VoightKampff
New User
If he missed that return, Fed would have likely gone on to lose to that Rafa. Then in the AO 2012, Rafa would be much more confident and likely would have beaten Nole in the 5th set instead of dropping serve while a break up. Then, going into Wimbledon 2012 he would have 3 slams in a row, and I doubt Rosol would have beaten the supreme form of Rafa. In the final we'd have another Fedal matchup, and potentially Rafa with 4 slams in a row.
So, in the end, Djokovic's shot prevented Rafa from having three potential extra slams, with him ending up on 17 slams and Fed on 16. The most vital shot in tennis history? I think so.
I think the only other history-altering shot on the same scale was the net miss at RG 2013; Nole winning that point and potentially the match, and then having the confidence to win Wimby 2013 and USO 2013 from having beaten Rafa on clay. But there's no guarantee that Rafa wouldn't have broken while Nole was serving for the match, so I still think the USO 2011 shot was more vital.
So, in the end, Djokovic's shot prevented Rafa from having three potential extra slams, with him ending up on 17 slams and Fed on 16. The most vital shot in tennis history? I think so.
I think the only other history-altering shot on the same scale was the net miss at RG 2013; Nole winning that point and potentially the match, and then having the confidence to win Wimby 2013 and USO 2013 from having beaten Rafa on clay. But there's no guarantee that Rafa wouldn't have broken while Nole was serving for the match, so I still think the USO 2011 shot was more vital.
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