Most influential matches

[1477aces]

I'm not talking about the greatest or best matches. I'm saying matches that seriously changed player's destinies. Ie, for this reason, the 2008 wimbledon final has no business being on this list, it changed nothing really, federer went on to win 3 of the next 4 slams.
Matches that I think should be on this list.

1. 1995 us open final. This match broke agassi. http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...ter&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=tennis
it really firmly set the agassi sampras final as being in favor of sampras and sealed their rivalry.
2. 2004 wimbledon final. Huge match with the #1 ranking on the line, it's the last time roddick-federer would be a legitimate rivalry, and I really think that if roddick had stayed with brad gilbert (which he would have if he won) he could have won several majors and maybe at least slowed down federer; certainly there rivalry and legacies wouldn't have been so pathetic and disparate (although federer most likely would have came out higher anyways).
3. 1981 us open final. borg would walk away after this loss and he could have possibly won many more slams, and it even might have dismotivated john mcenroe who didn't feel as if he had a real rival after this, maybe why he only won 1 major (83 wimbledon) over the next 2 years.

I'm sure there are many I'm missing. I'm not talking about great matches to reiterate my point, i'm talking about matches that shaped the trajectories of player's careers.

 

[pc1]

Check this out.

http://www.tennisnow.com/News/Matches-That-Changed-The-Course-Of-Tennis-History.aspx

 

[eldanger25]

I'm not talking about the greatest or best matches. I'm saying matches that seriously changed player's destinies. Ie, for this reason, the 2008 wimbledon final has no business being on this list, it changed nothing really, federer went on to win 3 of the next 4 slams.
Matches that I think should be on this list.

1. 1995 us open final. This match broke agassi. http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...ter&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=tennis
it really firmly set the agassi sampras final as being in favor of sampras and sealed their rivalry.
2. 2004 wimbledon final. Huge match with the #1 ranking on the line, it's the last time roddick-federer would be a legitimate rivalry, and I really think that if roddick had stayed with brad gilbert (which he would have if he won) he could have won several majors and maybe at least slowed down federer; certainly there rivalry and legacies wouldn't have been so pathetic and disparate (although federer most likely would have came out higher anyways).
3. 1981 us open final. borg would walk away after this loss and he could have possibly won many more slams, and it even might have dismotivated john mcenroe who didn't feel as if he had a real rival after this, maybe why he only won 1 major (83 wimbledon) over the next 2 years.

I'm sure there are many I'm missing. I'm not talking about great matches to reiterate my point, i'm talking about matches that shaped the trajectories of player's careers.

Good list, agree with all three of these. If I understand the question, off the top of my head, I'd put the 1982 Wimbledon final for Connors, the 1993 SW19 final for Courier and Sampras, the 2000 YEC SF/F for Kuerten, and the 2001 Wimbledon final weekend for Goran and Henman.

 

[1477aces]

Good list, agree with all three of these. If I understand the question, off the top of my head, I'd put the 1982 Wimbledon final for Connors, the 1993 SW19 final for Courier and Sampras, the 2000 YEC SF/F for Kuerten, and the 2001 Wimbledon final weekend for Goran and Henman.

Most of these sound good. But 2001 Wimbledon final? As you can tell from my username that's actually one of my favorite matches of all time, but I mean did it change much? Sure goran got his only slam, but he never won one afterwards anyways and I doubt pat rafter would have been much more successful in the future had he won. I thought he retired cause of shoulder problems, not burnout.

 

[BGod]

The 2009 U.S. Open Final.

Federer gunning for a 3 straight Slam and 6th consecutive U.S. Open. Would have probably won Aussie Open 2010 as he did and thus held all 4 titles at the same time.

He probably doesn't choke those match points in the 2010 & 2011 U.S. Opens but who knows. Maybe does better at Wimbledon those years too. Does he beat Nadal at the French?

 

[kiki]

Really influential matches in tennis history,in terms of raising the game in another level are only four:
In the US,1927 Davis Cup F vs France
In Australia, 1953 Davis Cup f vs USA
Worldwide, 1972 WCT final
Worldwide 1980 Wimbledon final

 

[DMP]

3. 1981 us open final. borg would walk away after this loss and he could have possibly won many more slams, and it even might have dismotivated john mcenroe who didn't feel as if he had a real rival after this, maybe why he only won 1 major (83 wimbledon) over the next 2 years.

I'm not sure that is right. It seems a common (mis)perception. I think there is a lot of evidence that that Borg lost because he was already walking away mentally, not the other way around. It was the the arguments about qualifying with the ILTF which drove him away, and the arguments were because mentally he was ready to go.

However if you are looking for matches that really changed careers then the 2004 FO final has to be high on any list. Coria was never the same afterwards.

 

[eldanger25]

Most of these sound good. But 2001 Wimbledon final? As you can tell from my username that's actually one of my favorite matches of all time, but I mean did it change much? Sure goran got his only slam, but he never won one afterwards anyways and I doubt pat rafter would have been much more successful in the future had he won. I thought he retired cause of shoulder problems, not burnout.

Well, I may've misunderstood the narrowness of your question - I thought you meant historically/reputationally.

In that sense, I think both players are viewed quite differently had the result of that match been flipped. Rafter has another leg to stand on historically besides his two US Open titles 365 days apart and 7 days at the top of the charts.

And, in particular, Goran's career may've been viewed as the most heartbreaking in recent memory were he to have lost yet another winnable Wimbledon final in what was sure to be (and what turned out to be) his last shot at it.

 

[PDJ]

1985 FO Final: Evert beating Navratilova not only halted some soul-destroying Losses in majors to her arch rival, but returned Evert to No.1, kept her in the game longer, and her results against Navratilova were pretty even after that.

 

[kiki]

And lets not forget the Battle of Sexes!!
In a sense,one of the most influential sports events in history

 

[jaggy]

Lendl winning the French

 

[Phoenix1983]

Rome final 2006, maybe?

Fed shanked a forehand on match point IIRC. A win at that stage over Nadal on clay might have shifted the balance of the rivalry towards him going into the FO final of that year...and Fed might have won the CYGS.

 

[kiki]

Lendl winning the French

It was a breathrough for him, specially the way he beat the very impressive Mc Enroe of 1984.

 

[eldanger25]

Rome final 2006, maybe?

Fed shanked a forehand on match point IIRC. A win at that stage over Nadal on clay might have shifted the balance of the rivalry towards him going into the FO final of that year...and Fed might have won the CYGS.

That's a very good nominee - agree it could've altered the rivalry. I'll also add 2012 RG final, Djokovic wins that one and it's 4 slams in a row, all over Nadal - really changed both career arcs and the rivalry, considering that now it's Nadal on a 4 match winning streak against Djokovic at the majors.

I'd also add US Open 2003 SF, Roddick-Nalbandian, and maybe Nalbandian's loss to Baghdatis at the 2006 AO SF - who knows how a Nalby-Fed matchup at the AO finals would've played out, career-wise for both, given their epic five-setter 2-3 months earlier at the '05 YEC?

 

[eldanger25]

Lendl winning the French

That was a good one. Finally taking out the two guys who'd won the last seven US Opens back-to-back in 1985 was pretty big-time as well - first of three straight US Open titles for Lendl, while Mac never made another slam final.

 

[1477aces]

yeah those 2 lendl wins were great.
yeah I guess the 2001 wimbledon final did really change their legacies. for some reason I think this year's wimbledon final will be seen as important in the future, there was just this sense in the air that sh*t's going to go down. IMO, if djokovic had lost I'm not sure he'd have ever won another slam.

 

[1477aces]

the coria final was also great, it really broke coria.

 

[jaggy]

Graf-Seles, the stabbing one, but for all the wrong reasons yet it did change history.

 

[Dan L]

I'm not talking about the greatest or best matches. I'm saying matches that seriously changed player's destinies. Ie, for this reason, the 2008 wimbledon final has no business being on this list, it changed nothing really, federer went on to win 3 of the next 4 slams.
Matches that I think should be on this list.

1. 1995 us open final. This match broke agassi. http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...ter&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=tennis
it really firmly set the agassi sampras final as being in favor of sampras and sealed their rivalry.
2. 2004 wimbledon final. Huge match with the #1 ranking on the line, it's the last time roddick-federer would be a legitimate rivalry, and I really think that if roddick had stayed with brad gilbert (which he would have if he won) he could have won several majors and maybe at least slowed down federer; certainly there rivalry and legacies wouldn't have been so pathetic and disparate (although federer most likely would have came out higher anyways).
3. 1981 us open final. borg would walk away after this loss and he could have possibly won many more slams, and it even might have dismotivated john mcenroe who didn't feel as if he had a real rival after this, maybe why he only won 1 major (83 wimbledon) over the next 2 years.

I'm sure there are many I'm missing. I'm not talking about great matches to reiterate my point, i'm talking about matches that shaped the trajectories of player's careers.

Do you mean "swing" matches, that determine an edge between two players?

 

[pc1]

Graf-Seles, the stabbing one, but for all the wrong reasons yet it did change history.

Unfortunately true. I think all of us wonder what a healthy Seles would have done.

 

[BTURNER]

Carolinas International Tennis Classic (Sept. 18-20; Charlotte, NC, clay) SF Evert def. Margaret Court 7-6, 7-6

Evert the giant killer, became Evert the giant soon enough. Without Evert getting to the top, the two hander might have taken a lot longer for women's top coaches to accept. Impact's countless champions.

 

[kiki]

when did it happen? did Evert go on win the tournament?

 

[hoodjem]

Check this out.

http://www.tennisnow.com/News/Matches-That-Changed-The-Course-Of-Tennis-History.aspx

This is an excellent list of the most significant and influential matches going back 90 years or so: thoughtfully chosen and well-researched.

 

[BTURNER]

Everyone else is looking at major finals and semis. I am digging for gold upstream. 2nd RD US national 1950. Louise Brough beats a young woman playing in her first major. Name Althea Gibson. I'd call that a historically influential match.

 

[kiki]

This is an excellent list of the most significant and influential matches going back 90 years or so: thoughtfully chosen and well-researched.

not a linke

 

[hoodjem]

not a linke

Here's the link:
http://www.tennisnow.com/News/Matches-That-Changed-The-Course-Of-Tennis-History.aspx

 

[wmoore]

Most 'influential' match

I humbly submit that the one match that changed the professional game more than any other single match would have been the 2004 US Open Quarterfinals between Capriati and Williams.

It was that match (more accurately, the horrible officiating from the chair) that cleared the way for instant replay (shot spot) being accepted into the game and thereby changed the game forever.

While Shot spot is probably not as big a change as, say, polyester strings or new racquet materials - I believe it is the most significant change enabled by a single match.

But, the most significant thing about that match is that the abomination of an umpire, that idiot in a blonde hairdo is still officiating today! But, I suppose that's for another post.

 

[Con_T]

Carolinas International Tennis Classic (Sept. 18-20; Charlotte, NC, clay) SF Evert def. Margaret Court 7-6, 7-6

Evert the giant killer, became Evert the giant soon enough. Without Evert getting to the top, the two hander might have taken a lot longer for women's top coaches to accept. Impact's countless champions.

Well, it certainly sent shockwaves through the tennis world, but I don't think it matched the impact of her win against Mary-Ann Eisel at the US Open the next year - that win announced Evert to the world and she was a star from then on.

when did it happen? did Evert go on win the tournament?

Kiki, late September 1970. It was a little 8 woman tourney on (American) clay. Baby Evert cleaned Durr's clock 0 and 1 in the first round, then beat Court (I think Evert has described this still as her favourite match of her career!) and then lost to Nancy Richey in the final.

But, the most significant thing about that match is that the abomination of an umpire, that idiot in a blonde hairdo is still officiating today! But, I suppose that's for another post.


That ump should never have called another match, ever. The unbelievable overrule from the chair at the beginning of the third set on a ball on the other side of the court and then sitting there like Lot's wife on a bad call by the linesperson when the ball was right in front of her to give Capriati match point are just two of the most extreme examples of inept officiating I've ever seen.

 

[kiki]

Carolinas International Tennis Classic (Sept. 18-20; Charlotte, NC, clay) SF Evert def. Margaret Court 7-6, 7-6

Evert the giant killer, became Evert the giant soon enough. Without Evert getting to the top, the two hander might have taken a lot longer for women's top coaches to accept. Impact's countless champions.

Well, it certainly sent shockwaves through the tennis world, but I don't think it matched the impact of her win against Mary-Ann Eisel at the US Open the next year - that win announced Evert to the world and she was a star from then on.

when did it happen? did Evert go on win the tournament?

Kiki, late September 1970. It was a little 8 woman tourney on (American) clay. Baby Evert cleaned Durr's clock 0 and 1 in the first round, then beat Court (I think Evert has described this still as her favourite match of her career!) and then lost to Nancy Richey in the final.

But, the most significant thing about that match is that the abomination of an umpire, that idiot in a blonde hairdo is still officiating today! But, I suppose that's for another post.


That ump should never have called another match, ever. The unbelievable overrule from the chair at the beginning of the third set on a ball on the other side of the court and then sitting there like Lot's wife on a bad call by the linesperson when the ball was right in front of her to give Capriati match point are just two of the most extreme examples of inept officiating I've ever seen.

thanks for the info

 

[DMP]

I'm not talking about the greatest or best matches. I'm saying matches that seriously changed player's destinies.

If you also want an oblique view you should also consider the 1972 Dallas WCT final. Apart from its great historical significance for tennis popularity in the US, McEnroe has also said it was the match that decided him to be a tennis player.

 

[BTURNER]

Carolinas International Tennis Classic (Sept. 18-20; Charlotte, NC, clay) SF Evert def. Margaret Court 7-6, 7-6

Evert the giant killer, became Evert the giant soon enough. Without Evert getting to the top, the two hander might have taken a lot longer for women's top coaches to accept. Impact's countless champions.

Well, it certainly sent shockwaves through the tennis world, but I don't think it matched the impact of her win against Mary-Ann Eisel at the US Open the next year - that win announced Evert to the world and she was a star from then on.

.

my point was that the Charlotte match sent shockwaves through Chrissie. she never felt a hint of intimidation or awe at the prospect of meeting any higher ranked player after that match. If you beat the number one player in the world and champion of Court's stature at the age of 15 years old, you don't sweat the Eisels of the world much. Charlotte made the Open run possible.

 

[kiki]

If you also want an oblique view you should also consider the 1972 Dallas WCT final. Apart from its great historical significance for tennis popularity in the US, McEnroe has also said it was the match that decided him to be a tennis player.

yes, it was the match that really started the boom of the sport ( followed by 1973 King vs Riggs) and officially opened the Golden Era