949 Wimbledon that year was a perils of Pauline routine by Schroeder. He won an extremely tough first round match against Gardnar Mulloy in five after losing the first two sets. His last three matches against Sedgman, Sturgess, and Drobny went five sets with Schroeder winning.

And yes I enjoyed the 1991 US Open and the 1987 Wimbledon. Amazing how Cash won that Wimbledon. Imo that was Lendl's best shot to win.

 

[Deleted member 77403]

Just some of the classic matches at 2001 Wimbledon:

El Aynaoui def. Kempes
Parmar def. Sa
Hewitt def. Dent
Federer def. Malisse
Sampras def. Cowan
Ivanisevic def. Roddick
Ivanisevic def. Rusedski
Escude def. Hewitt
Federer def. Sampras
Henman def. Martin
Henman def. Federer
Ivanisevic def. Safin
Rafter def. Agassi
Ivanisevic def. Henman
Ivanisevic def. Rafter

Yes, that about covers it. In my eyes, this was the most epic Slam I have ever seen, with a perfect fairy tale ending.

 

[Chico]

No. AO, W and USO 2011 were all much better.

Forgot to add AO 2012. Beating Murray and Nadal at their very top peak level was surreal.

 

[okdude1992]

Just some of the classic matches at 2001 Wimbledon:

El Aynaoui def. Kempes
Parmar def. Sa
Hewitt def. Dent
Federer def. Malisse
Sampras def. Cowan
Ivanisevic def. Roddick
Ivanisevic def. Rusedski
Escude def. Hewitt
Federer def. Sampras
Henman def. Martin
Henman def. Federer
Ivanisevic def. Safin
Rafter def. Agassi
Ivanisevic def. Henman
Ivanisevic def. Rafter

2001 Wimbledon was the first Slam I watched. And I still remember some of those matches. Great time in tennis to, with a changing of the guard happening.

Goran winning is obviously one of the greatest stories in tennis.