You can change ONE match result from tennis history...

[Subway Tennis]

Wimbledon '19 and it isn't particularly close.

Wimbledon 08 hurt, and cost him the standalone record for consecutive weeks at #1.

But the ultimate prize of beating Nadal and Djokovic in succession to win #21 at ~38...and it's now looking like that was the last time we'll see him in a Slam final. So it has to be that one.

That Wimbledon 2019 run was just insane. If 38yo Fed had beaten his two biggest rivals, who are both 5+ years younger than him, back to back at his favourite major, that might have just closed the book on any other discussions in terms of the best of the Big 4 era.

It doesnt get talked about much, but the swag with which Fed beat Rafa in the SF was pretty wild. Fed really nailed his shot selection and was playing hyper aggressive and still giving himself a comfort zone. No one beats Fed on grass when he is freed up mentally like that.

 

[Rosstour]

That Wimbledon 2019 run was just insane. If 38yo Fed had beaten his two biggest rivals, who are both 5+ years younger than him, back to back at his favourite major, that might have just closed the book on any other discussions in terms of the best of the Big 4 era.

It doesnt get talked about much, but the swag with which Fed beat Rafa in the SF was pretty wild. Fed really nailed his shot selection and was playing hyper aggressive and still giving himself a comfort zone. No one beats Fed on grass when he is freed up mentally like that.

Yeah he was in God mode one last time. MFer had been waiting for that rematch for a decade!

Even the sets he took off Novak in the Final were straight ass-beatings. He lost the close ones in typical Fed fashion and here we are.

 

[MeatTornado]

2014 AO final for Nadal.. Gives him the DCYGS at age 28 and probably allows him more confidence in future AO finals

Hard to see him winning 2017 or 2019 just because of that. 2019 is simply out of the question, he can't beat that Novak at this stage of his career. And it's not like he needed any extra confidence when facing Federer again. He already had a career full of confidence building against Roger, including a 3-0 record in Melbourne. It was just the first time that Roger punched back with the same level of confidence. I don't think having 2 AO titles instead of 1 is enough to change things.

 

[jondice]

2017 AO final. Simply because Rafa had it. He had it.

 

[Whisper]

That Wimbledon 2019 run was just insane. If 38yo Fed had beaten his two biggest rivals, who are both 5+ years younger than him

Fake news. Nadal is 4 yrs younger. Connors was nearly 7 yrs older than McEnroe and no one made excuses for him like Fed fans today roflmfao : )

 

[Nadal_King]

Top 3 contenders
1. Wimb 18 Sf Vs Djokovic
2. Ao 12 f vs Djokovic
3. Ao 17 f vs Federer

 

[pat200]

1989 FO final, Graf beats Sanchez and we are talking about 2 consecutive CYGS and 9 slams in a row.

 

[DIMI_D]

For Nadal would be one of -
12 AO, 14 AO ( this one hurt more for Nadal personally than the others) or 17 AO
Wimby 18

I would take any of these

 

[JoelSandwich]

I’d reverse Wimbledon 09 and 19 winners
AO 09 and USO 09 are good choices as well

 

[adil1972]

what you got TTW?

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1439235763007209482

this Q has been asked many times on this forum

EDIT

is this first time in a grand slam final that all 3 sets have same score 6-4, 6-4, 6-4
'
i hope med / djok fans do not mind

but I did not watch us open final 2021 as the final was played way after midnight (1AM Monday Morning my local time) where i live and i had to report at 7am sharp at duty monday morning

 

[OhYes]

UO 2021 and retirement is done

 

[iopzzza]

Come on, you've got to be delusional not to say US OPEN 21... We all want to watch history.

 

[Russeljones]

what you got TTW?

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1439235763007209482

2009 AO final

 

[TimHenmanATG]

Henman vs. Ivanisevic - Wimbledon SF 2001.

 

[Red Rick]

Wimbledon 2004 final.

 

[vive le beau jeu !]

The downside would be Nadal never getting his AO (...)

i don't understand this post...

 

[thrust]

Wimby 2019 for me and it’s not close.

For me, 1970,74 Wimbledon final.

 

[FEDERERNADAL13]

2006 French Open final - Would make Roger win

Not only would this give him a CYGS, this would also give him some confidence vs Nadal on clay and will prevent 2008W and 2009AO losses from happening.

So I have 3 slams in 1.

Arguably the most significant win it could be that gives him more wins.

Given what it would do for Fed’s confidence, we could have seen a run of 2005 SW19, 2005 USO, 2006 AO, 2006 RG, 2006 SW19, 2006 USO, 2006 AO.

If he has won 7 slams in a row at that point, who knows how far he would go?

 

[Biotic]

Any of 2007/2012/2013 USO F or 2014 RG F will do.

 

[Genious at Work]

People think I'd choose one of the AOs for Nadal but it's Wimb 18 SF vs Djokovic for me

Even if Nadal hadn't won the title, yes. That roofed travesty of a match needs to be changed. Nadal deserved to win that one.

 

[Soianka]

Venus beats Garbine W2017

 

[tex123]

what you got TTW?

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1439235763007209482

How about 3?

1. Fed 40-15 loss to get to 21
2. Djoker beating injured Nadal at FO to deny 21.
3. Med destroying Djoker to deny 21 and CYGS at the USO.


To be fair, only (1) is worthy of overturning the result. Djokovic should not have won that.

 

[Slicerman]

2020 AO men's final - Thiem d. Djokovic - 4-6, 6-4, 6-2, 3-6, 7-6(8)

 

[Thetouch]

40-15

which one? ^^

 

[BayAreaBooster]

Federer at 2006 Rome said that there was no rivalry between him and Nadal.

If Fed had won Rome 2006, he would have stood a better chance beating Rafa in the RG final that year.

 

[BayAreaBooster]

Yeah he was in God mode one last time. MFer had been waiting for that rematch for a decade!

Even the sets he took off Novak in the Final were straight ass-beatings. He lost the close ones in typical Fed fashion and here we are.

I remember watching the match along with the cricket World Cup finals. At 8-7 40-15, we starting planning a big beer fest until Novak spoilt our plans.

 

[pj80]

Agassi Fed USO 2001...we would get Sampras-Federer rematch at night on Arthur Ashe( and I would have been present)

 

[BayAreaBooster]

Given what it would do for Fed’s confidence, we could have seen a run of 2005 SW19, 2005 USO, 2006 AO, 2006 RG, 2006 SW19, 2006 USO, 2006 AO.

If he has won 7 slams in a row at that point, who knows how far he would go?

Insane stats.. In my opinion, the root cause for Fed's RG 2006 loss was his heartbreaking loss in Rome that year. If he'd converted one of those 2 MPs, his H2H against Rafa would've been far more favorable than 16-24.

 

[Rebel-I.N.S]

Andy Murray wins the 2013 Australian Open.

 

[AO13]

US Open 2021 final. Everything in Djokovic's career is perfect as it is (except for Olympics maybe). Every harsh defeat was later used and fueled to make great results (RG 2015 loss, RG 2018, RG 2020, few Masters results etc).

On the other hand, maybe if he won this final, he would not win anymore GS titles. Maybe loss of motivation due to winning everything. It could happen nevertheless, but we shall see. Maybe this loss will fuel new fire.

 

[Sunny014]

US Open 2021 final. Everything in Djokovic's career is perfect as it is (except for Olympics maybe). Every harsh defeat was later used and fueled to make great results (RG 2015 loss, RG 2018, RG 2020, few Masters results etc).

On the other hand, maybe if he won this final, he would not win anymore GS titles. Maybe loss of motivation due to winning everything. It could happen nevertheless, but we shall see. Maybe this loss will fuel new fire.

As long as he has no rivals below him with any self belief, he can fuel new fire, he has done this for 10 years.

Some good ATGs below him would have made him (and those 2 geriatric oldies as well) retire by 2020 with a 12-13 slams career.

 

[Sunny014]

Agassi Fed USO 2001...we would get Sampras-Federer rematch at night on Arthur Ashe( and I would have been present)

How old are you?
Just wondering.

 

[pj80]

How old are you?
Just wondering.

I was just a teenager when I snuck into the stadium to watch Sampras Agassi

 

[The Fedfather]

FO 2006 final. The CYGS and salvation after the Rome defeat.

 

[California]

1989 French Open final, Edberg beats Chang. That is the one I want…..

 

[R. Schweikart]

Come on, you've got to be delusional not to say US OPEN 21... We all want to watch history.

And so we did.
When was the last time a player was gunning for then Grand Slam and fell at the last hurdle, the final of the 4th slam?
It was historic and great to watch.

Almost tops the USO 15 women's semis with Serena losing to R. Vinci, a great and historic experience as well.

 

[Arafel]

I can think of a few:

1) Connors-Borg, Wimbledon 1977. Connors was slightly injured. I also sometimes wonder how Vitas' career would have gone if he'd beaten Borg in that semi.
2) Connors-Vilas, US Open 1977. I was tempted to choose 75, but I think 77 for preference.
3) Evert-Navratilova, 1984 US Open. That was an amazing match, the first time Chris had been competitive with Martina in over a year. I would have liked to see Chris with one more U.S. Open.
4) Roddick-Fed, Wimbledon, either 2004 or 2009. Andy really should have one Wimbledon crown.
5) Nadal-Djokovic, AO, 2012. Nadal choked in the fifth. I would like to see Nadal get the double career Slam. Also, if he wins that match, I think he ends up with a few more AOs
6) Clijsters-Capriati, 2001 FO. I really don't like Capriati
7) Clijsters-Henin, 2003 FO. As much as I don't like Capriati, I like Henin even less.

 

[BorgTheGOAT]

Borg vs Mac USO 1980, as this would give Borg the chance for CYGS. Second choice is Nadal vs Djokovic Wimbledon 2018. Djokovic would most likely come back anyways as the semifinal and tough five setter alone would give him enough confidence but Nadal would have a third Wimbledon and on top of that another non-FO slam win against Djokovic leading him everywhere other that at the AO.

 

[AO13]

Some good ATGs below him would have made him (and those 2 geriatric oldies as well) retire by 2020 with a 12-13 slams career.

First thing is, he wouldn't retire by 2020, and he won't by 2024 if he stays healthy.

Secondly, some good ATGs like Stan and Andy made him today a 20 GS titles winner, instead of 25.

Medvedev, Tsitsipas and Zverev will also be multiple slam winners, and one of them succeeded in stopping him just one step ahead of possibly greatest tennis season of all time in men's singles.

 

[Sunny014]

First thing is, he wouldn't retire by 2020, and he won't by 2024 if he stays healthy.

Secondly, some good ATGs like Stan and Andy made him today a 20 GS titles winner, instead of 25.

Medvedev, Tsitsipas and Zverev will also be multiple slam winners, and one of them succeeded in stopping him just one step ahead of possibly greatest tennis season of all time in men's singles.

Stan and Murray are inferior specimens who would not win a lot of slams in other eras, these sorta jokers are not ATGs,
Stan is that loser who has been Fedal's pigeon for more than a decade, Murray is another loser who has never beaten peak Fedal in slams

Meddy/Tsitsi/Zverev would never reach the semi finals in other eras too, these are not champions at any level

Actual ATGs below Novak would have made him retire by 2020 and Fedal themselves would be retired by 2018.

Fedal would have stopped winning slams by 2014-2015 and Novak would have by 2018 if real ATGs had arrived in Thiem/Grigor's gen

 

[spoonfed]

That Wimbledon 2019 run was just insane. If 38yo Fed had beaten his two biggest rivals, who are both 5+ years younger than him, back to back at his favourite major, that might have just closed the book on any other discussions in terms of the best of the Big 4 era.

It doesnt get talked about much, but the swag with which Fed beat Rafa in the SF was pretty wild. Fed really nailed his shot selection and was playing hyper aggressive and still giving himself a comfort zone. No one beats Fed on grass when he is freed up mentally like that.

This. And for the feeling of a fairy tale come true when the first serve at 40-15 is an ace, with Nole going the wrong way as he did, instead of hitting the tape. Small margins, very different narrative.

 

[Nate7-5]

Definitely Lauren Davis vs. Simona Halep Fri. Jan 19th 2018 with Halep barely prevailing 4-6 6-4 15-13

 

[NatF]

AO 2005 SF, Hewitt b. Safin. Lleyton clearing that draw in front of his home crowd would have been too epic.

 

[sliceroni]

90 Wimbledon final. Becker would’ve won back to back twice.

 

[James P]

Not sure I'd change history, but boy this season would have a completely different tenor if Medvedev beats Djokovic in the Australian Open earlier this year.

 

[Sephiroth]

Not sure I'd change history, but boy this season would have a completely different tenor if Medvedev beats Djokovic in the Australian Open earlier this year.

Taylor Fritz! He has blood on his hands!

 

[Vilgan]

Has to be the 40-15 for me, even though the FO to get the CYGS would been more historic.

 

[edberg volleys]

Edberg - Chang FO final. Had Edberg won that one, which he was heavily tipped of doing he’d be the only one with a career slam in both junior and senior. And his 10th overall senior slam.

Tell me about

 

[edberg volleys]

Even Medvedev wants to take away Nadal's wins, this is systematic hatred

@vive le beau jeu ! and 1298989 likes this

 

[R. Schweikart]

1989 FO final, Graf beats Sanchez and we are talking about 2 consecutive CYGS and 9 slams in a row.

And we wouldn't have all those silly GOAT discussions with Graf deniers.