Pivotal moments in tennis history

[objectivity]

what are some moments or matches in tennis history you guys think are really momentous? moments which really changed the course of history.

here are some of my candidates:

1) 2003 US Open, Nalbandian vs Roddick. Nalbandian should have won but denied by some contentious refereeing. if he had won, i think there wouldn't have been the same federer. nalbandian was always the better player than federer but i think after that loss, he was never the same player.

2) 2004 Wimbledon final. For a set and half, roddick was the better player. if he had actually won, i think he would have gone on to greatness.

3) 1990 Wimbledon final. Boris was the better player and always had been. But he somehow found a way to lose the match and then again the next year. Such a pity. If Boris had won 1990 Wimbledon, i think he would have easily managed 10 GS or more in his career, rather than that paltry 6.

 

[Wynter]

Hewitt-Sampras 01 USO

Essentially marked the death of S&V

 

[Deleted member 733170]

Federer beating Sampras at Wimby 01. It marked a turning of the tide. In a similar vein Federer's loss to Nadal at Wimby 08 was another watershed moment. I also think Cilic's convincing victory at this year's US Open will mark another key turning point.

I can't agree so much with OP's comments especially 1&2. If Nalbandian and Roddick were really destined for greatness, then their careers could not be undone by just one match.

 

[Chico]

Hamburg 1993 Seles - M Maleeva. Monica Seles being stabbed by Graf's fan in Germany. Without stabbing, Graf never wins more than 16 slams and Seles finishes her career with more slams than Graf.

RG 2013 SF Djokovic - Nadal - Pascal Maria was allowed to alter the result of the match and the course of tennis history - with this win Novak would already be at 10, while Nadal would be still be at 11 or 12 slams. I.e. Novak would have finished his career with more slams than Nadal.

 

[Wynter]

Federer beating Sampras at Wimby 01. It marked a turning of the tide. In a similar vein Federer's loss to Nadal at Wimby 08 was another watershed moment. I also think Cilic's convincing victory at this year's US Open will mark another key turning point.

I can't agree so much with OP's comments especially 1&2. If Nalbandian and Roddick were really destined for greatness, then their careers could not be undone by just one match.

One match can destroy anyone.

Look at Seles and the stabbing, she came back had all her skills, something was missing though.

 

[MichaelNadal]

Hamburg 1993 Seles - M Maleeva. Monica Seles being stabbed by Graf's fan in Germany. Without stabbing, Graf never wins more than 16 slams and Seles finishes her career with more slams than Graf.

RG 2013 SF Djokovic - Nadal - Pascal Maria was allowed to alter the result of the match and the course of tennis history - with this win Novak would already be at 10, while Nadal would be still be at 11 or 12 slams. I.e. Novak would have finished his career with more slams than Nadal.

I could only enjoy you more if I was there with you to see those tears in person :/

 

[6-3 6-0]

Rome 2006 Final. Period! That was the match where IMO RNadal got into RFederer's head and the loss was quite heartbreaking. If he had converted one of those MPs, the mental block wouldn't have been so prominent as it seems.

 

[Wynter]

Coria vs Gaudio

Coria would have challenged Nadal on clay in his early years, he folded after that defeat.

 

[Nathaniel_Near]

So wait, are you suggesting that had Nalbandian won that match, he'd always remain better and eventually more accomplished than Federer, and that had Roddick won the 2004 Wimbledon final, he'd have gone onto greatness meaning, at least Djokovic levels of success???

 

[Chico]

So wait, are you suggesting that had Nalbandian won that match, he'd always remain better and eventually more accomplished than Federer, and that had Roddick won the 2004 Wimbledon final, he'd have gone onto greatness meaning, at least Djokovic levels of success???

Please, don't ever again imply that Nalbandian or Roddick could be even remotely close to "Djokovic levels of success". That is quite disrespectful for Novak.

Thanks.

 

[Deleted member 733170]

One match can destroy anyone.



Look at Seles and the stabbing, she came back had all her skills, something was missing though.

That's too crazy! She was stabbed and never came back from that, it's understandable no?

Surely you cannot infer this is the same thing as losing a match despite being up in the first set and a half?!

If you have trouble understanding this please go and see your shrink.

 

[Wynter]

That's too crazy! She was stabbed and never came back from that, it's understandable no?

Surely you cannot infer this is the same thing as losing a match despite being up in the first set and a half?!

If you have trouble understanding this please go and see your shrink.

Yeah it was a somewhat extreme analogy I admit

Other lesser examples include Coria for example, the premier clay courter in the world broke down post 04 FO and never recovered, and he was amazing, he just lost his edge.

 

[objectivity]

So wait, are you suggesting that had Nalbandian won that match, he'd always remain better and eventually more accomplished than Federer, and that had Roddick won the 2004 Wimbledon final, he'd have gone onto greatness meaning, at least Djokovic levels of success???

i think nalbandian needed that win. if he did, i think he would have realised exactly how great he is. and at least federer would have had a real challenger.

i used to think roddick is rubbish, but i had been rewatching his old matches before larry took charge. old roddick is actually underrated. tremendous power and veyr underrated movement. at 2004 wimbledon, he made a peak federer look distinctly ordinary for 2 sets. in fact, i dont think i have ever seen federer so flustered. even when nadal was giving him a bagel.

 

[SpinToWin]

I just want to comment on the Roddick aspect of this thread. I don't remember which coach of Roddick it was, but he mentioned that "Roddick is a big guy", but that for some reason he stopped playing like that - he became passive. I think that it was losing so many matches against Federer that broke his belief in himself, so he stopped going for his shots, which was his greatest quality/asset. So to say that he may have become a (more) serious contender had he won Wimbledon 2004 is no exaggeration or misconception in any way IMO.

 

[sureshs]

Federer's first loss to Nadal is the most pivotal moment of modern tennis history

 

[objectivity]

I just want to comment on the Roddick aspect of this thread. I don't remember which coach of Roddick it was, but he mentioned that "Roddick is a big guy", but that for some reason he stopped playing like that - he became passive. I think that it was losing so many matches against Federer that broke his belief in himself, so he stopped going for his shots, which was his greatest quality/asset. So to say that he may have become a (more) serious contender had he won Wimbledon 2004 is no exaggeration or misconception in any way IMO.

totally agreed.

i think roddick is possibly the most mismanaged player in tennis history. larry made him think the only way to beat federer is to be nadal. when the goal should not have been to just beat federer, its to play to his own strengths and be the player he should be. and that glorious forehand became this ridiculous moonball. if there is a real moonball forehand, it was roddick's post larry induced transformation.

 

[tennisaddict]

Novak's straight set win over Fed at 2011 AO and going on to win is the most pivotal moment this decade.

 

[Mikael]

Agree on the Wimbledon 04 final, it was truly pivotal. Federer was the favorite going into that match, but not by much from what I remember.

 

[AssaultJoker]

Djokovic - DelPotro Indian-Wells 2013.

Djokovic was playing great tennis at AO-13 and Dubai, but got stopped by Delpo in hot-form. Without that loss Djokovic would have easily schooled Rafa in the IW final and would have been motivated to keep up his winning streak into the next tournaments which means that there would be no way of Nole losing to Haas at Miami, Dimitrov at Madrid and Berdych at Rome. Considering how close average-form Djokovic was to beat Nadal in the RG semis there's no doubt that better prepared Nole would have won French Open that year. Moreover, DelPotro wouldn't have tried so hard vs Djokovic at Wimbledon which means that Nole had a great chance of achieving CYGS in 2013.

 

[jg153040]

W 2009. The new goat was crowned. Since this match nobody will see Sampras and Laver in the same light.

 

[AssaultJoker]

W 2009. The new goat was crowned. Since this match nobody will see Sampras and Laver in the same light.

Wrong. USO-09 final result was historically way more crucial, it was Fed's last chance of winning 4 majors in a row and proving that he's on par with Rod Laver.

 

[Nathaniel_Near]

I highly doubt Roddick would have gone on to become some sort of legend or great of tennis had he won that 2004 Wimbledon final. He simply didn't have enough game. He's not ''rubbish'' but his return and movement have never been close to top notch and his backhand was a big weakness. Even by removing Federer altogether I struggle to imagine Roddick winning more than 6 Slams, although actually I'd guess about 4-5.

 

[eldanger25]

Pepsi Grand Slam, January 1977. Borg beats Panatta and Connors back-to-back in tight 3 setters, disposing of the last two guys who'd had his number on clay in prior seasons. Dominated the surface to a ridiculous degree from there through his 1981 retirement from the tour (something like 115-4, with two losses via injury retirement).

Some more famous ones:

Wimbledon final 1993 - Pete eclipses Courier

Open final 1995 - Pete dispenses with Agassi, who retreats to brood in his tents for a few years

RG '06-'07, '12 - Nadal protects Laver's 4x slam record and his own clay kingdom

I also agree with those who said Wimbledon 2004.

 

[Nathaniel_Near]

Pepsi Grand Slam, January 1977. Borg beats Panatta and Connors back-to-back in tight 3 setters, disposing of the last two guys who'd had his number on clay in prior seasons. Dominated the surface to a ridiculous degree from there through his 1981 retirement from the tour (something like 115-4, with two losses via injury retirement).

Some more famous ones:

Wimbledon final 1993 - Pete eclipses Courier

Open final 1995 - Pete dispenses with Agassi, who retreats to brood in his tents for a few years

RG '06-'07, '12 - Nadal protects Laver's 4x slam record and his own clay kingdom

I also agree with those who said Wimbledon 2004.

Right, good call.

I think the RG 2008 final was pivotal. Federer admitted in an interview after losing the Wimbledon 2008 final that he still felt sort of punch drunk for the first half of the final due to the horrific and humiliating defeat at the hands of Nadal in the RG 2008 final. The destructive nature of that match set in motion one of Nadal's most prolific period of top level tournament victories and set the platform for the ''official'' changing of the guard at Wimbledon 2008. However, though it was momentous and pivotal, Federer would still go on to achieve much further greatness. However, he hasn't beaten Nadal in a Slam match since.

 

[jg153040]

Wrong. USO-09 final result was historically way more crucial, it was Fed's last chance of winning 4 majors in a row and proving that he's on par with Rod Laver.

It's not that your trolling is bad, it's just that it's so bad and newbish and obvious, that it's really annoying lol. At least try harder man.

 

[helloworld]

Wimbledon 2001 Federer vs Sampras. Thst match boosted Federer's confidence and encouraged him to dominate tennis after Sampras retired.

 

[helloworld]

Pepsi Grand Slam, January 1977. Borg beats Panatta and Connors back-to-back in tight 3 setters, disposing of the last two guys who'd had his number on clay in prior seasons. Dominated the surface to a ridiculous degree from there through his 1981 retirement from the tour (something like 115-4, with two losses via injury retirement).

Some more famous ones:

Wimbledon final 1993 - Pete eclipses Courier

Open final 1995 - Pete dispenses with Agassi, who retreats to brood in his tents for a few years

RG '06-'07, '12 - Nadal protects Laver's 4x slam record and his own clay kingdom

I also agree with those who said Wimbledon 2004.

US Open 1995 final pretty much decided who will be the GOAT of the 90s. If Agassi won that match, he would have gone on to become the GOAT of the 90s instead of Sampras.

 

[jg153040]

Wimbledon 2001 Federer vs Sampras. Thst match boosted Federer's confidence and encouraged him to dominate tennis after Sampras retired.

I think that match hurt Fed. It put a lot of pressure on him. Now that he beat Sampras he was supposed to win W. And the next 2 years his performances at slams were really bad.

 

[jg153040]

US Open 1995 final pretty much decided who will be the GOAT of the 90s. If Agassi won that match, he would have gone on to become the GOAT of the 90s instead of Sampras.

Why would one match decide? Even with this USO loss, Sampras still leads Agassi.

Also, maybe that loss would motivate Sampras even more to got even better.

 

[The_Order]

Agree on the Wimbledon 04 final, it was truly pivotal. Federer was the favorite going into that match, but not by much from what I remember.

Actually, from what I remember, when they asked Woodforde for his prediction he said something like:

"Federer.... Oh, Federer, Federer, Federer. In straight sets"

LOL sounded like he was reaching climax.

 

[The_Order]

I also agree with those who said Wimbledon 2004.

The real pivotal moment from that match was when it started raining...

 

[eldanger25]

The real pivotal moment from that match was when it started raining...

Yep - Roddick needed a few more breaks from the tennis gods than he got that day. Fed's the best at leaping out of the blocks after a rain delay - if Schumacher was the Regenmeister, then Federer's the Regendelaymeister.

 

[AssaultJoker]

It's not that your trolling is bad, it's just that it's so bad and newbish and obvious, that it's really annoying lol. At least try harder man.

You can't hide annoying truth.

 

[jg153040]

You can't hide annoying truth.

Actually the truth isn't annoying to me at all. It's liberating.

 

[ScottleeSV]

Federer beating Sampras at Wimby 01. It marked a turning of the tide. In a similar vein Federer's loss to Nadal at Wimby 08 was another watershed moment.

A lot of people have a false perception about Wimby 08. Federer responded to that loss by winning 4 of the next 6 majors. It was two years later that the proper 'changing of the guard' happened, when Nadal finally did what Federer had done during his dominant years and won three slams in a year.

In terms of just Wimbledon, Fed has won more Wimbledons since 08 than Nadal.

 

[jg153040]

A lot of people have a false perception about Wimby 08. Federer responded to that loss by winning 4 of the next 6 majors. It was two years later that the proper 'changing of the guard' happened, when Nadal finally did what Federer had done during his dominant years and won three slams in a year.

In terms of just Wimbledon, Fed has won more Wimbledons since 08 than Nadal.

Yeah, I also thought that official changing of the guard was in 2010.

But it's hard to say even changing, because Federer was ranked above Nadal for some time. He is just a few points away from Nadal even today.

 

[Vensai]

The stabbing of Monica Seles.
Ivan Lendl winning his first French Open after being down two sets to love against John McEnroe.
Pete Sampras beating Andre Agassi at the 1995 US Open Final.

These are off the top of my head.

 

[Djokovic2011]

Coria vs Gaudio

Coria would have challenged Nadal on clay in his early years, he folded after that defeat.

Didn't you see their Rome encounter the following year Wynter? I think it's safe to say that Coria did still challenge Nadal on clay!

 

[Djokovic2011]

As for the question itself it has to be the Seles stabbing. It changed the course of women's tennis(no matter what THUNDERVOLLEY and the other haters say) and will forever go down as one of the saddest days not only in tennis but in all sports.

 

[objectivity]

surprised u guys don't agree with me on how momentous the nalbandian vs roddick match at USO 2003 was. remember, nalbandian had taken out federer in that tournament!

i really think if fat dave had won the USO 2003, he would have been a formidable challenger to both federer and rafa in the 2000s. a real pity.

but then again, he might have ended up like safin. who knows?

 

[Mustard]

The 1995 US Open final sticks out.

1995 was the year when the Agassi vs. Sampras rivalry was at its peak. Agassi beat Sampras 4-6, 6-1, 7-6, 6-4 in the final of the 1995 Australian Open. Sampras beat Agassi in the 1995 Indian Wells final, 7-5, 6-3, 7-5. In the 1995 Miami final, Agassi beat Sampras in a best of 3 sets match, 3-6, 6-2, 7-6, and took the world number 1 ranking soon after.

Agassi was beaten in the semi finals of 1995 Wimbledon by Becker, after Becker recovered from a 2-6, 1-4 (2 breaks) deficit, to beat Agassi 2-6, 7-6, 6-4, 7-6. Agassi avenged this loss in the semi finals of the 1995 US Open, 7-6, 7-6, 4-6, 6-4.

In the North American hardcourt summer of 1995, Agassi won 26 matches in a row going into the 1995 US Open final (winning Washington, the Canadian Open, Cincinnati and New Haven). This run included a 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 win for Agassi over Sampras in the 1995 Canadian Open final.

Sampras' year was not as strong at that stage, but he had taken the big titles on the grass, by winning both 1995 Queen's Club and 1995 Wimbledon, as well as beating Agassi in the 1995 Indian Wells final, but generally, Agassi had been the stronger player.

Now, to the 1995 US Open final itself. The crucial part of the match was Agassi only dropping 2 points on serve after his first 4 service games (very good for Agassi up to that stage of the match), but then Agassi got broken at 4-5 in the first set after completely mishitting a smash at deuce and then losing an epic set point rally. Agassi then went 0-3 down in the second set before he could recover from the disappointment and regain his composure. It was just an uphill struggle for Agassi from there, and although he came back from a break down to win the third set, he never really took the momentum away from Sampras. The aftermath of losing the match saw Agassi lose the fire in his game, and he sunk into an increasing indifference towards tennis for the next year, an indifference which turned into a freefall after Chang beat him badly at the 1996 US Open.

Sampras had hit Agassi hard at the perfect moment at the 1995 US Open. For all of Agassi's summer hardcourt dominance, Sampras' year suddenly looked better, with 2 majors to Agassi's 1 major. To use an expression, Agassi failed to turn quantity into quality. Agassi dealt with the loss very badly indeed, and I think it took him over 2 years to come to terms with it.

 

[britam25]

2010 US Open Men's final, the "Great Warrior" Nadal somehow greases out a 3rd set win, and had all the momentum, plus Novak was hurt-REALLY hurt, as he didn't serve over 100 mph the entire 4th set, but, despite this, Nadal showed ZERO intestinal fortitude and went down 6-1, sweet(plus that made it it 7 straight wins over Nadal, or close to it).

 

[Mustard]

2010 US Open Men's final, the "Great Warrior" Nadal somehow greases out a 3rd set win, and had all the momentum, plus Novak was hurt-REALLY hurt, as he didn't serve over 100 mph the entire 4th set, but, despite this, Nadal showed ZERO intestinal fortitude and went down 6-1, sweet(plus that made it it 7 straight wins over Nadal, or close to it).

That was the 2011 US Open final, and Djokovic's 6th straight victory over Nadal. How was that a pivotal moment in tennis history? Nadal was flat in the fourth set because Djokovic took a MTO at the start of the fourth set. Nadal had put so much effort and intensity into winning the third set, that stopping play for all those minutes before the fourth set started saw the adrenalin leave his body, hence flatness from Nadal in the fourth set.

 

[Deleted member 733170]

A lot of people have a false perception about Wimby 08. Federer responded to that loss by winning 4 of the next 6 majors. It was two years later that the proper 'changing of the guard' happened, when Nadal finally did what Federer had done during his dominant years and won three slams in a year.



In terms of just Wimbledon, Fed has won more Wimbledons since 08 than Nadal.

Fair enough, I sort of go along with that, but it was certainly a warning shot of what was to come...!

I suppose also Soderling's victory against Federer at RG 10 was a seminal moment breaking the 24 or 25 GS SF streak. As my tennis coach at the time remarked "the era of his invincibility has come to an end" I.e. other people believed that they could finally beat him. Wise words and of course that was followed up the strange Tsonga Wimby QF match which was the first time Federer lost from being two sets up in a 5 setter.

 

[Wynter]

Didn't you see their Rome encounter the following year Wynter? I think it's safe to say that Coria did still challenge Nadal on clay!

Yeah, but he just never seemed to have that edge to him anymore, he was still great, but something was missing mate

 

[britam25]

That was the 2011 US Open final, and Djokovic's 6th straight victory over Nadal. How was that a pivotal moment in tennis history? Nadal was flat in the fourth set because Djokovic took a MTO at the start of the fourth set. Nadal had put so much effort and intensity into winning the third set, that stopping play for all those minutes before the fourth set started saw the adrenalin leave his body, hence flatness from Nadal in the fourth set.

It signaled a changing of the guard of sorts, Nadal got the top ranking back for a short time, but it has been ripped away yet again. Novak has a plus record against him since then. Somebody's momentum broken because of a MTO, gee, THAT never happens in Nadal's matches, does it? Difference is, like I said, Novak's injury was REAL, and if Nadal was flat after the MTO, that's on him. He quit like a whipped dog in that final set. He also, for the first time that I ever saw in a GS final, got warned for cheating, in the 3rd game of the first set-couldn't even get behind before cheating.

 

[tennisaddict]

That was the 2011 US Open final, and Djokovic's 6th straight victory over Nadal. How was that a pivotal moment in tennis history? Nadal was flat in the fourth set because Djokovic took a MTO at the start of the fourth set. Nadal had put so much effort and intensity into winning the third set, that stopping play for all those minutes before the fourth set started saw the adrenalin leave his body, hence flatness from Nadal in the fourth set.

Butthurt is so strong with this one. Shame that some Nadal fans can never give credit to opponent.

 

[Goosehead]

1985 u s open final..lendl def McEnroe in straights..

McEnroe played last major final and at same time lost his world no1 rank for the last time..to lendl.

 

[smoledman]

Easily 2008 Wimby, Fed was going for a historic 6th consecutive Wimbledon title and Nadal denied him. Fed went into a tail-spin of epic proportions!

 

[bullfan]

Butthurt is so strong with this one. Shame that some Nadal fans can never give credit to opponent.

So rich coming from you.....

Novak won during his awesome 2011 at USOpen.