Making the hardest possible draw USO 2018

[TripleATeam]

Well, seeing as we're already down to 4 players, this is somewhat appropriate. I want to see what the hardest possible draw could be given seedings and player form as shown in their USO 2018 performances.

First we need to list the seeds and what round they lost in.

1. Nadal SF
2. Federer R16
3. Del Potro SF
4. Zverev R32
5. Anderson R16
6. Djokovic SF
7. Cilic QF
8. Dimitrov R128
9. Thiem QF
10. Goffin R16
11. Isner QF
12. Carreno Busta R64
13. Schwartzman R32
14. Fognini R64
15. Tsitsipas R64
16. Edmund R128
17. Pouille R32
18. Sock R64
19. Nishikori SF
20. Coric R16
21. Cecchinato R128
22. Bautista Agut R128
23. Chung R64
24. Raonic R16
25. Gasquet R32
26. Khachanov R32
27. Dzumhur R128
28. Shapovalov R32
29. Mannarino R128
30. Kyrgios R32
31. Johnson R64
32. Verdasco R32

The following two sections come purely from results- not from players they played against, nor how they achieved their wins. I am not saying Nadal is greater than Federer, just that his results at this tournament mean he would likely be tougher competition to an opponent than Federer.

Best from each bracket:
1-2: Nadal
3-4: Del Potro
5-8: Djokovic
9-16: Thiem
17-32: Nishikori
Unseeded dangerous players: Kohlschreiber, Sousa, Millman

Therefore for a seeded player the hardest possible draw would have been:

F: Nadal
SF: Del Potro
QF: Djokovic
R16: Thiem
R32: Nishikori
R64: Millman
R128: Sousa

For an unseeded player, replace Sousa with Federer, then identical draw.
​

 

[Sport]

Therefore for a seeded player the hardest possible draw would have been:

F: Nadal
SF: Del Potro
QF: Djokovic
R16: Thiem
R32: Nishikori
R64: Millman
R128: Sousa

For an unseeded player, replace Sousa with Federer, then identical draw.
​

Why can't you put Khachanov in R64 rather than Millman? Khachanov was a hell of rival for an early round.

 

[TripleATeam]

Why can't you put Khachanov in R64 rather than Millman? Khachanov was a hell of rival for an early round.

Sorry, I thought I made it clear. I guess I didn't. This wasn't about form by the eye test, but about form based on relative results. Millman went further than Khachanov.

Also, Khachanov was seeded, no? He would be there in Nishikori's place, but Nishikori is tougher.

 

[tennis_pro]

Why can't you put Khachanov in R64 rather than Millman? Khachanov was a hell of rival for an early round.

For Nadal.

 

[r2473]

Making the hardest possible draw USO 2018

F: Millman
SF: Millman
QF: Millman
R16: Millman
R32: Millman
R64: Millman
R128:Millman​

 

[Sport]

Sorry, I thought I made it clear. I guess I didn't. This wasn't about form by the eye test, but about form based on relative results. Millman went further than Khachanov.

Also, Khachanov was seeded, no? He would be there in Nishikori's place, but Nishikori is tougher.

Historically, yes. It is an insult to compare Nishikori's resume on hard courts with Khachanov. Nishikori has made a USO final beating Djokovic, Khachanov has done nothing yet. But what about their current form? Khachanov is only 22, and already won a set agaisnt Nadal in a Grand Slam. Nishikori has never won a single set against Nadal in a Grand Slam match.

Overall, I would say Nihsikori is tougher than Khachanov. But in some aspects Khachanov is tougher than Nishikori. For instance, Khachanov's serve is much better than Nishikori's one. Khachanov's also hits much stronger the ball. Nishikori has an overall better baseline game though.

 

[Sport]

For Nadal.

Haven't you still learned from past mistakes? Fed fans were making jokes about Anderson, and then he defeated Federer at Wimbledon.

Go ahead, claim that Khachanov is a weak player. I will laugh when he beats Federer in their next meeting.

 

[Plamen1234]

Haven't you still learned from past mistakes? Fed fans were making jokes about Anderson, and then he defeated Federer at Wimbledon.

Go ahead, claim that Khachanov is a weak player. I will laugh when he beats Federer in their next meeting.

Anderson is a mug.The fact that he defeated Federer doesnt mean that he is not mug.

 

[tennis_pro]

Haven't you still learned from past mistakes? Fed fans were making jokes about Anderson, and then he defeated Federer at Wimbledon.

Go ahead, claim that Khachanov is a weak player. I will laugh when he beats Federer in their next meeting.

Argument invalid, Federer is 37 and has played like absolute s**t in the last 6 months. He was way below his best at Wimbledon and the US Open.

I haven't changed my mind about Anderson. If a mug beats Nadal in a Slam 5 years from now he'll still be a mug to me.

LOL at Khachanov beating a 38-year old Fed anywhere somehow proving that he's not a mug. Fed just lost to Millman in a Slam. I'll be happy if he just keeps playing.

 

[AlexanderTheGreat08]

Argument invalid, Federer is 37 and has played like absolute s**t in the last 6 months. He was way below his best at Wimbledon and the US Open.

I haven't changed my mind about Anderson. If a mug beats Nadal in a Slam 5 years from now he'll still be a mug to me.

LOL at Khachanov beating a 38-year old Fed anywhere somehow proving that he's not a mug. Fed just lost to Millman in a Slam. I'll be happy if he just keeps playing.

You need to relax man , Kachanov gave a good fight, He deserves some credit for fighting so hard and you can’t even give that

 

[tennisaddict]

Ferrer
Pospisil
Khachanov
Basilashvilli
Thiem
Delpo
Djokovic

 

[Sport]

Ferrer
Pospisil
Khachanov
Basilashvilli
Thiem
Delpo
Djokovic

I see there three top 10 players (Thiem, Del Potro and Nadal) plus a young man who is increasing his level (Khachanov).

How many top 10 players do you see here besides Nadal?

Fucsovics
Sandgren
Gasquet
Sousa
Millman
Nishikori
Nadal

 

[tennis_pro]

You need to relax man , Kachanov gave a good fight, He deserves some credit for fighting so hard and you can’t even give that

Against a crappy Nadal. Nadal from even a year ago would've cleaned his clock.

Choked on 95% of the big points and that's the main reason he lost too.

 

[Sport]

Against a crappy Nadal. Nadal from even a year ago would've cleaned his clock.

Choked on 95% of the big points and that's the main reason he lost too.

Yeah, and Thiem choked too. And every single match Nadal has won in close matches, their rivals "choked". I don't believe so. There is a universal cause underlying Nadal's epic victories in close matches. Nadal is one of the biggest fighters in the history of the sport. When he finds opposition, he never, ever, gives up. His rivals end up losing because they can't sustain the mental level of concentration Nadal demands.

 

[tennis_pro]

Yeah, and Thiem choked too. And every single match Nadal has won in close matches, their rivals "choked". I don't believe so. There is a universal cause underlying Nadal's epic victories in close matches. Nadal is one of the biggest fighters in the history of the sport. When he finds opposition, he never, ever, gives up. His rivals end up losing because they can't sustain the mental level of concentration Nadal demands.

Yes that overhead Thiem hit on MP down was definitely all Nadal.

 

[HashDump]

F: Millman
SF: Millman
QF: Millman
R16: Millman
R32: Millman
R64: Millman
R128:Millman​

You got the point.

 

[Bender]

Yes that overhead Thiem hit on MP down was definitely all Nadal.

Tbf, there was one other similar point where Thiem hit like three overheads and almost lost the point.

If I had to hit an overhead MP down against the same guy who did that, I'd probably try extra hard to make sure it doesn't come back and probably miss in the process.

It's easy to get used to the ruthlessness of the Big 4 at their respective peaks and fault everyone else when they miss at important points, but at the end of the day all of these guys are still human.