Matches, where players did (almost) nothing wrong, but lost?

[kangaroo1973]

Lets try something different.
Any ideas, where players did almost nothing wrong, played lights out but in the end lost?
Few matches come to mind.
Thiem x Djokovic 2020 AO
Thiem x Medvedev WTF 2020( excellent match, highly recommend btw)
Federer x Safin 2005 AO. Arguably one of the greatest matches of all time. Both were playing at their absolute best, one of the had to lose though
Lendl x McEnroe 1984 FO
Federer Djokovic FO 2011, think this one is obvious. Djokovic on 41 matches winning streak, but runs into a zoning Fed. Perhaps the best 4 set match ever
Any other ideas?

 

[ChrisJR3264]

do we dare put the 09 wimby final: Roddick/Federer. 5 sets. Over 4 hours.

I watched that match. I felt for Roddick. Hard to remember if he did minimal wrong but he played his heart out and lost that last set 14-16.

 

[ibbi]

Murray Wimbledon semifinal 2010 and 2015.

 

[NatF]

Lets try something different.
Any ideas, where players did almost nothing wrong, played lights out but in the end lost?
Few matches come to mind.
Thiem x Djokovic 2020 AO
Thiem x Medvedev WTF 2020( excellent match, highly recommend btw)
Federer x Safin 2005 AO. Arguably one of the greatest matches of all time. Both were playing at their absolute best, one of the had to lose though
Lendl x McEnroe 1984 FO
Federer Djokovic FO 2011, think this one is obvious. Djokovic on 41 matches winning streak, but runs into a zoning Fed. Perhaps the best 4 set match ever
Any other ideas?

Thiem totally lost intensity from the 4th set on, this one doesn't count.

 

[RS]

Murray Wimbledon semifinal 2010 and 2015.

 

[SonnyT]

Thiem totally lost intensity from the 4th set on, this one doesn't count.

Yeh, because Djokovic won! So it didn't count!!!

Djokovic-Federer '14-15 WB

 

[buscemi]

do we dare put the 09 wimby final: Roddick/Federer. 5 sets. Over 4 hours.

I watched that match. I felt for Roddick. Hard to remember if he did minimal wrong but he played his heart out and lost that last set 14-16.

That botched backhand volley while up set point in the second set tiebreaker was a pretty big deal.

 

[gamelovergold]

Check all the stats of 2019 wimbeldon. Roger was all over novak and still lost.
Novak was outplayed in every department. Up 40 15 2 championship point . That loss hurted badly than loosing the slam race

 

[RaulRamirez]

Three AO semifinal matches all come to mind (even if I'm not one to rewatch matches in full.)

Of course, Fed v Safin 2005
and 2009 Verdasco and 2017 Dimitrov - both versus Rafa.

Also, McEnroe v Borg, Wimby 1980 final

 

[Winners or Errors]

That botched backhand volley while up set point in the second set tiebreaker was a pretty big deal.

Right. One shot cost him the match. That's got to hurt. I very much remember the aftermath of that match and Roddick looking more lost than ever.

 

[junior74]

Rafa-Fed AO17. After he broke back, Fed become unplayable.

 

[Clay lover]

Nadal Djokovic AO 2012 - Nadal threw the kitchen sink at him and still lost - that backhand approach in the 5th set hurts but honestly he didn't do much wrong the whole match and was outlasted.

Djokovic Nadal FO 2014. People mention the 2013 more but I think Djokovic didn't play all too badly in 2014 but Nadal had even better form - only wrong was the double fault at match point.

A lot of matches 04-07 featuring Fed also gave me that feel. Opponents could try their darndest and Federer would just be downright unplayable.

 

[Third Serve]

There’s always something the loser did wrong, somewhere. But the closest match that comes to what you’re saying is the AO 2005 SF. There’s really not much Fed could have improved on.

 

[nolefam_2024]

Wawarinka Wimbledon 2014 qf vs Federer.
He played so good.

 

[nolefam_2024]

 

[ey039524]

Mahut vs isner 68-70 in the 5th. I'm sure they both made tons of errors, but to fight for so long and lose has to be tough to get over.

 

[MichaelNadal]

Wimby 2018,
Serena Wimby 08 final

 

[Kralingen]

US OPEN 2001 QF

Andre would’ve won against 999 of the top 1000 that day. Sadly, he ran into PETE.

 

[Hitman]

Most matches against Nadal on clay.

It's not like they did anything wrong, but they weren't winning no matter they did.

 

[nolefam_2024]

Most matches against Nadal on clay.

It's not like they did anything wrong, but they weren't winning no matter they did.

Nope they did something wrong as well.

One match I would say is most representative of this is ferrer rg 2014. The guy beat Raf for a set and then ran out of steam. Little ferru.

 

[J011yroger]

J

 

[RaulRamirez]

There’s always something the loser did wrong, somewhere. But the closest match that comes to what you’re saying is the AO 2005 SF. There’s really not much Fed could have improved on.

Agreed -- just an insane level for both that day. Defeating 2005 Fed's A (at least A-minus) game at a HC major was quite a feat.

 

[kangaroo1973]

There’s always something the loser did wrong, somewhere. But the closest match that comes to what you’re saying is the AO 2005 SF. There’s really not much Fed could have improved on.

Maybe not hitting tweener on mp

 

[ChrisJR3264]

That botched backhand volley while up set point in the second set tiebreaker was a pretty big deal.

The thread says “almost nothing wrong”.

 

[nolefam_2024]

Oh God why Musetti

 

[ChrisJR3264]

Is it too early to put Medvedev/Sinner 2024 AO final:
Pretty sure myself and many gave him no chance and sinner would wipe the floor with him like he did to Novak in the SF’s. Considering a medvedev had 3 long 5 set 5 hour battles that ran past 12-1-2 am into the morning, med came close to winning his second GS. Fatigue did him in with being on court 5 hours more but I have to give him the benefit for that performance against a relatively fresh opponent.

 

[MichaelNadal]

Maybe not hitting tweener on mp

Stylin' and profilin'

 

[Quaichang]

Thiem totally lost intensity from the 4th set on, this one doesn't count.

I think Novak called an MTO when Thiem was up 2 sets to 1.

 

[kangaroo1973]

I think Novak called an MTO when Thiem was up 2 sets to 1.

As usual. That is why a lot of people hate Novaxx. These shenanigans

 

[StrongRule]

You can't lose a match where you didn't do anything wrong. This is almost impossible.

 

[a10best]

Fed's 13-12 loss to Djokovic at Wimbledon.
Fed beat him in 95% of stats. after the match, Novak is quoted calling that win lucky.
The karma gods didn't forget and ripped away a Wimb win from Novak when Carlos got lucky in the 2nd set TB.

 

[Biotic]

That time when Ned got Rosolized must be up there

 

[dking68]

Ferrer Djokovic AO 2013 SF

 

[nolefam_2024]

That time when Ned got Rosolized must be up there

Clay courter
His strokes were begging to be punished by Czech players.

 

[socallefty]

90% of matches on tour where one player is clearly outplayed by his opponent.

 

[Third Serve]

Maybe not hitting tweener on mp

It was overly flashy but he was losing that point anyway. Safin had covered the net too well.

 

[Third Serve]

The thread says “almost nothing wrong”.

Even so, he could have returned much better in that match. A great performance from him but you can still see a few ways he could have improved.

 

[ChrisJR3264]

Ferrer Djokovic AO 2013 SF

I always felt that was Ferrer’s identity. Even his best was only so good up until he played opponents with more fire power. He was still a thorn in their side bc of how fast and consistent he was on court- just not good enough to bring home a GS title.

 

[DSH]

I think Novak called an MTO when Thiem was up 2 sets to 1.

The story of his career, Djokovic and MTO go hand in hand together.

 

[ChrisJR3264]

The story of his career, Djokovic and MTO go hand in hand together.

If you mentally fold bc your opponent calls a MTO that’s on you.
Mindset shouldn’t change. I am against players calling MTOs that last 15 minutes bc it’s too hot out (sinner rune 2025). At that rate they should be forced to retire.

 

[TennisGrandpA]

Nadal vs Fed Wimbledon 2007 , he was a better player off ground and still lost.

 

[MichaelNadal]

That time when Ned got Rosolized must be up there

Screwed again by the roof lol

 

[mike danny]

Fed's 13-12 loss to Djokovic at Wimbledon.
Fed beat him in 95% of stats. after the match, Novak is quoted calling that win lucky.
The karma gods didn't forget and ripped away a Wimb win from Novak when Carlos got lucky in the 2nd set TB.

Fed messed up the first set tiebreak at the very least so nothing wrong is pushing it.

 

[RSJfan]

Not sure what this means to “do nothing wrong” but still lost.

 

[beltsman]

Zverev USO F loss to Thiem

 

[nolefam_2024]

Jeff Hardy in 2008 vs triple h.

 

[objection_]

Tipsarevic against Federer in AO 2008 R3. Dude was bludgeoning the ball and playing the match of his life. Must watch match.

 

[DSH]

Nadal vs Fed Wimbledon 2007 , he was a better player off ground and still lost.

 

[Winner Sinner]

Medvedev final AO24.

 

[J011yroger]

Zverev USO F loss to Thiem

Double faulting his 68mph 2nd serve is doing nothing wrong?

J