Most heart-breaking loss of each player's career?

[Gaudio2004]

Murray AO 2010**

Not 2011, if you take Djokovic's whole year into consideration. More 2010 final considering Murray had Federer's cards checked in all the years before in ATP tournaments and was playing (imo) his best tennis. So many chances to win the third set, but more importantly break points in the first two sets too.

Federer destroyed Murray in the second set - that Murray kept it to one break was astonishing, he earned one break point in the second set against Federer's serve, Federer had break points on all of Murray's service games bar 1.

First set Federer was also the better player; he took the initiative early and made the early break, Murray broke back despite Federer controlling the rallies and moving him.

What was the result of that? Even when Murray was 5-2* ahead in the third set, it was still Federer who was the aggressor, he found his range and Murray paid.

I don't think AO 2010 was Murray's most heart-breaking loss. He was thoroughly outplayed in both AO2010 and AO2011 finals in my view.

In AO2011 by the way, he had break points at 5*-4 (I think) to take the match from 5-0* to 5-5*, Djokovic saved them however and won the match in that game.

 

[beast of mallorca]

For Rafa : his loss to Fed last Wimbledon 2007.
For Fed : his loss to Rafa last Wimbledon 2008. I think if
Fed won that one Nadal would have loss AO 2009

 

[Mustard]

Sampras' defeat to Kafelnikov in Roland Garros 1996 semifinal was his worst, he calls it the most damaging loss of whole his career.

I'd also mention Sampras' 1994 French Open quarter final loss to Courier. Sampras was going for 4 majors in a row and was one of the favourites for the 1994 French Open, if not the favourite considering his 1994 Rome win and his great form in the opening months of 1994 in general.

Agassi's loss to Sampras in the 1995 US Open final when he was favourite sent him into tempoary meltdown which lasted almost two years, which even (indirectly, he also had other issues) led to the drug taking which was covered up as we all know.

And with this, I'd also mention Agassi's 1996 US Open semi final loss to Chang. That was the loss that really started a big downward spiral. The 1995 US Open final loss to Sampras saw Agassi descend from world number 1 to the lower half of the top 10 in 1996, but the loss to Chang started a spiral which see him crash to as low as 141 in the world rankings by the 10th November 1997.

 

[Mainad]

And with this, I'd also mention Agassi's 1996 US Open semi final loss to Chang. That was the loss that really started a big downward spiral. The 1995 US Open final loss to Sampras saw Agassi descend from world number 1 to the lower half of the top 10 in 1996, but the loss to Chang started a spiral which see him crash to as low as 141 in the world rankings by the 10th November 1997.

I wonder if his drug-taking played a part in the downward spiral?

 

[NadalAgassi]

Nadal: His loss to Federer in the 2007 Wimbledon final without question.

Federer: His loss to Nalbandian in the final of the 2005 TMC. It is the one which cost him tieing McEnroe's single season W-L record. Also he had only 4 losses all year, yet 3 were in 3 of the 5 biggest tournaments.

Murray: The 2012 Australian Open semis. Who knows, might end up being his best chance ever to win a slam if things dont improve for him soon.

Djokovic: His loss in the 2008 Olympic semis to Nadal. A close second would be his semifinal loss to Federer at the 2011 French.

Roddick: His loss to Federer in the 2009 Wimbledon final of course.

Hewitt: His loss to Safin in the 2005 Australian Open final.

Safin: I honestly have no idea what to pick with him.


Agassi: By FAR his loss to Sampras in the 1995 U.S Open final. This match killed what should have bene the heart of his career. Beyond devastating.

Sampras: His loss to Kafelnikov in the 1996 French Open semis in a way, but he never really had a shot that day as physically he had nothing left. So more realistically I would say his loss to Korda at the 1997 U.S Open, as he was everyones pick to win his 3rd slam of the year for the first time, and unlike 1994 he didnt lose largely due to physical/fitness problems, he was just a bit flat and outplayed, and also blew a break lead in the final set.

Becker: I would say his loss to Peter Doohan at Wimbledon 1987 which almost certainly prevented him from winning 3 Wimbledons in a row and having a real shot at winning 5 or 6 in a row with only Edberg in his way in the forseeable future. Either that or his loss to Stich in the 1991 Wimbledon final. I think deep down he always respected Sampras as a slightly superior version of himself, and while he still gave it his all to win everytime and the losses hurt, I think he was at some level able to disgest them all the same.

Edberg: Had to be his loss to Chang in the 1989 French Open final.

Courier: His loss to Bruguera in the 1993 French Open final. I dont think he was ever quite the same after that. Especialy as it came around the time he lost #1 to a kid named Sampras.

Lendl: His loss to Edberg in the 1990 Wimbledon semis, despite that the 1989 Wimbledon semis with Becker was a much better chance in hindsight.

 

[Mustard]

Safin: I honestly have no idea what to pick with him.

The 2002 Australian Open final against Thomas Johansson. After beating guys like Sampras and Haas, to lose to Johansson was a real surprise. Safin later said he lost because he was too nervous and couldn't cope with the pressure of being expected to win.

Lendl: His loss to Edberg in the 1990 Wimbledon semis, despite that the 1989 Wimbledon semis with Becker was a much better chance in hindsight.

His 1989 Wimbledon semi final against Becker is definitely Lendl's hardest loss. It made him become utterly obsessed with winning Wimbledon, to the point of skipping the entire clay-court season in 1990 in order to practice on grass. Unfortunately for Lendl, he peaked at Queen's Club, where he played awesome grass-court tennis for the only time in his career. At 1990 Wimbledon, he was sluggish again for the most part. Lendl's loss to Edberg in the 1990 Wimbledon semi final was a flat day for Lendl, strangely enough. He accepted he wasn't good enough, whereas he was devastated the previous year when he blew a 2 sets to 1 and 3-2 (with a break) lead against Becker.

 

[NadalAgassi]

I would have picked that except he didnt seem to even give a sh1t so how can it be his most heartbreaking.

If I had to pick one it would be his quarterfinal loss to Norman at the 2000 French, which was the defacto semifinal. I think he really believed he could win that French that year, and that he was capable of beating Kuerten in the final. He seemed crushed and heartbroken after the match. That or his semifinal loss to Agassi at the TMC which ended up costing him the year end #1.

 

[Federer20042006]

Federer: 2008 Wimbledon, hands down. In that moment, Federer would've been so happy he would've thought he wouldn't even care if he'd never won another Grand Slam again. 6 Wimbledon titles in a row, and winning that kind of epic match against his biggest rival, with the light going out on center court in the last year before they added the POS roof...that's his biggest regret, if he has one. It's his most iconic match, and it's a loss.

Nadal: 2009 French Open. He'd have 8 in a row right now. He despises Soderling. It's his only loss there. He would've beaten Borg's 4 in a row streak. As much as losing Wimbledon 2007 may have hurt him, 09 FO was so devastating he skipped Wimbledon because of it.

Djokovic: This year's French Open. Seriously, he had to have thought he had a great chance in the rain. He does that, he's got the "Novak slam."

Murray: Wimbledon this year. Even though he wasn't exceedingly close, he really believed he could win it this time.

Sampras: 1996 Wimbledon. Even though it wasn't close. That had to have devastated him. He thought he was invincible on grass prior to that, no doubt.

Agassi: 1995 US Open. That one was for all the marbles. He wins that, he's the true #1.

Muster: 1997 Davis Cup vs. Ivanisevic. Lost a best of 5 match on indoor clay, which was a big alarm and basically signaled the end of Muster's dominance on the surface.

Ivanisevic: 1998 Wimbledon final. "All I can do is kill myself." Especially after he saw Novotna finally win a day earlier and thought it was his time, which he mentioned afterwards. Thought it was his time final. The 1992 Wimbledon was heartbreaking for him as well, but he was still young and knew he'd have more chances to win it. After 1998, it looked like he'd never win it.

Rafter: 2001 Wimbledon final.

Davydenko: 2010 Australian Open QF. Nearly up a set and two breaks on Federer, then blows the volley and Federer goes on a roll. The way he was playing, he had a chance to win a slam there.

Nalbandian: 2006 Australian Open SF. Blew the 2 set lead against Baghdatis. He'd beaten Federer in the 2005 Masters Cup final, so he'd have had a fighting chance on Sunday if he'd finished Baghdatis off.

Hingis: 1999 French Open final to Graf.

 

[MichaelNadal]

Davenport, 2005 Wimbledon Final to Venus. She said during Wimbledon it still bothers her and she hasn't watched the match since.

 

[Netspirit]

Nadal: 2009 French Open. He'd have 8 in a row right now. He despises Soderling. It's his only loss there. He would've beaten Borg's 4 in a row streak. As much as losing Wimbledon 2007 may have hurt him, 09 FO was so devastating he skipped Wimbledon because of it.

It was probably Wimbledon 2007 final for Nadal - he said he had cried after it.

RG 2009 was just an injury. Disappointing, but he never cared about RG much, even his first. Wimbledon 2012 was similar, but since he had already won it twice, it was still manageable, I guess.

 

[Nadalgaenger]

Djokovic's lost to Fed at French '11 was his most heartbreaking loss.

We all know that cost him the Grand Slam. There was no way Rafa would have beaten him at the French last year.

 

[Mustard]

Davenport, 2005 Wimbledon Final to Venus. She said during Wimbledon it still bothers her and she hasn't watched the match since.

No wonder. Venus won 4-6, 7-6, 9-7. Davenport had served for the title at 6-5 up in the second set, and had a championship point in the third set.

 

[papertank]

I think 2008 Beijing Olympics was Djokovic's most heartbreaking loss. He missed an insanely easy overhead on match point against Nadal, and we all know how much pride he has for his country.

 

[Viper]

Disappointed no one has said:

For Nadal yet. AO 2011, Ferrer d. Nadal 3-0

 

[OriginalHockeytowner]

Agassi, 2005 US Open against Fed. Halted Agassi's storybook run, after 3 consecutive 5-set matches, including the single-greatest USO match, Agassi v. Blake.

If Agassi had won that tournament, he would've followed Pete's example and retired, instead of limping along for another year.

1995 against Pete is probably first place, but I thought I'd throw my hat in the ring

 

[Wolfman Jack]

Nadal: Probably FO 2009, maybe USO 2011.
Fed: Wimby 2008, AO 2009.
Djokovic: Beijing Olympics.
Murray: Probably Wimby 2012.

 

[BauerAlmeida]

I would have picked that except he didnt seem to even give a sh1t so how can it be his most heartbreaking.

If I had to pick one it would be his quarterfinal loss to Norman at the 2000 French, which was the defacto semifinal. I think he really believed he could win that French that year, and that he was capable of beating Kuerten in the final. He seemed crushed and heartbroken after the match. That or his semifinal loss to Agassi at the TMC which ended up costing him the year end #1.

The defeat against Ferrero in the French Open Semis maybe too.

 

[I get cramps]

April 24, 2006

"BTW, one of my great regrets is that I never tried to take Samuel Beckett, the Noble Prize winning playwright (Waiting for Godot) and novelist out to Roland Garros during the last years of his life, when he was confined to a Parisian nursing home. He apparently loved watching tennis from Roland Garros on the TV. I figure that was because the absurdist in him responded well to watching two grinders play one of those endless French Open matches: Jose Higueras vs. Guillermo Vilas? Felix Mantilla vs. Tomas Muster? Sergi Burguera vs. Anyone?"

(...) "Nowadays, though, the clay game is played at an extremely high level; the ultra-defensive, negative tennis brought to its apotheosis by Bruguera just won’t do the trick (...)". https://www.tennis.com/pro-game/2006/04/the-menace-of-globalization/44958/

Speak for yourself. I loved the clay scene in the 1990s. And as I recall, grass and carpet were getting criticised for a "lack of rallies". I saw it as a different kind of tennis style.

 

[NonP]

April 24, 2006

"BTW, one of my great regrets is that I never tried to take Samuel Beckett, the Noble Prize winning playwright (Waiting for Godot) and novelist out to Roland Garros during the last years of his life, when he was confined to a Parisian nursing home. He apparently loved watching tennis from Roland Garros on the TV. I figure that was because the absurdist in him responded well to watching two grinders play one of those endless French Open matches: Jose Higueras vs. Guillermo Vilas? Felix Mantilla vs. Tomas Muster? Sergi Burguera vs. Anyone?"

(...) "Nowadays, though, the clay game is played at an extremely high level; the ultra-defensive, negative tennis brought to its apotheosis by Bruguera just won’t do the trick (...)". https://www.tennis.com/pro-game/2006/04/the-menace-of-globalization/44958/

Not only was Bodo wrong about Bruguera - nobody who has watched the '93 FO final carefully could describe the Spaniard's tennis as "ultra-defensive" - he also doesn't seem to have been intimately familiar with late Beckett. Here's Krapp's sublime closing soliloquy:

Perhaps my best years are gone. When there was a chance of happiness. But I wouldn't want them back. Not with the fire in me now. No, I wouldn't want them back.

Not exactly the musing of an old Schopenhauerian who'd suddenly be itching to escape his nursing home for the hustle-bustle of Roland Garros. But why bother making sure your highfalutin reference makes sense when you can name-drop?

 

[skaj]

For Nadal, easily 2009 Roland Garros vs Soderling

For Federer, easily 2008 Wimbledon vs Nadal

For Djokovic, easily 2008 Olympics vs Nadal

How about other players, tell me their most heart-breaking loss ever.

Add 2016 Olympics for Djokoloco.

 

[Third Serve]

It's fun to look at old threads and count all the "banned", "deleted", and "guest" posters.

 

[Rafa4LifeEver]

For Nadal, easily 2009 Roland Garros vs Soderling

For Federer, easily 2008 Wimbledon vs Nadal

For Djokovic, easily 2008 Olympics vs Nadal

How about other players, tell me their most heart-breaking loss ever.

Agassi :- 2001 US open QF (As close as he could get to take down pete on a fast HC slam)

Roger Federer :- 2019 Wimbledon final (on the edge of beating djokovic and nadal back to back at an age of 38, outplayed nole throughout the match but did not win big points. Losing the match from 40-15 up on serve was sad to watch even for the non fed fans like me)

Rafael Nadal :- 2012 Australian Open Final (on the verge of beating djokovic and federer at his worst slam, won the first set, was inches away from racing Towards a commanding 5-2 lead in the final set. This match still hurts me a lot. After that epic comeback in thr 4th set from the brink, rafa should have won 5th set.)

Noval Djokovic :- 2013 French Open semi final (on the verge of beating prime nadal on clay, a feat only been achieved once in the century. Came back from behind in set 2, came back when nadal served for the match in the 4th set at 6-5 30-15. A break up in the 5th set, with a great chance to go a double break up, lost the break due to a silly mistake).

 

[eagletennis]

Djokovic's lost to Fed at French '11 was his most heartbreaking loss.

We all know that cost him the Grand Slam. There was no way Rafa would have beaten him at the French last year.

Nope. 2015 loss against Wawrinka was horrible. It really felt at the time that he will never win RG. He just started winning 2011. It was maddening that he lost against Fed but there wasn't this helpless feel that he may never win RG

 

[Nadalgaenger]

Nope. 2015 loss against Wawrinka was horrible. It really felt at the time that he will never win RG. He just started winning 2011. It was maddening that he lost against Fed but there wasn't this helpless feel that he may never win RG

That post was from 2012. Wawrinka was not yet Stanimal

 

[RiverRat]

Being an aging hippie who grew up in Western Europe (avatar is my '72 passport photo)

I thought that picture was of Tom Petty. And '72? Props pops!

 

[eagletennis]

That post was from 2012. Wawrinka was not yet Stanimal

my bad.

 

[JasonZ]

Nadal : wimbledon 2018 semifinal

also Nadal: wtf 2020 semifinal

 

[BeatlesFan]

Nadal : wimbledon 2018 semifinal

also Nadal: wtf 2020 semifinal

Why in the world would any loss Nadal suffered in a slam semi be 1/100th as bad as any of his slam losses in finals?

Just off the top of my head--- 2008/07, 2011 Wimbledon, AO in 2012, 2014 and 2017?

 

[daphne]

Tomic Sony Open 2014 easy.

 

[Nadalgaenger]

For Nadal, easily 2009 Roland Garros vs Soderling

For Federer, easily 2008 Wimbledon vs Nadal

For Djokovic, easily 2008 Olympics vs Nadal

How about other players, tell me their most heart-breaking loss ever.

I don’t think it’s “easy”. Other candidates
2007 W for Nadal or AO 2012
2009 AO or 2019 Wimbledon for Fed
2013-2015 FO for Nole