What is the most clutch performance by each of the Big 3 in a big match?

[Nadalgaenger]

Here are my picks:

1) Federer: Has to be the AO 2017. Nobody saw him coming back from a deficit in the 5th set of that match against Rafa.
Wimbledon 2008 might be a candidate had he managed to pull it out. FO 2011 was pretty clutch because that match basically came down to those tiebreaks and Fed played some awesome tennis there.

2) Nadal: Tough one, as he's been in a lot of epic matches against all kinds of guys (both inside and outside the Big 3). I'd say Nadal's performance in the FO 2013 5th set and Wimbledon 2008 5th set would be neck and neck. I'm sure I'm overlooking a few others though.

3) Djokovic: The AO 2012 obviously is way up there, but what about saving match points at the USO 2011??!! I'd have to go with the USO 2011!

 

[Sport]

Wimbledon 2018 for Djokovic and US Open 2013 for Nadal should be there as well.

 

[jm1980]

Fed's 2009 Wimbledon final deserves an honorable mention

 

[SecondToNone]

 

[Nadalgaenger]

Fed's 2009 Wimbledon final deserves an honorable mention

You're absolutely right. I'd overlooked that one! Tremendous serving performance from Fed.

 

[Nadalgaenger]

Yeah. Maybe the clutchest thing I've ever seen in a big match.

 

[AnOctorokForDinner]

Nadal - AO 09 F
Federer - RG 11 SF
Djokovic - USO 15 F

 

[lucky13]

2 MP in USO SF 2010 was also not tooo bad

 

[King No1e]

The 2011 US Open save was just 1 great shot. The 2010 edition had several. He forgot all caution and absolutely redlined for 3 games until it was all over. He fought like a cornered animal until there was nothing left to fight. 2010 US Open by a country mile for Djokovic, followed by W18, USO11, and Shanghai 12 vs Murray. AO12 as an honorable mention, although it was less about a few big clutch points and more about enduring the ordeal he was being put through.
For Federer I'd go with Wimbledon 2009 against Roddick, especially that 2nd set tiebreak. Roddick had 4 set points to go 2 sets to 0 and have the match on his racquet, but Federer pulled off the greatest TB comeback I've ever seen to level it and win.
Nadal has too many clutch wins to count, but #1 would have to be RG13. Unlike human beings, Rafa seems to get stronger after playing 4 hours of grueling tennis. He got help from Djokovic's now-infamous overhead miss, but it was the unwavering focus that ultimately broke Nole's spirit.

 

[King No1e]

Nadal - AO 09 F
Federer - RG 11 SF
Djokovic - USO 15 F

Best I've ever seen with the crowd against Djokovic. Normally Djokovic needs the crowd's energy to sustain his insane level of play, and gets flustered if they turn against him (lots of times early on against Federer). But Djokovic tuned it all out and weathered the storm. A mirror image of the 2005 final with Federer keeping his focus against a pro-Agassi crowd and winning in 4.

 

[Nadalgaenger]

The 2011 US Open save was just 1 great shot. The 2010 edition had several. He forgot all caution and absolutely redlined for 3 games until it was all over. He fought like a cornered animal until there was nothing left to fight. 2010 US Open by a country mile for Djokovic, followed by W18, USO11, and Shanghai 12 vs Murray. AO12 as an honorable mention, although it was less about a few big clutch points and more about enduring the ordeal he was being put through.
For Federer I'd go with Wimbledon 2009 against Roddick, especially that 2nd set tiebreak. Roddick had 4 set points to go 2 sets to 0 and have the match on his racquet, but Federer pulled off the greatest TB comeback I've ever seen to level it and win.
Nadal has too many clutch wins to count, but #1 would have to be RG13. Unlike human beings, Rafa seems to get stronger after playing 4 hours of grueling tennis. He got help from Djokovic's now-infamous overhead miss, but it was the unwavering focus that ultimately broke Nole's spirit.

Good point. I rewatched the 2011 USO highlights and forgot that Nole had some real luck there. Fed double-faulted on his serve in the game he got broken and of course there was the net cord that went against him as well. Basically a perfect storm.
2010 was more raw shotmaking.

On the flipside, 2011 involved coming back from two sets to love for Nole. Moreover, 2011 ended ultimately in a slam title and one of the great seasons ever, whereas 2010 was basically a prelude to a beatdown by Rafa in the final.

 

[Sport]

2 MP in USO SF 2010 was also not tooo bad

Thanks for sharing. His 2011 return is so famous that I hadn't seen the 2010 match points saved. So clutch, he saved 2 match points with second serve.

 

[King No1e]

Good point. I rewatched the 2011 USO highlights and forgot that Nole had some real luck there. Fed double-faulted on his serve in the game he got broken and of course there was the net cord that went against him as well. Basically a perfect storm.
2010 was more raw shotmaking.

On the flipside, 2011 involved coming back from two sets to love for Nole. Moreover, 2011 ended ultimately in a slam title and one of the great seasons ever, whereas 2010 was basically a prelude to a beatdown by Rafa in the final.

2011 was more special because of what followed. The 2010 win took a huge physical and psychological toll on Djokovic and he couldn't give it the same sustained intensity in the final, going down fast in the final set. Djokovic was the underdog against Federer then and going through a rough period physically and mentally, but in 2011 he was the favorite from the start. Djokovic seemed completely dazed in disbelief after the 2010 win, but much more spirited after the 2011 win, which is why he had it in him to play with even more intensity than he did in the SF and out-battle Nadal.

 

[lucky13]

Thanks for sharing. His 2011 return is so famous that I hadn't seen the 2010 match points saved. So clutch, he saved 2 match points with second serve.

and clean winners

 

[augustobt]

This. That moment was just completely unexpected and totally clutch.