Was US Open 2019 a big missed opportunity for Federer?

[Entername]

A lot of people see 2019 Wimbledon as Fed's last big chance but does that mantle actually go to 2019 US Open?

Fed made the quarterfinals losing to Dimitrov which honestly seems like a big missed chance because Djokovic was eliminated by Stan in the R16, Fed had just effortlessly destroyed Evans and Goffin, and no one left in the field has had much success against Fed on HCs in the recent years leading up to the event.

Among the players remaining in the last 8, Federer has a perfect 23-0 record on HCs against each player in the five years leading up to the '19 US Open.

Dimitrov: 4-0
Medvedev: 3-0
Wawrinka: 6-0
Monfils: 2-0
Berrettini: 1-0
Nadal: 5-0
Schwartzman: 2-0

However, he lost in five sets to Dimitrov despite having many chances to end the match before it got to a decider. He would've played Medvedev in the semis who he's never lost to before and Rafa in the finals who he had turned the tide on when they played at HC events.

 

[Impressario]

If you ranked big missed opportunities in Federer's career, this one would not even be top 40

 

[JaxTeller]

He wasn't beating Rafa

 

[socallefty]

The last time he won the USO was more than ten years before that. The USO requires a certain level of physicality to deal with the heat and humidity especially after they added the roof and made the main stadiums into ovens. I don’t think he had a chance to win seven matches in a row in NY at his age unlike at Wimbledon where few players know how to play well on grass and points are shorter in balmy conditions. Do you remember how he struggled against Millman the year before?

 

[AIMCHUTY]

Fed wasn't beating Rafa and Med

 

[Fabresque]

Lol was he really gonna beat Medvedev? And even if he somehow did is he really gonna beat Nadal? Nah.

 

[Tshooter]

The last time he won the USO was more than ten years before that. The USO requires a certain level of physicality to deal with the heat and humidity especially after they added the roof and made the main stadiums into ovens...

They managed to take the world’s worst tennis stadium (Ashe 1997 - 2015) and remarkably made it even worse by building that obscene roof over it. Not on top of it but over it. Encapsulating Ashe in a pile of giant piles. Whoever made it happen should be hanged, drawn and quartered.

 

[abmk]

Lol was he really gonna beat Medvedev? And even if he somehow did is he really gonna beat Nadal? Nah.

If not injured, yes, he'd have beaten Med.
and as far as 2nd question goes, he beat Nadal a couple of months before at Wimbledon.

 

[abmk]

A lot of people see 2019 Wimbledon as Fed's last big chance but does that mantle actually go to 2019 US Open?

Fed made the quarterfinals losing to Dimitrov which honestly seems like a big missed chance because Djokovic was eliminated by Stan in the R16, Fed had just effortlessly destroyed Evans and Goffin, and no one left in the field has had much success against Fed on HCs in the recent years leading up to the event.

Among the players remaining in the last 8, Federer has a perfect 23-0 record on HCs against each player in the five years leading up to the '19 US Open.

Dimitrov: 4-0
Medvedev: 3-0
Wawrinka: 6-0
Monfils: 2-0
Berrettini: 1-0
Nadal: 5-0
Schwartzman: 2-0

However, he lost in five sets to Dimitrov despite having many chances to end the match before it got to a decider. He would've played Medvedev in the semis who he's never lost to before and Rafa in the finals who he had turned the tide on when they played at HC events.

fed got injured in that Dimi match. If not, he'd have likely beaten Med and would've had a good chance of beating Nadal as well.

 

[Federev]

Lol was he really gonna beat Medvedev? And even if he somehow did is he really gonna beat Nadal? Nah.

Probably not gonna beat Rafa with what did sound like an injury issue, if I remember correctly?

but it’s not LOL level.

Fed was possibly in better shape than Novak at the end of the 5 setter that was the longest final ever at Wimby a couple of months earlier. He’d beaten Rafa there just before that in 4 and hasn’t lost to Rafa off clay since 2014.

So yeah- the idea of Fed beating Rafa anywhere off clay is not really “lol” level.

 

[Entername]

fed got injured in that Dimi match. If not, he'd have likely beaten Med and would've had a good chance of beating Nadal as well.

That's what I was thinking as well. Many consider WI 2019 to be Fed's last big chance at winning a major but I honestly believe that US 2019 was Fed's last chance because the path was certainly there for the taking

 

[MichaelNadal]

He wasn't beating Rafa

Exactly lol

 

[TheNachoMan]

Nadal would’ve beaten him. Sorry hypothetical Federer.

 

[Krish0608]

2019 was still too late for Federer to win the whole thing. 2017 though... Damn the injury.

 

[Entername]

2019 was still too late for Federer to win the whole thing. 2017 though... Damn the injury.

I feel like in 2017, Delpo kinda just played a bit better than he did in that match. Plus it seems like Delpo has Fed's number on Ashe, it's just one of those matchups

 

[thanovic]

Yes this was a huge missed opportunity for Federer. He would’ve easily dismantled Medvedev and Nadal. Medvedev has absolutely nothing to hurt Federer.
It’s comical how people here say that Federer would’ve lost to Nadal in the final. Had Federer met Nadal in the US Open final in 2019, it would’ve been an easy straight set win for Federer. Ever since the AO 2017 final, Nadal has been absolutely useless against Federer on hard courts. Federer simply switched to a bigger racquet, and all of a sudden Nadal can’t beat Federer on hard or grass? Imagine if Federer played with his 97 inch racquet from the beginning of his career. Nadal would’ve won maybe three matches at most and all of them on clay.

 

[Krish0608]

I feel like in 2017, Delpo kinda just played a bit better than he did in that match. Plus it seems like Delpo has Fed's number on Ashe, it's just one of those matchups

Yes, but 2017 was a year where Fed was an absolute beast on HC. He would have beaten Potro and Nadal had he been in better shape and not gotten himself injured just before the Open.

 

[Russeljones]

This is like saying I missed the opportunity to be an NBA all star just because I am taller than 6ft. Federer had no business contesting slams in 2019.

 

[ChrisRF]

This is like saying I missed the opportunity to be an NBA all star just because I am taller than 6ft. Federer had no business contesting slams in 2019.

What is that for a comparison? If the 2019 Wimbledon final wasn't "contesting for a Slam", then what is, apart from winning itself? Also the RG run was quite competitive. Federer was really good in 2019, he was just injured against Dimitrov.

 

[Entername]

This is like saying I missed the opportunity to be an NBA all star just because I am taller than 6ft. Federer had no business contesting slams in 2019.

I'd argue Fed was probably better in 2019 than 2018. '19 just gets overshadowed by 40-15

 

[Russeljones]

What is that for a comparison? If the 2019 Wimbledon final wasn't "contesting for a Slam", then what is, apart from winning itself? Also the RG run was quite competitive. Federer was really good in 2019, he was just injured against Dimitrov.

You need to unpack the semantics, my friend, and you will find there is nothing wrong with what I said.

 

[ChrisRF]

You need to unpack the semantics, my friend, and you will find there is nothing wrong with what I said.

I understand the semantics very well, but why should someone who showed that he contested for Slams in that year have no business in the last Slam of the year only a few months later? I don't get it. Or is it just an age fantasy that no one "should" do so at that age? If so, then it's baseless. As Is said, he SHOWED to be in the discussion, so of course US Open was an opportunity. Federer, like all of the Big 3, isn't ordinary in that regard. Or maybe just one of the first products of the usual prolonging of career. Future will tell.

 

[abmk]

That's what I was thinking as well. Many consider WI 2019 to be Fed's last big chance at winning a major but I honestly believe that US 2019 was Fed's last chance because the path was certainly there for the taking

considering he got injured, not so uncommon at age of 38, not really.

 

[jl809]

He was playing the best out of anyone before the Dimitrov match but got the back problem and then played like a mug. It happens, Djoker got injured during that US Open too

 

[Backspin1183]

Fed wasn't beating Rafa and Med

He could and likely would have beaten Medvedev.

 

[Nadal - GOAT]

A lot of people see 2019 Wimbledon as Fed's last big chance but does that mantle actually go to 2019 US Open?

Fed made the quarterfinals losing to Dimitrov which honestly seems like a big missed chance because Djokovic was eliminated by Stan in the R16, Fed had just effortlessly destroyed Evans and Goffin, and no one left in the field has had much success against Fed on HCs in the recent years leading up to the event.

Among the players remaining in the last 8, Federer has a perfect 23-0 record on HCs against each player in the five years leading up to the '19 US Open.

Dimitrov: 4-0
Medvedev: 3-0
Wawrinka: 6-0
Monfils: 2-0
Berrettini: 1-0
Nadal: 5-0
Schwartzman: 2-0

However, he lost in five sets to Dimitrov despite having many chances to end the match before it got to a decider. He would've played Medvedev in the semis who he's never lost to before and Rafa in the finals who he had turned the tide on when they played at HC events.

Fed was in much better form overall in 2017 but still struggled in USO that year and exited early.

I think USO physical requirements were too much for him in 2019. He can't finish points the way he does in Wimb and would need to engage in long rallies. Doubt he would even beat Med as med was in very good form that year.

 

[mike danny]

Nadal would’ve beaten him. Sorry hypothetical Federer.

2015-2019 wasn't hypothetical Federer, sorry to tell you that, bud.

 

[mike danny]

Yes, I think he could've beaten Nadal. If Med pushed him this hard, no reason why Fed wouldn't win.

 

[mike danny]

Exactly lol

Based on?

 

[mike danny]

I feel like in 2017, Delpo kinda just played a bit better than he did in that match. Plus it seems like Delpo has Fed's number on Ashe, it's just one of those matchups

2017 was just a Fed injury.

 

[MichaelNadal]

Based on?

A full DECADE of Nadal wrecking him in BO5 matches

 

[mike danny]

A full DECADE of Nadal wrecking him in BO5 matches

By that time, all that was meaningless. Fed had the edge off clay at that point. Results from a decade prior didn't matter.

 

[MichaelNadal]

By that time, all that was meaningless. Fed had the edge off clay at that point. Results from a decade prior didn't matter.

 

[TheNachoMan]

2015-2019 wasn't hypothetical Federer, sorry to tell you that, bud.

So Fed is old in 2015-2019 but he got owned by Rafa in his prime years? Does not compute.

 

[Third Serve]

fed got injured in that Dimi match. If not, he'd have likely beaten Med and would've had a good chance of beating Nadal as well.

Fed being injured at the US Open is kind of a given these days though lol

 

[TheNachoMan]

Looks like injury excuses are not limited to one fanbase. lol

 

[MeatTornado]

If he simply got past Dimitrov then he either loses to Medvedev or Med wears him down too much to have anything left to beat Rafa.

But if he was magically feeling 100% then he probably beats Dimi in straights, Med in 4, and then I like his chances against Nadal in the final.

 

[Kralingen]

Grigolo was just the better player that day.

not sure why that’s controversial, he simply neutralized the old man and played his game better than Fed could.

 

[TearTheRoofOff]

The recount of Fed's supposed missed opportunities is reaching ubiquitous status.

 

[Krish0608]

Looks like injury excuses are not limited to one fanbase. lol

Of course not. Djokovic fans love to pull out the elbow while talking about 2017-18.

 

[StrongRule]

2015-2019 wasn't hypothetical Federer, sorry to tell you that, bud.

Oh, here starts the usual cherry picking about Federer somehow owning Nadal in 2015-2019, when in fact it was only in 2017.

 

[StrongRule]

Yes, I think he could've beaten Nadal. If Med pushed him this hard, no reason why Fed wouldn't win.

Maybe because Medvedev was a much more in-form player back then? He also beat Djokovic in straight sets last year, so you think 2019 Federer would be able to do the same? He can't beat Djokovic in a slam for more than 10 years now.

 

[augustobt]

Fed schooled Med in Miami prior that year, just to remind you guys.

 

[BGod]

Yup. He should have won in the 4th like 2016 WMB against Milos. Fed's late career chokejobs might have been more old man inconsistencies though.

If you ranked big missed opportunities in Federer's career, this one would not even be top 40

Well that's an exaggeration. I'd easily put it Top 20 just based on the draw.

Yes, I think he could've beaten Nadal. If Med pushed him this hard, no reason why Fed wouldn't win.

Exactly. I think it's a travesty Dimitrov imploded so badly against Daniil, Fed would gave neutralized him in 4 but then again he lost to Raonic.

But if he's relatively fresh I think he beats an untested Nadal in the Final.

 

[Spencer Gore]

Hypothetical Federer would have swept aside everyone in his path, including Rafa, in straight sets. He is literally invincible.

Meanwhile, back in the real world...

 

[TearTheRoofOff]

Hypothetical Federer would have swept aside everyone in his path, including Rafa, in straight sets. He is literally invincible.

Meanwhile, back in the real world...

An actual caricature trying to caricature a position. Classic.

 

[weakera]

Was Wimbledon 2019 a big missed opportunity for Federer?

 

[Marco Rotim]

He wasn't beating Rafa

He had been beating Rafa for years and years, had just beaten him at wimbledon some weeks back, he would have won again.

Federer lost USO 2017 and USO 2019, both he should have taken, both were taken by Nadal, both were somewhat weak wins.

 

[Magneto89]

Fed blew it at both USO18 and USO19 (7-1 h2h vs Dimitrov and 3-1 h2h vs Millman). The 18 match was played in extremely hot conditions, and in 19 I think his back flared up during the match, it's a missed opportunity since it could have set up a QF vs Novak and SF vs Med, respectively

 

[BauerAlmeida]

Yep, if not for the injury he could have won that slam.