What are Federer's Five Most Devastating Losses? (Emotionally Speaking)

[Nadalgaenger]

Here are my picks:

1) Wimbledon 2008: Coming on the heels of the thrashing he received a few weeks earlier at the French, Fed loses his most beloved trophy to his archrival in a heartbreaking fifth set.

2) Australian Open 2009 Same nemesis, same result. This is where his inability to beat Nadal on the big stage really sinks in. His entire GOAT campaign is in serious doubt. Will he ever get past 13 GS?

3) Wimbledon 2015: Roger had played unbelievable tennis going into this final. Many favored him and yet he loses again to the same opponent as the year before--a guy he clearly does not like. Just watch the clip of him awkwardly walking by Novak and his wife in the locker room.

4) USO 2011 SF: Just a SF but the way he lost it was devastating. The press conference tells it all really. Have you ever seen Roger more bitter after a loss?

5) French Open 2006: Roger at the height of his powers, dominates the King of Clay 6-1 in the opening set, but simply succumbs to a greater force for the remaining sets. This match would have set him up for a CYGS.

 

[metsman]

1. AO 09
2. 08 Wimby
3. 03 Davis Cup
4. 08 FO final
5. 11 USO semi

 

[metsman]

maybe put the 14 Wimby final in place of the 11 USO semi. He may not have been devastated by the 14 Wimby final but it definitely had a large impact on him mentally against Djokovic.

 

[Krish872007]

1. Davis Cup 2003
2. AO 2009
3. Wimby 2008
4. US 2011 SF
5. Wimby 2014

 

[Deleted member 743561]

1) Wimb F '08
2) AO F '09
3) USO F '09
4) RG F '06
5) USO SF '11

Realizing as I made this list, it is tough to pare it down to five!

 

[NatF]

1. Davis Cup 2003
2. AO 2009
3. Wimby 2008
4. US 2011 SF
5. Wimby 2014

I would switch Wimbledon 2008 and the AO 2009, maybe put USO 2009 F in for the 2011 SF.

 

[Nadalgaenger]

1. Davis Cup 2003
2. AO 2009
3. Wimby 2008
4. US 2011 SF
5. Wimby 2014

How could a Davis Cup loss ever equal the feeling of losing a GS final to your arch-nemesis?

 

[Nadalgaenger]

Honorable mention would be the SF loss to Djokovic at the AO 2008. Mono or not, this loss was very painful for Federer, as he no doubt realized that the somewhat brash opponent on the other side of the net was going to take more titles from him in the future.

 

[Krish872007]

How could a Davis Cup loss ever equal the feeling of losing a GS final to your arch-nemesis?

Ask Federer - he has stated many times that that was his worst ever loss.

 

[Giroudsleftboot]

1. AO 2009
2. Wimbledon 2008
3. Wimbledon 2014
4. USO 2009
5. AO 2005

 

[Tennisanity]

Too many

 

[Nadalgaenger]

Ask Federer - he has stated many times that that was his worst ever loss.

PR? He has hardly cared about Davis Cup over his career so odd remark from him.

 

[Nadalgaenger]

1. AO 2009
2. Wimbledon 2008
3. Wimbledon 2014
4. USO 2009
5. AO 2005

USO 2009 was definitely frustrating but by then Fed already had the GS record and was on top of tennis. Fed also genuinely likes Delpo so seemed happy for the guy almost.

 

[Deleted member 743561]

PR? He has hardly cared about Davis Cup over his career so odd remark from him.

He's played 70 DC ties though... by far the most of any of the top guys. Compare to Nadal who's played 31.

In '03 when the Swiss lost to Hewitt and the Aussies, Fed had yet to establish himself as a legend of the game. Even superiority over Hewitt wasn't locked down. I can imagine coming up short back then probably hurt.

 

[ultradr]

5 sets losses.

5 set match with Nadal, Djokovic or other great players usually puts Federer at the losing end.

 

[Giroudsleftboot]

USO 2009 was definitely frustrating but by then Fed already had the GS record and was on top of tennis. Fed also genuinely likes Delpo so seemed happy for the guy almost.

True but he knew that a win would have effectively put him as the USO goat

 

[nolefam_2024]

That RG2006 match was gem.

 

[NoleFam]

Emotionally speaking...?

1) 2009 Australian Open F
2) 2008 Wimbledon F
3) 2011 US Open SF
4) 2008 French Open F
5) 2009 US Open F

 

[SAFINATORZ]

1. 2008 Wimbledon Final
2. 2005 Aus Open semi final
3. 2009 Aus open final
4. 2011 US open Semi final
5. 2014 Wimbledon final

 

[VexlanderPrime]

3) Wimbledon 2015: Roger had played unbelievable tennis going into this final. Many favored him and yet he loses again to the same opponent as the year before--a guy he clearly does not like. Just watch the clip of him awkwardly walking by Novak and his wife in the locker room.

4) USO 2011 SF: Just a SF but the way he lost it was devastating. The press conference tells it all really. Have you ever seen Roger more bitter after a loss?

These ones, especially #4 which changed the direction of Djoker's career I think. I can't hold the Rafa losses against Fed, Rafa just has Fed's number in that matchup. Fed can definately match up with Djoker tho so those matches were there to be won.

 

[HipRotation]

In no order:
Wim 2011
Wim 2013
Every Olympics

 

[kishnabe]

1.) 2008 Wimbledon Final...coming back from 2 sets to love....rain break. Drama....tugs the heart strings. Wished he had not played into the dark....
2.) 2009 AO Final....Nadal had no legs....Federer could not beat a hampered opponent.....annoying to see.
3.) 2007 FO final....best performance against Nadal on clay.....so many breakpoint chances misses.
4.) 2011 FO final....Nadal weakest FO wins....coming off an epic performance....can't believe he could not hold serve after 5-2 first set.
5.) 2010/11 US semifinal....Denied us a Fedal us final.

 

[beast of mallorca]

Here are my picks:

1) Wimbledon 2008: Coming on the heels of the thrashing he received a few weeks earlier at the French, Fed loses his most beloved trophy to his archrival in a heartbreaking fifth set.

2) Australian Open 2009 Same nemesis, same result. This is where his inability to beat Nadal on the big stage really sinks in. His entire GOAT campaign is in serious doubt. Will he ever get past 13 GS?

3) Wimbledon 2015: Roger had played unbelievable tennis going into this final. Many favored him and yet he loses again to the same opponent as the year before--a guy he clearly does not like. Just watch the clip of him awkwardly walking by Novak and his wife in the locker room.

4) USO 2011 SF: Just a SF but the way he lost it was devastating. The press conference tells it all really. Have you ever seen Roger more bitter after a loss?

5) French Open 2006: Roger at the height of his powers, dominates the King of Clay 6-1 in the opening set, but simply succumbs to a greater force for the remaining sets. This match would have set him up for a CYGS.

How about the Rome 2006 F ?m

 

[NEW_BORN]

Emotionally Speaking
2003 Davis Cup loss to Hewitt in 5 after leading by 2 sets to 0 and having served for the match
2006 Rome loss to Nadal in 5 after squandering a 4-1 lead in the 5th and multiple match points
2008 Wimbledon loss to Nadal in 5 after saving multiple match points only to fall short at the final hurdle
2009 AO loss to Nadal in 5 after having numerous opportunities to win the match in straights
2014 Wimbledon loss to Djokovic in 5 after conjuring a miraculous comeback only to fall short at the final hurdle

Honourable Mentions
2000 Basel loss to Enqvist in 5 after stirring comebacks to level the match
2005 Masters Cup loss to Nalbandian in 5 after leading by 2 sets to 0 and having served for the match
2009 USO loss to DelPotro in 5 after squandering a 2 sets to 1 lead and coming within 2 points of winning the match
2011 USO loss to Djokovic in 5 after leading by 2 sets to 0 and having served for the match and having had multiple matches points on serve
2013 Wimbledon loss to Stakhovsky bringing an end to the streak of 36 consecutive QFs

Not to Mention
2010 USO loss to Djokovic in 5 after having multiple match points
2011 Wimbledon loss to Tsonga in 5 after leading by 2 sets to 0
2013 AO loss to Murray in 5 after a stirring comeback in the 4th
2015 Wimbledon loss to Djokovic after squandering multiple opportunities to take the 1st set
2015 USO loss to Djokovic after wasting numerous break point opportunities to take the 3rd set

Federer's probably lost more big matches in devastating fashion than anybody else in history

 

[malbaker86]

Emotionally Speaking
2003 Davis Cup loss to Hewitt in 5 after leading by 2 sets to 0 and having served for the match
2006 Rome loss to Nadal in 5 after squandering a 4-1 lead in the 5th and multiple match points
2008 Wimbledon loss to Nadal in 5 after saving multiple match points only to fall short at the final hurdle
2009 AO loss to Nadal in 5 after having numerous opportunities to win the match in straights
2014 Wimbledon loss to Djokovic in 5 after conjuring a miraculous comeback only to fall short at the final hurdle

Honourable Mentions
2000 Basel loss to Enqvist in 5 after stirring comebacks to level the match
2005 Masters Cup loss to Nalbandian in 5 after leading by 2 sets to 0 and having served for the match
2009 USO loss to DelPotro in 5 after squandering a 2 sets to 1 lead and coming within 2 points of winning the match
2011 USO loss to Djokovic in 5 after leading by 2 sets to 0 and having served for the match and having had multiple matches points on serve
2013 Wimbledon loss to Stakhovsky bringing an end to the streak of 36 consecutive QFs

Not to Mention
2010 USO loss to Djokovic in 5 after having multiple match points
2011 Wimbledon loss to Tsonga in 5 after leading by 2 sets to 0
2013 AO loss to Murray in 5 after a stirring comeback in the 4th
2015 Wimbledon loss to Djokovic after squandering multiple opportunities to take the 1st set
2015 USO loss to Djokovic after wasting numerous break point opportunities to take the 3rd set

Federer's probably lost more big matches in devastating fashion than anybody else in history

part of it is it's just a REALLLLLY big deal when Fed loses in a Grand Slam especially when it's to somebody other than Nadal or Novak

 

[sportsfan1]

2008 Wimby because this meant Rafa became a threat at all slams, and 2010/2011 USO - same for Djokovic. With two significant hurdles that Fed would falter at most of the time, it really started getting bleaker at the GS stage.

 

[Dave1982]

I think in hindsight USO 2009 has go be up there from a fan perspective as it probably goes down as one of his greatest missed opportunities...a win there would also have likely seen him hold all 4 at once after he went on to win 2010 AO, again can only be considered in hindsight!

For Federer at the time though - I tend to agree with the OP, of course there are others you can make a case for but these are all pivotal moments in their own right and carry significant magnitude for varying reasons.

 

[nolefam_2024]

Who cares if it is 4 slam at once. Only Calendar slam counts

 

[Deleted member 716271]

Worst is AO 09, he cried after.

 

[Russeljones]

PR? He has hardly cared about Davis Cup over his career so odd remark from him.

I'd say "Odd" is too kind a description for your comment. Pray tell, what made you think that Davis Cup mattered little to the man who's played more singles matches than any other active player?

 

[Tennis_Hands]

Here are my picks:

1) Wimbledon 2008: Coming on the heels of the thrashing he received a few weeks earlier at the French, Fed loses his most beloved trophy to his archrival in a heartbreaking fifth set.

2) Australian Open 2009 Same nemesis, same result. This is where his inability to beat Nadal on the big stage really sinks in. His entire GOAT campaign is in serious doubt. Will he ever get past 13 GS?

3) Wimbledon 2015: Roger had played unbelievable tennis going into this final. Many favored him and yet he loses again to the same opponent as the year before--a guy he clearly does not like. Just watch the clip of him awkwardly walking by Novak and his wife in the locker room.

4) USO 2011 SF: Just a SF but the way he lost it was devastating. The press conference tells it all really. Have you ever seen Roger more bitter after a loss?

5) French Open 2006: Roger at the height of his powers, dominates the King of Clay 6-1 in the opening set, but simply succumbs to a greater force for the remaining sets. This match would have set him up for a CYGS.

1) goes on to win the US Open 2008 for the fifth time
2) goes on to win the RG Wimby double
3) played well made a final at Wimby at 34. Overblown observation on him passing the Djokovices
4) goes on a tear in the next months. A streak that ends with a crown at Wimby and world #1
5) goes on to win Wimby against the same rival and some more after that

Federer really is the mental GOAT

 

[captainbryce]

1. AO 09
2. 08 Wimby
3. 03 Davis Cup
4. 08 FO final
5. 11 USO semi

I agree with this list. A lot of people forget about 2003 Davis Cup match where Hewitt came back from 2 sets to love down to win. That was Federer's first real "WTF just happened" moment. The 2011 USO semi final loss had to be heartbreaking after having held match points against Djokovic. Prior to that, I'm not aware of that ever happening to him before. However, the 2009 Australian Open final was by far Federer's most devastating loss emotionally. It was his first opportunity to beat Nadal at a hard court grand slam, in a match that he led It's the only match I can ever remember him actually crying (for a while) at the end!

 

[I am the Greatest!]

Here are my picks:

1) Wimbledon 2008: Coming on the heels of the thrashing he received a few weeks earlier at the French, Fed loses his most beloved trophy to his archrival in a heartbreaking fifth set.

2) Australian Open 2009 Same nemesis, same result. This is where his inability to beat Nadal on the big stage really sinks in. His entire GOAT campaign is in serious doubt. Will he ever get past 13 GS?

3) Wimbledon 2015: Roger had played unbelievable tennis going into this final. Many favored him and yet he loses again to the same opponent as the year before--a guy he clearly does not like. Just watch the clip of him awkwardly walking by Novak and his wife in the locker room.

4) USO 2011 SF: Just a SF but the way he lost it was devastating. The press conference tells it all really. Have you ever seen Roger more bitter after a loss?

5) French Open 2006: Roger at the height of his powers, dominates the King of Clay 6-1 in the opening set, but simply succumbs to a greater force for the remaining sets. This match would have set him up for a CYGS.

Bingo. I would just swap Rome 2006 with number 3.

 

[I am the Greatest!]

1) goes on to win the US Open 2008 for the fifth time
2) goes on to win the RG Wimby double
3) played well made a final at Wimby at 34. Overblown observation on him passing the Djokovices
4) goes on a tear in the next months. A streak that ends with a crown at Wimby and world #1
5) goes on to win Wimby against the same rival and some more after that

Federer really is the mental GOAT

Federer was incredibly tough mentally in terms of coming back from devastating losses. Incredible focus and resilience.

 

[Tennis_Hands]

Federer was incredibly tough mentally in terms of coming back from devastating losses. Incredible focus and resilience.

That is the point.

What happens after "devastating" losses should determine how devastating they were.

It would seem that they were not "devastating".

Maybe "motivating" is a better word?

 

[I am the Greatest!]

That is the point.

What happens after "devastating" losses should determine how devastating they were.

It would seem that they were not "devastating".

Maybe "motivating" is a better word?

That really depends on the person's view, if they are optimistic, they will get motivated. Those losses were really devastating, but kudos to Roger bouncing back.