Most underrated match of all time

[Fabresque]

If it wasn’t a 4-setter and instead 5, this would have to be in consideration for GMOAT. The clean ball striking,the clutchness from Rafa, the nuclear groundstrokes from Berdych. It was absolutely mental. Going back and watching matches like these, it just makes me think that peak Berdych/Tsonga would literally wipe the floor with the current next genners. At their peak levels they could take on the best versions of the Big 3 toe to toe.

 

[tsurismo5]

Berdych was honestly an intimidating player to face at the AO for a few years.

 

[Shaolin]

Fed vs Agassi RR TMC 03. Great match on it's own but Fed became the real Fed at that moment. From then on he was a different player.

 

[King No1e]

Berdych was honestly an intimidating player to face at the AO for a few years.

This. We only remember Berdych for failing to beat the Big 4 often, but he was certainly no cakewalk for them, either.

 

[ADuck]

I think calling something underrated is the first step in it becoming overrated.

Great match though. I remember how Rafa saved some set points in the first set (which he ended up losing), but I didn't care because I was awestruck at how amazing it was he saved that point. He had the insane ability to play big points WAY better than any other point back then. Much different from today.

 

[TheGhostOfAgassi]

Berdy was and is an underrated player.

 

[Breakpointerer]

2008 Wimbledon final. Apart from @REKX nobody mentions it at all.

 

[Fridge]

Andy vs Andy Wimbledon 2009. But that Berdych match was incredible. He was hitting the **** out of the ball and Rafa was moving almost like 2009 AO in order to get some of those shots back

 

[MichaelNadal]

My fav rally ever comes from this match

 

[stringertom]

Roddick vs Younes, AO’03 QF; 21-19 in the fifth. Nobody cried back then about, “We need a 5th set TB!”

 

[MeatTornado]

The most underrated match of all time is probably one no one has ever heard of.

 

[JaoSousa]

My fav rally ever comes from this match

Funny how I and probably everyone on this board know exactly the one you are talking about.

 

[Deleted member 768841]

Love Nadal’s kit, the CB 4.3’s are dope’

 

[yokied]

Thanks OP will czech it out. Their H2H scorelines are kinda interesting. A lot of baked goods exchanged.

 

[MichaelNadal]

Funny how I and probably everyone on this board know exactly the one you are talking about.

GOATY af. It's absolutely insane that he won that point. The set should have been over 4 times during it. The fact that he still beat the brakes off of Fed after this (and Fed went in confident the whole tourney and was undefeated going back to 2011 and on a 25 match winning streak) and was 2 inches from beating Novak in the final says it all. What a warrior

 

[Fabresque]

My fav rally ever comes from this match

This match alone had about 10 GOAT Nadal points ngl.

 

[Standaa]

My fav rally ever comes from this match

the first set 5-6 15-40 SP save?

 

[Krish0608]

My fav rally ever comes from this match

That insane pass after getting back every bullet from Berd? I think I remember that one.

 

[EdSWright]

If only he played in an era where winners stayed winners.

 

[Krish0608]

GOATY af. It's absolutely insane that he won that point. The set should have been over 4 times during it. The fact that he still beat the brakes off of Fed after this (and Fed went in confident the whole tourney and was undefeated going back to 2011 and on a 25 match winning streak) and was 2 inches from beating Novak in the final says it all. What a warrior

One of the most impressive Nadal wins over Fed. The surface did help Nadal for sure(one of the slowest AO in memory), but I remember watching the match and thinking that it was the only time I’ve seen Rafa play more aggressive than Federer. He had Fed on the ropes throughout. His most convincing hard court victory against Federer, when both were pretty much in prime form.

 

[MichaelNadal]

the first set 5-6 15-40 SP save?

Yep, can't ask for anything more epic than that, especially given the score and how Berdych was trying to crack the ball in half

 

[Standaa]

Yep, can't ask for anything more epic than that, especially given the score and how Berdych was trying to crack the ball in half

I like the one sole comment below that video

 

[mike danny]

I wonder if this Berdych would have had more success against 2020 AO Nadal.

Thiem certainly would not have had against 2012 AO Nadal.

 

[StrongRule]

Berdych was pretty good until 2013. He was able to beat Federer back then, and even though his record against Nadal and Djokovic was very bad he still could push them sometimes. The win over Djokovic in Rome 2013 was very impressive.

However it is a big joke that Berdych managed to stay close to the top-5 in 2014-2016. During these years his tournament always ended when he met the first decent opponent, and nobody had any doubts he was going to lose, he was pathetic against them. In 2015 that win over a terrible Nadal was something like the only top-10 win he had during the year. And given that he still stayed near the top-5. For me this clearly proves 2015 was a weak year.

 

[AnOctorokForDinner]

Berdych was pretty good until 2013. He was able to beat Federer back then, and even though his record against Nadal and Djokovic was very bad he still could push them sometimes. The win over Djokovic in Rome 2013 was very impressive.

However it is a big joke that Berdych managed to stay close to the top-5 in 2014-2016. During these years his tournament always ended when he met the first decent opponent, and nobody had any doubts he was going to lose, he was pathetic against them. In 2015 that win over a terrible Nadal was something like the only top-10 win he had during the year. And given that he still stayed near the top-5. For me this clearly proves 2015 was a weak year.

Birdie's peak died after 2014 AO, that was his last strong performance (beat #3 Ferrer quite convincingly and was even with Wawrinka except of course choking those tiebreaks like the Berdych he is). Had a grand total of 2 top-8 wins over the next two years: injured Raonic on clay and 2015dull. Got breadsticked and bagelled repeatedly by all top 5 players, not only Big 4 but Stan also. Despite that, consistency helped him attain his highest ranking of #4 before 2015 RG. Quite telling indeed.

 

[StrongRule]

Birdie's peak died after 2014 AO, that was his last strong performance (beat #3 Ferrer quite convincingly and was even with Wawrinka except of course choking those tiebreaks like the Berdych he is). Had a grand total of 2 top-8 wins over the next two years: injured Raonic on clay and 2015dull. Got breadsticked and bagelled repeatedly by all top 5 players, not only Big 4 but Stan also. Despite that, consistency helped him attain his highest ranking of #4 before 2015 RG. Quite telling indeed.

Even Gulbis and Cilic destroyed him in slams in 2014. As I said, the first decent opponent he met in a tournament.

 

[Sabrina]

I wonder if this Berdych would have had more success against 2020 AO Nadal.

Thiem certainly would not have had against 2012 AO Nadal.

2020 Nadal woudn't be able to defend those bomb from Berdych. It could go either ways....

 

[mike danny]

Even Gulbis and Cilic destroyed him in slams in 2014. As I said, the first decent opponent he met in a tournament.

Berdych lost a bit of power in his shots after 2014.

Look at his 2009 AO match against Federer and compare it to 2016 AO match against Fed. Berdych was crushing the ball in 2009 like in 2010-2013.

 

[mike danny]

2020 Nadal woudn't be able to defend those bomb from Berdych. It could go either ways....

And the surface in 2020 was faster than in 2012 too.

 

[Sabrina]

Berdych lost a bit of power in his shots after 2014.

Look at his 2009 AO match against Federer and compare it to 2016 AO match against Fed. Berdych was crushing the ball in 2009 like in 2010-2013.

Berdych was playing well between 2010-2012. I would say his peak ended after 2012. Even in 2013 he couldn't win a single title for the entire season.

 

[Im(moral) Winner]

Berdych was playing well between 2010-2012. I would say his peak ended after 2012. Even in 2013 he couldn't win a single title for the entire season.

He managed to troll Djokovic in Rome.

 

[mike danny]

Berdych was playing well between 2010-2012. I would say his peak ended after 2012. Even in 2013 he couldn't win a single title for the entire season.

His best match of the year in 2013 was the Djokovic one in Rome.

 

[King No1e]

Yep, can't ask for anything more epic than that, especially given the score and how Berdych was trying to crack the ball in half

He hit more winners in that point than Simon has in his entire career.

 

[Shaolin]

Berdy was and is an underrated player.

Nah. He's rated about where he should be. Will pretty much be forgotten.

He had the big game to take anyone out but sort of a complacent, happy to be there mindset.

If he had the gritty fight of a Connors, Hewitt etc he would wreck the tour. I remember seeing him play in person early in his career and thought he would win a slam or two but he just didnt seem to want it enough.

 

[TheGhostOfAgassi]

Nah. He's rated about where he should be. Will pretty much be forgotten.

He had the big game to take anyone out but sort of a complacent, happy to be there mindset.

If he had the gritty fight of a Connors, Hewitt etc he would wreck the tour. I remember seeing him play in person early in his career and thought he would win a slam or two but he just didnt seem to want it enough.

For me a player can have an amazing tennis career if being top 5. And I do think he is underrated. He was a solid player and consistent too

 

[ElChivoEspañol]

Excellent post. OP. I thought I was alone thinking the same.

 

[NoleFam]

@Fabresque , that was a good retrieve from the archives.

 

[King No1e]

Berdych was like the NPC miniboss you have to face before you get to the Big 4. A solid gatekeeper who could keep out the pretenders but couldn't touch the elites.

 

[Shaolin]

For me a player can have an amazing tennis career if being top 5. And I do think he is underrated. He was a solid player and consistent too

I'm not denying that, he had a great career. No one will really remember him though since he didnt win slams (which he was capable of imo).

 

[stringertom]

I'm not denying that, he had a great career. No one will really remember him though since he didnt win slams (which he was capable of imo).

Runs neck and neck with ARod for BOAT Wag, no?

 

[lud]

Djokorinka, Uso '13

 

[TheGhostOfAgassi]

I'm not denying that, he had a great career. No one will really remember him though since he didnt win slams (which he was capable of imo).

If you’re into tennis, you will remember Berdy! Just like we will always remember Ferrer.

 

[buscemi]

I think a lot of the Grand Slam Cup matches are forgotten and thus underrated. The 1993 version produced two Korda classics:

-SF: Korda beats Sampras, 3-6, 7-6 (7-3), 3-6, 7-6 (12-10), 13-11; and​

-F: Korda beats Stich, 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-5), 2-6, 11-9​

 

[Shaolin]

I think a lot of the Grand Slam Cup matches are forgotten and thus underrated. The 1993 version produced two Korda classics:

-SF: Korda beats Sampras, 3-6, 7-6 (7-3), 3-6, 7-6 (12-10), 13-11; and​

-F: Korda beats Stich, 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-5), 2-6, 11-9​

Lots of great matches from the Grand Slam Cup back in the day. I loved Rios vs Agassi 5 set final in 98. Rios at his very best...had that amazing overhead where he fell down and still hit a winner from on the ground.

 

[zagor]

This. We only remember Berdych for failing to beat the Big 4 often, but he was certainly no cakewalk for them, either.

I respect guys like Berdman and Tsonga, they often came out on the losing end but they fought and had dangerous, big games. Their main problem is that they faced the real big 4 era. IMO 2012 AO Nadal would have smoked the same Thiem that made a run to the finals this year.

Really liked watching Berdman play, effortless power and beauty of a FH.

 

[Bukowski]

Always thought Roddick v Hewitt ‘09 Wimby was underrated. Andy v Andy was high level too.

 

[Moose Malloy]

1983 W SF Lewis Curren. At the time it was widely called one of the best matches in Wimbledon history. A few days later it was forgotten when Lewis got the label of worst finalist in Wimbledon history.