Matches that ruined players

[StrongRule]

The best player post USO was Davydenko with Shanghai and WTF wins. Two big titles.

Ironically, he lost to Djokovic in WTF. Really stupid format.

 

[Thundergod]

Cilic’s defeat to Pella at Wimbledon in 2018, with him 2 sets to love up and the 3rd set on serve at 3-2 before rain stopped play, and things completely turned on their head when play was resumed the next day. He went into that Wimbledon as a title contender, and his career never recovered from that loss.

Mac’s defeat to Lendl at the 1985 US Open, although his defeat to Gilbert at the year end Masters, during which he said that Gilbert didn’t belong on the same court as him, tipped him over the edge and persuaded him to take the 6 month sabbatical.

Safina’s drubbing by Venus at Wimbledon in 2009. She won a small title at Portoroz later that month, but really she was done after that, though back injury problems also contributed there.

That one's pretty good, though he did randomly make the RG SF a couple years ago to complete his SF set all all slams. I kind of thought he took his foot off the gas a lot after getting married, but that match was certainly pretty bad.

 

[InsideInForehand]

Botic vs Rune Munich 2023. Kicked something after that match as well which injured him.

 

[Hitman]

Botic vs Rune Munich 2023. Kicked something after that match as well which injured him.

What a choke job that was from Botic.

 

[InsideInForehand]

What a choke job that was from Botic.

Yep. Terrible to see as a Dutchie. Guy has some mental problems which hold him back. I think he should talk to a sport psychologist

 

[Hitman]

Yep. Terrible to see as a Dutchie. Guy has some mental problems which hold him back. I think he should talk to a sport psychologist

No question about it. That was horrible to watch.

 

[Turning Pro]

Nadal Wimbleson 2022 vs Fritz, even though he won it, it was the beginning of the end.........

 

[Hitman]

Nadal Wimbleson 2022 vs Fritz, even though he won it, it was the beginning of the end.........

Fritz was just bad luck for Nadal throughout 2022. Nothing good happened for Nadal when he played him.

 

[BauerAlmeida]

Coria says hello. That RG final took his soul.

He came back strong in 2005 (and made a final on grass right after RG) and would have won two M1000s if not for Nadal very likely.

In any case, Nadal's ascent and the defeat in Rome 2005 are what killed him. I'm 100% sure he does far better in RG if he wins the Rome final or if Nadal doesn't break through at all. He would make the final in the lower side of the draw if he beats Nadal IMO instead of losing earlyish.

The match vs Ginepri at the USO was the nail in the coffin.

But it's impossible to know how Coria's career would have continued if he had not developed service yips, I think he could have been top 10 for a while even having lost those matches. But with Nadal's dominance, Federer's improvement on clay and Djokovic appearing soon after his chance for Roland Garros was kinda gone. I see him being blocked by Nadal the same way Federer and Djokovic were. But he could have won a few M1000s more on clay.

 

[Hitman]

Coria's shoulder was the reason for his ultimate demise. He started developing chronic shoulder pain, and would be getting extended treatments for it. Then his wife left him and his life just spiralled out of control.

 

[Vincent-C]

Yeah, that match really ruined Carlos. It's a miracle he won Wimbledon just three weeks later.

Djok took a dive.

 

[bhpower]

Del Potro vs Coric Shangai 2018.
Unfortunately Del Potro destroyed his right knee in a fall there and his career finished.

 

[Arak]

He came back strong in 2005 (and made a final on grass right after RG) and would have won two M1000s if not for Nadal very likely.

In any case, Nadal's ascent and the defeat in Rome 2005 are what killed him. I'm 100% sure he does far better in RG if he wins the Rome final or if Nadal doesn't break through at all. He would make the final in the lower side of the draw if he beats Nadal IMO instead of losing earlyish.

The match vs Ginepri at the USO was the nail in the coffin.

But it's impossible to know how Coria's career would have continued if he had not developed service yips, I think he could have been top 10 for a while even having lost those matches. But with Nadal's dominance, Federer's improvement on clay and Djokovic appearing soon after his chance for Roland Garros was kinda gone. I see him being blocked by Nadal the same way Federer and Djokovic were. But he could have won a few M1000s more on clay.

Even serving yips can be cured. Look at Zverev. However, I admit it’s very difficult to do. Yips are like stuttering, they tend to come back occasionally even when fully healed.

 

[Shaolin]

Fed d. Gaudio 6-0, 6-0 Tour Finals 2005

Gaudio won 5 titles in 2005 but never won another after that beating.