Ten greatest upsets in tennis history

Knightmace

Professional
1. Robin Soderling beats Rafael Nadal, French Open 2009
Spain's clay master was unbeaten at Roland Garros and looking for his fifth title in a row when he was shocked by the 23rd seed Swedish player. Soderling was too good for Nadal, and deserved the win.

2. Michael Chang beats Lendl and Edberg, French Open 1989
American Michael Chang etched his name in history by winning the 1989 French Open aged just 17 years and three months. He beat legends Ivan Lendl and Stefan Edberg (in an epic five set final) to win the event and he is still the youngest winner of a Grand Slam.

3. George Bastl beats Pete Sampras, Wimbledon 2002
Swiss player Bastl was ranked 145 in the world when he took on the seven-time champion of Wimbledon, Pete Sampras. Bastl, who only got into the tournament as a lucky loser after failing to qualify, beat the American in five sets.

4. Mark Edmondson wins the 1976 Australian Open
The Australian only ever won one Grand Slam event, and he beat defending champion John Newcombe in the final to do it. The most remarkable point however, was that he was ranked 212th in the world when he did it. He remains the lowest-ranked player to win a Grand Slam title.

5. Goran Ivanisevic wins 2001 Wimbledon
Left-handed Ivanisevic had lost the Wimbledon final three times before he finally won it in 2001. The eventual victory was a near-miracle, as he had only entered the tournament as a wild card. Ranked outside the top 100 at the time, he became the lowest-ranked player and only wild card to win Wimbledon.

6. Mats Wilander wins the 1982 French Open
The young Swede shocked the tennis world when at 17 years of age he beat the second, third, fourth and fifth seeds at Roland Garros to win the tournament. He was unseeded for the event.

7. Richard Krajicek beats Pete Sampras, Wimbledon 1996
Krajicek surprised everyone when he became the first Dutchman to win Wimbledon in 1996, but the biggest upset had come when he defeated Pete Sampras in the quarter-final. His win was Sampras' only loss at the grass tournament between 1993 and 2001.

8. Gustavo Kuerten wins the 1997 French Open
It's no surprise that "Guga" was a Roland Garros favorite. When he won the 1997 tournament he was ranked 66th in the world and he beat three former champions along the way. He remains the third-lowest ranked Grand Slam champion.

9. Lleyton Hewitt beats Andre Agassi while ranked #550
The Australian went on to win his first ATP tour title after beating Agassi in the semi-final of the Adelaide International. The win over former world number one Agassi was remarkable given that he was ranked at 550th and only 16 years old.

10. Vladimir Voltchkov makes 2000 Wimbledon semi-final
The Belarussian was ranked 237 when he managed to make it through to the semi-finals of Wimbledon -- becoming the lowest-ranked player to ever make the last four at the London tournament. art icle i found
http://www.cnn.com/2009/SPORT/06/01/biggest.upsets/
 
1. Robin Soderling beats Rafael Nadal, French Open 2009
Spain's clay master was unbeaten at Roland Garros and looking for his fifth title in a row when he was shocked by the 23rd seed Swedish player. Soderling was too good for Nadal, and deserved the win.

7. Richard Krajicek beats Pete Sampras, Wimbledon 1996
Krajicek surprised everyone when he became the first Dutchman to win Wimbledon in 1996, but the biggest upset had come when he defeated Pete Sampras in the quarter-final. His win was Sampras' only loss at the grass tournament between 1993 and 2001.

I think Krajicek's upset was more shocking than Soderling's.
 
I think Krajicek's upset was more shocking than Soderling's.

I dont think so. Nadal just came off winning the Australian Open and looked to be invincible, albeit the loss in Madrid. However he played a dominant match against Lleyton Hewitt.
 
Compare Nadal's 2008 FO to Sampras's 1995 Wimbledon. Then compare Soderling's clay court ability to Krajicek's grass game.
 
i dont think chang's victories were all that shocking in retrospect.

soderling's victories will probably be shocking in retrospect especially considering that nadal destroyed him a couple of weeks back.

also, krajicek's victory over sampras was hardly shocking. bastl's victory was incredbibly shocking...

in fact i would put corretja's win over sampras in davis cup on grass equally shocking considering sampras was also 2-0 up in the match.
 
I would consider upsets as major defeats of big favorites, not someone unexpected winning over not so big opponents.
And the occasion- it has to be slams. The aura should be there this player is considered unbeatable at that time, can he lose and that too to someone unknown.


1) Soderling beating Nadal. (This is #1 because Nadal is a monster on clay. Undefeated in French. Undefeated in best of 5 in clay. Has whipped Fed and Djoko in french repeatedly. And he is at his peak. Whereas Soderling never passed 3rd round of a slam before.)

2) Krajicek beating Sampras(W '96) : (Sampras was at wimbledon what Nadal is at French. 7 titles in 8 years. Why this is #2 because upsetting on grass is easier than clay. Service games are easier to hold. You need a few good return games and tiebreaks to upset.)

3) Michael Chang beating Ivan Lendl(FO' 89). Lendl was No.1 and 3 time champion. Chang managed to beat him somehow with all his tricks.

4) Federer beating Sampras (W' 2001): 4 time defending champion losing to a newcomer !!!. Whatever Sampras may be at other venues at Wimbledon he had that invincible aura (7 titles in past 8 years). That was broken.

5) Peter Duhan beating Becker(W' 87): Two time defending champion, world no. 2 and top seed getting out in 2nd round to unseeded player. His initial wimbledon run was like Nadal at french.

6) Wilander beating Lendl (FO' 1982): Unseeded and newcomer Wilander defeated No.2 Lendl went on to become champion.

7) George Bastl beating Sampras(W'2002): Sampras was down at that time. Still 7 time champion losing to No. 145 was a big upset.

8) Ramesh Krishnan beating Mats Wilander(AO' 89): Mats had a dream run the previous year. 3 slams and No.1 ranking. He lost to unseeded krishnan in 2nd round.

9) Mats Wilander beating Ivan Lendl (US' 87): This may surprise many. But Ivan Lendl was 3 time defending champion. Plus he regularly defeated Mats. That time, he beat him the last 6 matches in last 3 years.

10) Lendl beating Mcenroe (FO'84): Agreed. Mcenroe wasn't a french champion. But at that period, he was unbeatable. Before french, he beat lendl twice on clay and thrice on carpet. He was heavily favored.
 
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Chang def. Lendl.

Not only did it cement Chang as the youngest EVER to win a GS, but it ushered in a new generation of american dominance.

Lendle even TOLD Chang that chang had nothing that could hurt him during an exhibition.

Its still amazing to know that a 17 year old outwitted a veteran like he did.
 
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Chang def. Lendl.

Not only did it cement Chang as the youngest EVER to win a GS, but it ushered in a new generation of american dominance.

Lendle even TOLD Chang that chang had nothing that could hurt him during an exhibition.

But it was in the QF.
 
Chang def. Lendl.

Not only did it cement Chang as the youngest EVER to win a GS, but it ushered in a new generation of american dominance.

Lendle even TOLD Chang that chang had nothing that could hurt him during an exhibition.

Its still amazing to know that a 17 year old outwitted a veteran like he did.

+1
Not only did it cement Chang as the youngest EVER to win a GS, but it ushered in a new generation of american dominance.

Lendle even TOLD Chang that chang had nothing that could hurt him during an exhibition.

Its still amazing to know that a 17 year old outwitted a veteran like he did.
 
1999 Jelena Dokic smashing then number one Martina Hingis in the first round of Wimbledon 6-2 6-0. In doing so, Jelena became the lowest-ranked (#129) player to defeat a #1 seed in a slam in the Open era.
 
Sampras def. Agassi 1990 US Open final

Gomez def. Agassi 1990 French Open final

Gaudio def. Coria 2004 French open final

Costa def. Ferrero 2002 French Open final

Ashe def. Connors 1975 Wimbledon final

Connors def. McEnroe 1982 Wimbledon final

Becker def. Curren 1985 Wimbledon final

Yzaga def. Sampras 1994 US Open 4th Round
 
Sampras def. Agassi 1990 US Open final

Gomez def. Agassi 1990 French Open final

Gaudio def. Coria 2004 French open final

Costa def. Ferrero 2002 French Open final

Ashe def. Connors 1975 Wimbledon final

Connors def. McEnroe 1982 Wimbledon final

Becker def. Curren 1985 Wimbledon final

Yzaga def. Sampras 1994 US Open 4th Round

some of these.... gaudio coria? neither of them had won a slam, it wasn't an assumed victory, like soderling-nadal. look at the prediction league for RG everyone picked Nadal in 3 without questioning it.
 
some of these.... gaudio coria? neither of them had won a slam, it wasn't an assumed victory, like soderling-nadal. look at the prediction league for RG everyone picked Nadal in 3 without questioning it.
Coria was the OVERWHELMING favorite to win the FO in 2004. He was virtually unbeatable on clay for a couple of years.
 
Connors over McEnroe an upset?

IMO, Ashe over Connors is the only one that belongs on that list.
McEnroe was the HEAVY favorite to win Wimbledon in 1982. He was the defending champion and #1 in the world. Connors had to change to a serve and volley game in order to beat McEnroe in 5 sets.
 
I gotta say Michael Chang beats Lendl and Edberg, French Open 1989.

I mean, who in their right mind at the time would have given Chang a chance against Lendl or Edberg.

If Nadal hadn't lost Madrid, or Joker hadn't taken an early exit, then I would have put Nadal's upset infront.

Now for the Greatest upset of all time:

Tyson V. Douglas.
 
Chang def. Lendl.

Not only did it cement Chang as the youngest EVER to win a GS, but it ushered in a new generation of american dominance.

Lendle even TOLD Chang that chang had nothing that could hurt him during an exhibition.

Its still amazing to know that a 17 year old outwitted a veteran like he did.

Really? That will be really mean for Lendl to do that, considering his dominant status in Tennis at that time, and being so cocky to a new comer?
 
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Chang def. Lendl.

Not only did it cement Chang as the youngest EVER to win a GS, but it ushered in a new generation of american dominance.

Lendle even TOLD Chang that chang had nothing that could hurt him during an exhibition.

Its still amazing to know that a 17 year old outwitted a veteran like he did.

Since when are bush league tactics "outwitting" an opponent?
 
Coria and Federer were both equally the favorites.

Here's an article from back then.
Ferrero was also a favourite.

Coria wasn't as much of a favourite as Nadal has been since 2006.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/tennis/3717203.stm
Wait, was Federer or Ferrero in the final against Gaudio or did I miss something? :confused:

How can either Federer or Ferrero be the overwhelming favorite to beat Gaudio in the final when they weren't even in the final? :confused:
 
Wait, was Federer or Ferrero in the final against Gaudio or did I miss something? :confused:

How can either Federer or Ferrero be the overwhelming favorite to beat Gaudio in the final when they weren't even in the final? :confused:

well sure, nadal isn't the overwhelming favourite to win the 2009 FO now either though is he?
 
I gotta say Michael Chang beats Lendl and Edberg, French Open 1989.

I mean, who in their right mind at the time would have given Chang a chance against Lendl or Edberg.

If Nadal hadn't lost Madrid, or Joker hadn't taken an early exit, then I would have put Nadal's upset infront.

Now for the Greatest upset of all time:

Tyson V. Douglas.

Hah. No. Greatest upset ever was in 1980 at Lake Placid: US defeats Russia 4-3 in the semifinals. Russia had dominated the NHL All Stars the year before in the Challenge Cup and beat the Americans 10-3 at Madison Square Garden two weeks before the Olympics. No one gave the U.S. a chance.
 
Is that list in order? Cuz if it is, I don't think Soderling's upset should be #1. Yes, it was surprising, but in terms of an upset it wasn't that great as Soderling is ranked #25.
 
Um, no he wasn't. BP's quality posting continues.
OK, you're right. Gaudio beating Coria in the 2004 French Open final was no upset at all. In fact, Gaudio was the overwhelming odds on favorite to beat Coria. You even bet $100,000 on Gaudio to win and won only $10 on the bet, right? :-?
 
Hah. No. Greatest upset ever was in 1980 at Lake Placid: US defeats Russia 4-3 in the semifinals. Russia had dominated the NHL All Stars the year before in the Challenge Cup and beat the Americans 10-3 at Madison Square Garden two weeks before the Olympics. No one gave the U.S. a chance.

ok ok, you got me there. It was like Jordan's Bulls vs some high school team.
 
1999 Jelena Dokic smashing then number one Martina Hingis in the first round of Wimbledon 6-2 6-0. In doing so, Jelena became the lowest-ranked (#129) player to defeat a #1 seed in a slam in the Open era.

Yeah this came to my mind too, but it looks like the OP meant "Ten greatest upsets in MENS tennis history" by the look of his list.
 
some of these.... gaudio coria? neither of them had won a slam, it wasn't an assumed victory, like soderling-nadal.

It was not like Soderling-Nadal (well, NOTHING can be as unexpected as the Soderling-Nadal) but I'd say it was an upset. Coria was the big favorite to almost everyone. Many people took Coria's victory as a matter of fact, including me. Coria was BIG on clay at the moment.

Anyway, I agree with the Chang-Lendl, that match shocked me a lot. Also, it was a most dramatic match, everything possible seemed to happen there (the underserve!! That was the craziest moment I've seen). Much better than 99% of Hollywood thrillers.
 
It was not like Soderling-Nadal (well, NOTHING can be as unexpected as the Soderling-Nadal) but I'd say it was an upset. Coria was the big favorite to almost everyone. Many people took Coria's victory as a matter of fact, including me. Coria was BIG on clay at the moment.
.

true, but before the tournament people were pretty much GIVING the trophy to nadal here. coria hadn't won a slam, let alone 6. damn i miss coria, he didn't leave behind the memories he could have done!!
 
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