Losing A Slam Final After Holding Championship Point (In The Open Era)

[Lozo1016]

This is the fourth time in Open Era Singles history that a player had championship point in a Slam final and lost. Just 4 times in 50 years, men's or women's!

2002 Australian Open (W): Jennifer Capriati over Martina Hingis 4-6, 7-6 (9-7), 6-2
2004 French Open (M): Gaston Gaudio over Guillermo Coria 0-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-1, 8-6
2005 Wimbledon (W): Venus Williams over Lindsey Davenport 4-6, 7-6 (7-4), 9-7
2019 Wimbledon (M): Novak Djokovic over Roger Federer 7-6 (7-5), 1-6, 7-6 (7-5), 4-6, 13-12 (7-3)

Which loss was the most inexcusable?

 

[CYGS]

WTA shouldn't be in the same discussion with ATP.

 

[Lozo1016]

WTA shouldn't be in the same discussion with ATP.

Sorry for getting peanut butter in your chocolate.

 

[Max G.]

I voted Coria.

In all of the rest of the cases, there's a reason why the winner ended up better. Capriati's power game was at the end of the day too much for Hingis, who was playing a game of a previous era. Williams' movement and power were just too much for Lindsay. And Federer is what, 60 years old at this point, and Novak is such a beast.

Coria, on the other hand, has no excuse. He should have been a better player coming in. He was more accomplished. He played better for the start of that day - until he flat out choked and gave it away. His opponent wasn't an ATG, or even particularly mentally tough himself. There was just no reason at all to lose, and yet he found a way.

 

[Moose Malloy]

Hingis was on the verge of heatstroke that day(they changed the heat rule because of her) and Coria was in his first(and only) major final, so of course nerves could come into play.

Williams Davenport is one of the best matches of all time. Venus saved match point with a winner on her serve so choking wasn't really a factor.

But Federer failing to serve out a major final...

 

[AnOctorokForDinner]

Hingis was on the verge of heatstroke that day(they changed the heat rule because of her) and Coria was in his first(and only) major final, so of course nerves could come into play.

Williams Davenport is one of the best matches of all time. Venus saved match point with a winner on her serve so choking wasn't really a factor.

But Federer failing to serve out a major final...

Gaudio was in his first and only final too though.
I say Coria's was worse because he threw an entire set due to nervous cramps, how does this happen?

 

[Mainad]

Hingis was on the verge of heatstroke that day(they changed the heat rule because of her) and Coria was in his first(and only) major final, so of course nerves could come into play.

Williams Davenport is one of the best matches of all time. Venus saved match point with a winner on her serve so choking wasn't really a factor.

But Federer failing to serve out a major final...

The last time this happened at Wimbledon was apparently in 1948 when the Australian player John Bromwich held a championship point at 5–3 in the fifth set against the American Bob Falkenburg but failed to convert. He later had another two championship points, but was unable to take those either, and Falkenburg came back to win the championship, taking the last four games to win the fifth set, 7–5.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Bromwich

 

[helterskelter]

Hingis was on the verge of heatstroke that day(they changed the heat rule because of her) and Coria was in his first(and only) major final, so of course nerves could come into play.

Williams Davenport is one of the best matches of all time. Venus saved match point with a winner on her serve so choking wasn't really a factor.

But Federer failing to serve out a major final...

Not just failing to serve it out, but failing to serve it out from 40-15.

Not just failing to serve it out from 40-15, but failing even to take it to multiple deuces, instead losing four straight points.

 

[netlets]

Coria and it's not even close if you watched the match. He was way ahead and the most dominant clay court player of the year and choked. Fed was not even the favorite, so if you're saying Fed you must not like him or wasn't tuned in to tennis when Coria was playing the RG warmup events and then RG.

 

[TheIntrovert]

I didn’t see the other three. But I wouldn’t say today’s was inexcusable. Just that Novak produced the goods. A good return close to feds feet and a good passing shot.

 

[bjsnider]

Not surprising this happened in such a close match. Unfortunately for Federer, no one will remember anything but the W and the L.

 

[THUNDERVOLLEY]

WTA shouldn't be in the same discussion with ATP.

Too bad for you.

 

[Raul_SJ]

What about blowing DOUBLE champiionship point?

Has that ever happened.

Granted he is up against the GOAT returner. Blowing one game point is excusable. But Fed needs to close it out at 40-15. What a nightmare.

 

[Gary Duane]

Coria's loss was the worst because he had no chances to reverse it and no slam wins prior.

 

[ACE of Hearts]

Federer because he lost four straight points!

 

[Max G.]

Coria and it's not even close if you watched the match. He was way ahead and the most dominant clay court player of the year and choked. Fed was not even the favorite, so if you're saying Fed you must not like him or wasn't tuned in to tennis when Coria was playing the RG warmup events and then RG.

This. ^^

Coria was just such a dominant claycourter - that result was just unthinkable.

Seriously, if you'd guessed yesterday that "Djokovic beats Federer in five", nobody would have been surprised. Heck, "Djokovic in five, getting back a break in the fifth" wouldn't have sounded implausible yesterday. Djokovic was always the favorite.

Whereas back then... if someone had predicted Gaudio beating Coria, it would have sounded ridiculous. It's amazing how Coria had such a complete and total collapse, for no real reason besides nerves.