Matches you feel that have diminished historically over time

Hitman

Bionic Poster
What matches, if any, do you think have lost some of their historical significance over time.
 
What matches, if any, do you think have lost some of their historical significance over time.
Agassi v Medvedev 1999 RG final. At the time that match was getting more global attention than any Big 3 match ever, it was of epic historic proportions the way it was being hyped with Agassi going for a career slam.
Obviously now it is barely even remembered.
Becker v Curren 1985 W final. That was literally getting more attention than World Cup soccer matches did the following year, not only for Becker's age but also the whole German angle to it 40 years on from the end of hostilities in WW2. It was of monumental historic importance, but today is just it seems a footnote, and you can bet the British Government will ensure it stays that way given what eventually happened to Becker in England (unfairly i may add).
Sampras v Agassi 2022 USO final. Hyped up beyond belief and for a while was hailed (by some in the press) as the greatest match ever after their QF the year before i think it was, but now barely even remembered.
 
2017 AO is one of my very favorites of all time. But my guess is that this one has historically diminished somewhat since then, due to where the slam title race is now.

This win is way up there on my personal list; right up there with the 1981 Wimbledon final.
Disagree although i see why you say that. However, that AO 2017 match between them only elevates Federer to a higher plane regardless of the slam race. He is 5 years older than Nadal and to do what he did against the only player in history who actually troubled him at his very peak was the stuff of legend. From the Nadal perspective it is probably now less of a bitter pill than it could have been, but AO 2022 obviously exorcised his AO demons.
Personally i thought the AO 2017 match was woeful quality by their standards but for Federer fans i think it should be a cherished match although i do think his greatest memories will always be at Wimbledon, perhaps none more so than his win over Sampras. The start of the Legend.
 
This match determines who is open era GOAT. Nuff Said NO EXCUSES!!!
Was that really the way it was? I remain to be convinced that the Australian Open can ever have that gravitas bestowed to any final there, in fact im not sure the FO and USO do either.
It may seem frightfully old fashioned but i think for stuff like GOAT face offs, Wimbledon will always be where such arguments are settled. Wimbledon finals to this day absolutely dwarf the other 3 slams for viewing figures globally and media attention.
 

MeatTornado

Talk Tennis Guru
Was that really the way it was? I remain to be convinced that the Australian Open can ever have that gravitas bestowed to any final there, in fact im not sure the FO and USO do either.
It may seem frightfully old fashioned but i think for stuff like GOAT face offs, Wimbledon will always be where such arguments are settled. Wimbledon finals to this day absolutely dwarf the other 3 slams for viewing figures globally and media attention.
It is incredibly old fashioned, yes. All 4 majors have equal importance in this era. The total number was the only thing that mattered to the Big 3.
 

Hood_Man

G.O.A.T.
I kind of felt that Rafa winning the US Open in 2010 diminished Federer's 2009 French Open a bit.

It was like, we'd waited 10 years for someone else to join the Career Grand Slam club, after watching Federer get further and further away each passing year from possibly achieving it, then he achieves it and the whole tennis world celebrates like it's the final scene of Return of the Jedi...

15 months later Nadal has a Career Grand Slam too.
 

Hood_Man

G.O.A.T.
I think Murray ending Great Britain's drought at the 2012 USO was almost completely forgotten about once he snapped the streak at Wimbledon the next year. That's the one everyone remembers, even though it was a more straight forward match.
His own reaction to the win was hilarious.

Federer wins his first major, he falls to floor in tears.

Nadal wins his first major, he falls to the floor in tears.

Noval wins his first major, he falls to the floor (not in tears but still in celebration).

Murray wins his first major, "Mum, I can't find my watch!"
 

Rosstour

G.O.A.T.
I kind of felt that Rafa winning the US Open in 2010 diminished Federer's 2009 French Open a bit.

It was like, we'd waited 10 years for someone else to join the Career Grand Slam club, after watching Federer get further and further away each passing year from possibly achieving it, then he achieves it and the whole tennis world celebrates like it's the final scene of Return of the Jedi...

15 months later Nadal has a Career Grand Slam too.

Yeah. His 2017 was like that too. He wins the first Slam of the year over Rafa and ends up winning two Slams that year and reaching #1...but so did Rafa and that's what stuck. His 2017 and CGS "deserved" to stand alone but Rafa always had other plans
 

Terenigma

G.O.A.T.
Wimbledon 08.

There was a time where that match was constantly referenced but now Djokovic has took such a significant lead in the GOAT debate, I don't see it mentioned anywhere near as much.
 

jm1980

Talk Tennis Guru
But that's exactly why 2009RG is still so huge. It's peak/prime Rafa's sole loss at Roland Garros...one that prevented him from winning 10 consecutive RG titles.
An interesting stat is, Djokovic has 15 consecutive quarterfinals at RG (and counting).

Nadal's longest streak is six consecutive QFs, and even if he had won the 2009 Soderling match, he would be "only" at 11 consecutive.
 
I kind of felt that Rafa winning the US Open in 2010 diminished Federer's 2009 French Open a bit.

It was like, we'd waited 10 years for someone else to join the Career Grand Slam club, after watching Federer get further and further away each passing year from possibly achieving it, then he achieves it and the whole tennis world celebrates like it's the final scene of Return of the Jedi...

15 months later Nadal has a Career Grand Slam too.

I can get on board with a Nadal slam win being the moral equivalent of The Rise of Palpatine, for sure. At least they waited 36 years to release that dross!
 

dkmura

Professional
Maybe it's due to the competition he faced?
Becker faced the hottest player in the draw in Kevin Curren. Curren defeated Connors (SF) and McEnroe (QF) in consecutive rounds as the #8 seed. With a deadly serve, forcing returns/groundies and excellent net game, Curren had momentum on his side up until he made the final. As the youngest winner (up to that point), Becker brought his physical, acrobatic game to the final and won 6-3, 6-7 (4), 7-6 (3), 6-4
 

Federev

G.O.A.T.
Disagree although i see why you say that. However, that AO 2017 match between them only elevates Federer to a higher plane regardless of the slam race. He is 5 years older than Nadal and to do what he did against the only player in history who actually troubled him at his very peak was the stuff of legend. From the Nadal perspective it is probably now less of a bitter pill than it could have been, but AO 2022 obviously exorcised his AO demons.
Personally i thought the AO 2017 match was woeful quality by their standards but for Federer fans i think it should be a cherished match although i do think his greatest memories will always be at Wimbledon, perhaps none more so than his win over Sampras. The start of the Legend.

Fed was magnificent in the sets he won and off the charts epic in the 5th. Especially for 35 years old.

They both played a brilliant 5th actually.

And this was RIDICULOUS.

 
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nolefam_2024

Bionic Poster
Djokovic Delpo Wimbledon 2013

Overrated from the start. The winner lost in the final so inconsequential. Didn't build to anything. Delpo delpod and got injured for 3 freaking years. Very disappointed.

Need to be healthy to be remembered.
 

nolefam_2024

Bionic Poster
Djokovic Nishikori USOpen 2014

Same reason.

Djokovic actually went on a tear and Nishikori never threatened to win a slam again. Murray came back to the top and reached 4 slam finals in next 7. It became a Djokovic federer Murray show and Nishikori was complete nobody.
 

Rosstour

G.O.A.T.
Djokovic Nishikori USOpen 2014

Same reason.

Djokovic actually went on a tear and Nishikori never threatened to win a slam again. Murray came back to the top and reached 4 slam finals in next 7. It became a Djokovic federer Murray show and Nishikori was complete nobody.

I hate US2014 so much lol

Fed loses....to a doper

Would have got Knish in the Final and had an actual easy win instead of drawing Djoko in 3 GS Fs in 14-15
 

MichaelNadal

Bionic Poster
2017 AO final, I remember Roy Emerson declaring that this match would decide who will be the GOAT. As AO 2017, it is one of Federer's most amazing triumphs and a comeback grandslam, but despite the win, both Rafa and Nole eventually overtook him.
I really wish Rafa won that match lol, the kit was so fuego

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Agassi v Medvedev 1999 RG final. At the time that match was getting more global attention than any Big 3 match ever, it was of epic historic proportions the way it was being hyped with Agassi going for a career slam.
Obviously now it is barely even remembered.
Becker v Curren 1985 W final. That was literally getting more attention than World Cup soccer matches did the following year, not only for Becker's age but also the whole German angle to it 40 years on from the end of hostilities in WW2. It was of monumental historic importance, but today is just it seems a footnote, and you can bet the British Government will ensure it stays that way given what eventually happened to Becker in England (unfairly i may add).

:-D

Indeed, as soon as the trial verdict was announced, MI5 agents were dispatched to the All England Club to have Boris's name removed from the Challenge Cup. And GCHQ continues to use the Five Eyes surveillance system to track any mention of the 1985 final on the internet, and have it erased.

Along with whoever posted it. There's a double-0 agent geolocating your IP address as I write this; you're a dead man walking.
 

JasonZ

Hall of Fame
Agassi v Medvedev 1999 RG final. At the time that match was getting more global attention than any Big 3 match ever, it was of epic historic proportions the way it was being hyped with Agassi going for a career slam.
Obviously now it is barely even remembered.
Becker v Curren 1985 W final. That was literally getting more attention than World Cup soccer matches did the following year, not only for Becker's age but also the whole German angle to it 40 years on from the end of hostilities in WW2. It was of monumental historic importance, but today is just it seems a footnote, and you can bet the British Government will ensure it stays that way given what eventually happened to Becker in England (unfairly i may add).
Sampras v Agassi 2022 USO final. Hyped up beyond belief and for a while was hailed (by some in the press) as the greatest match ever after their QF the year before i think it was, but now barely even remembered.
i am sure in 40 years or less all the great slam battles between the big 3 will also be barely remembered.

the only sport and tournament that produces eternal moments is the fifa world cup. moments like maradonas hand of god and goal of the century will be known by all football fans (and many many non football fans) even in 1000 years.
 

ChaelAZ

G.O.A.T.
The only thing that diminishes are the people that understand the impact of those matches at the time. Or they weren't there at all and only judge things based on what little bit of history they were around for.We can talk about level differences and such, But history doesn't change. I'd bet most above counter-points are more about fandom than actual historical value.
 

Gizo

Legend
i am sure in 40 years or less all the great slam battles between the big 3 will also be barely remembered.

the only sport and tournament that produces eternal moments is the fifa world cup. moments like maradonas hand of god and goal of the century will be known by all football fans (and many many non football fans) even in 1000 years.

I agree with that.

The 2008 Wimbledon final is in a league of its own, even ahead of any other memorable matches between members of the big 3. I know a lot of people who follow tennis casually at best, who still talk about that match. But I’m not convinced that will remain ‘eternal’, especially decades after both Federer and Nadal retired for good, let alone any of the other big 3 matches.

The Borg-Mac 1980 Wimbledon final has remained a huge deal for such a long time afterwards, clearly helped by Mac remaining such a big name in the tennis world since retiring, through his various commentary / analyst gigs in different countries, and to lesser extent due to him playing in so many senior matches / exos. Plus also collectively and individually, Borg, Mac and Connors were more important for tennis than the big 3, with them driving a huge global tennis boom and making the sport ‘cooler’. But once Mac is no longer in the public eye, I’d imagine the fame of that match will inevitably fade.
 

NYTennisfan

Hall of Fame
Any big match win by Fed, of course.

But seriously...The Djoko upsets at RG and AO seem like minor hiccups now.

The Soderling Shocker at RG2009 means nothing as Rafa literally won 10 RGs after that
If anything, the Soderling match becomes even more memorable and historically significant because Nadal won the next 10.
 

Rosstour

G.O.A.T.
If anything, the Soderling match becomes even more memorable and historically significant because Nadal won the next 10.

I dunno. Think about the two Fed Wimbledon matches we talk about the most: 2008 and 40-15

Both are so celebrated because Fed was dethroned, finished, rendered completely impotent and worthless...whatever disparaging thing you want to say about him, those matches are your primary source of material.

But RG2009 ended up just being a blip for Rafa, excused bc of his parents' divorce. He wasn't done; in fact he was less than a third of the way through his RG haul.
 

NYTennisfan

Hall of Fame
I dunno. Think about the two Fed Wimbledon matches we talk about the most: 2008 and 40-15

Both are so celebrated because Fed was dethroned, finished, rendered completely impotent and worthless...whatever disparaging thing you want to say about him, those matches are your primary source of material.

But RG2009 ended up just being a blip for Rafa, excused bc of his parents' divorce. He wasn't done; in fact he was less than a third of the way through his RG haul.
A blip for Nadal but in terms of historical significance, it'll be hard to ever forget the one time that somebody beat arguably the best player in sports history (Claydal) in his prime. Even casual tennis fans probably remember Soderling solely because of that one match. One of the greatest upsets in sports history tbh.
 
most of those early slam losses by Djoker don’t seem to mean anything since he more than made up for it the last 8 years. Dude won more post 30 years old than he did before didnt he? LOL
 

SonnyT

Legend
Most big 3 matches seem less significant now due to the amount of inflation that has happened over the last few years
Except Djokovic's first 17 slams. It got upgraded by Tennis Abstract, while the slams of the other Big3 got downgraded, especially Federer, whose slams got downgraded by more than 10%. Nadal got a 5% downgrade; Djokovic got a 6% upgrade.

Djokovic's first 17 slams, during which he beat Federer 8 times, Nadal 6 times and Murray 5 times.
 
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Razer

G.O.A.T.
I dunno. Think about the two Fed Wimbledon matches we talk about the most: 2008 and 40-15

Both are so celebrated because Fed was dethroned, finished, rendered completely impotent and worthless...whatever disparaging thing you want to say about him, those matches are your primary source of material.

But RG2009 ended up just being a blip for Rafa, excused bc of his parents' divorce. He wasn't done; in fact he was less than a third of the way through his RG haul.

The blame goes to Federer himself.

First of all, GOAT level players in their prime are never supposed to lose in the final of their pet Slam like that, it is a huge blackmark because all eyes on you on the big stage and that gets talked about. I dont think Soderling could have beaten Nadal if that was a final.

Secondly, had Federer dominated Djokovic in the 2010s decade on Gras then he would have been on something like 11-12, I mean without the 3 losses and lets say he converts that Anderson match or beat tsonga in 2011 and goes on to win the final, then Federer should have 12-13 wimbledons. This could have diluted Nadal's 2008 win over time but today look where we are, Novak himself sits on 7 wimbledons and there that 2020 W which was not played which his fans constantly talk about.... so Fed's stature at wimbledon is largely diminished by his own doing.... big stages and he fell short...
 
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