Worst matches ever played by the big three?
- Thread starter weakera
- Start date
mike danny
Bionic Poster
Fed vs Robredo USO 2013.
BorgTheGOAT
Legend
Nadal Youzhny Chennai 2008.
WeekendTennisHack
Hall of Fame
FO2008 by Fed.
Fiero425
Legend
During that season of "en oui" for Novak, he also lost on clay at the FO to some Italian player I'd never heard of Marco Cecchinato! I didn't see it, but it looks bad!
Devin
Semi-Pro
Some bizarre matches from Federer before serious form decline:
Olympics 2004 vs. Berdych
Olympics 2008 vs. Blake
Rome 2007 vs. Volandri
Rome 2003 final, RG 2003 1R
Estoril 2010 vs. Montanes
Wimbledon 2010 vs. Falla (he almost lost in the first round FFS)
IW 2008 vs. Fish
This isn't even looking at the horror shows he put on against Millman at USO, his Wimbledon 2021 exit, Nishikori match at WTF, etc.
Olympics 2004 vs. Berdych
Olympics 2008 vs. Blake
Rome 2007 vs. Volandri
Rome 2003 final, RG 2003 1R
Estoril 2010 vs. Montanes
Wimbledon 2010 vs. Falla (he almost lost in the first round FFS)
IW 2008 vs. Fish
This isn't even looking at the horror shows he put on against Millman at USO, his Wimbledon 2021 exit, Nishikori match at WTF, etc.
Hitman
Bionic Poster
AO Final 2019
RG Quarterfinals 2015
RG Semifinals 2021
Having trouble reading the OP?
Breakpointerer
Legend
Fed-Nishikori WTF 2018 comes to mind where I think he had 6W-22UE. Nishikori had similarly awful numbers himself. Painful viewing.
DSH
Talk Tennis Guru
tennis_pro
Bionic Poster
I haven't seen Fed play worse than what he did against Fish in 2008 Indian Wells. It's like he drank 4 beers before going out on court.
Musterrific
Hall of Fame
I'd throw RG 2004 into that list. He had what, 2 slams at that point in his career, was ranked #1 and was entering his dominant peak era, only to get bounced in the third round of RG in straights by a washed up Kuerten with a ruined hip? Detestable, inexcusable loss. And that was the last RG before the insane Nadal era, so a golden opportunity for Fed to vulture the clay slam with a weak field blown for no reason...
For Djokovic, I'd say it's the 6-0, 6-2, 6-1 loss to his idol Safin at the 2005 Australian Open.
I get that it was Baby Djokovic, but he performed well enough at the other Majors that year:
I get that it was Baby Djokovic, but he performed well enough at the other Majors that year:
French: crushed Ginepri, then split sets with Coria before retiring in the third set;
Wimbledon: beat Moncao and Garcia Lopez before losing a four setter with Grosjean;
U.S. Open: beat Monfils and Ancic before losing to Verdasco in five sets
Angrybirdstar
Rookie
maybe Federer vs Bruguera at Barcelona in 2000
Backspin1183
Talk Tennis Guru
Nadal was simply exhausted from the 3 setter he had with Moya in the previous match. He didn't necessarily play 'bad.'
aldeayeah
G.O.A.T.
You're aware that he was 17, that was his very first major, and Safin went on to win the title, right?
BorgTheGOAT
Legend
Sounds strange to me that he is exhausted at the very first tournament of the year after a 3 setter. Another pick would then be 6-2, 6-0, 7-6 against Berdych AO 2015. If he loses against his personal fangirl you know he is bad.
travlerajm
Talk Tennis Guru
No excuses!
Yeah, as I said in my post, "I get that this was baby Djokovic."
Anyway, I guess this gets to the question of what we're addressing in this thread: the worst match overall or the worst match relative to the player's overall level. This match answers the first question but not the second question (which would likely be a bad match when Djokovic was ranked #1).
BeatlesFan
Bionic Poster
Fed was 40 years old on that match. Think that enters into why he was bageled by Hubi?
Backspin1183
Talk Tennis Guru
Watch the match against Moya and you'd know why he would have been tired for the final with just a few hours of rest.
The one against Berdych is legit bad.
aldeayeah
G.O.A.T.
Nuff said!
Tennfan123
Legend
I feel like Djokovic has the most. Especially in the bigger matches.
Third Serve
Talk Tennis Guru
For Fed it’s certainly his last official one against Hurkacz. But that’s too obvious because of the injury and age.
I’ll go with the ATP Finals 2018 match against Nishikori. One of the worst matches I’ve seen period, not just from one player.
I’ll go with the ATP Finals 2018 match against Nishikori. One of the worst matches I’ve seen period, not just from one player.
NeutralFan
G.O.A.T.
Nadal vs Tiafoe?
kevin qmto
Hall of Fame
No ‘love’ for Djokovic’s match against an already old Karlovic in 2015? Where he was so resigned to losing the match he started mocking Ivo by serving and volleying on like 4 straight points after not doing it the whole match?
MichaelNadal
Bionic Poster
Nadal, McDonald
Fiero425
Legend
...and the event was? Qatar? It probably wasn't worth stressing over by him or anyone! In 2015, it's the most memorable season on the men's tour to date! OTTH, of the 14 major events, Novak played 13, he made all the finals and won 10! Any match outside of that, who TF cares? He took 3 majors, 6 Masters, & The YEC!
kevin qmto
Hall of Fame
It was such a good year, that makes the loss (and how angry he got during it) all the more fascinating. It’s not a thread about their worst year....and the event was? Qatar? It probably wasn't worth stressing over by him or anyone! In 2015, it's the most memorable season on the men's tour to date! OTTH, of the 14 major events, Novak played 13, he made all the finals and won 10! Any match outside of that, who TF cares? He took 3 majors, 6 Masters, & The YEC!
By your logic, everyone should be saying Australian open 2005 where young Novak was absolutely blown off the court by Safin.
Fiero425
Legend
I think I just go into another world thinking of that 2015 season where Novak could do no wrong! It was the most dominating season ever as he not only won those 10 major events, he also took his pet 500, China Open over Nadal!
PerilousPear
Professional
Djokovic USO 2013 final.
Nadal>>>>>Federer
Professional
I will throw out Fed vs Fish at Indian Wells 2008 (?) the dude just played bad. Same with Fed vs Volandri 2007 Rome
MichaelNadal
Bionic Poster
Lol bestie
Devin
Semi-Pro
Definitely not close to the worst for him, although Novak was arguably better in USO 2010 F (and even USO 2008 SF). He had chances to win the 2013 final, but couldn't win key points and then started spraying errors in the fourth.
Looking just at Djokodal encounters in slam finals, RG 2014 F was worse from Novak.
Wimbledon 2013 final, Djokovic played like a zombie, but that was against Murray (who plays amazingly well in slam finals /s).
sportsfan1
Legend
Sorr of bizarre - after Fred's cincy 2013(?) match against nadal he said he had been out celebrating mirkas birthday and didn't prep. Suppose he blew one for the missus.
Djokodalerer31
Hall of Fame
mike danny
Bionic Poster
And then he got destroyed by Thiem and Anderson, which says it all.
mike danny
Bionic Poster
That was Miami 2011.
