Just for fun. My biggest choke. I was playing in a tourny, and lost the first set 6-3. In the second set I got up 5-1, I was up a double break, and then lost the next 5 games, then got one to force it to a TB. In the TB I went down 7-2. My best comeback. I was in a doubles tourney with a friend, and we quickly got down 2-5 in the first set. After that my partner and I rolled of 5 straight games to win 7-5. We also won the 2 set 7-5.
Your biggest comeback/choke
- Thread starter Tammo
- Start date
I don't do league play, but in matches against friends/acquaintances, I blew either a 5-0 or 5-1 lead to lose a set at least once, and came from from 0-6 down to win a 10 point tie-breaker.
bcart1991
Professional
Mixed Doubles City Finals, 2003. Playing line 5, final and championship-deciding match. My partner and I are down 5-3 and 30-0 with their guy serving in the third set. Came back to win that one 7-5 and take the City Championship.
A couple years later, semifinals of Men's Doubles, we're down 1-4 in the third set of our line 5 match. Came back to win that one 9-7 in a TB. Team won in the Finals the next week in 4 matches out of 5.
I've lost a couple where I was up a set and 5-2 or some such. I blame my partner for proclaiming "We got this one, baby!" at that point, thus creating our opponent's remarkable comebacks.
A couple years later, semifinals of Men's Doubles, we're down 1-4 in the third set of our line 5 match. Came back to win that one 9-7 in a TB. Team won in the Finals the next week in 4 matches out of 5.
I've lost a couple where I was up a set and 5-2 or some such. I blame my partner for proclaiming "We got this one, baby!" at that point, thus creating our opponent's remarkable comebacks.
beernutz
Hall of Fame
Playing up at 4.0 the first time my partner and I go up 3-0 with 2 breaks with two games won at love. We then proceeded to lose 12 games in a row to lose 3-6 0-6. Two weeks later we win the first set easily at 6-2 and basically gave away the two games we lost we were so dominant. We then again lost 12 games in a row to finish 6-2, 0-6, 0-6. Ouch. I consider both matches chokes because the other teams didn't pick up their games nearly as much as ours dropped off the map.
Biggest positive turnaround was in a the last league match of the year in the Spring where the 2nd and 3rd place teams were playing to decide which one went to playoffs with the first place team. We got drilled the first set 0-6 and lost the first 13 points of the match in a row. We then crushed them and won the second set 6-1 and 10-2 in the TB. Tennis can be weird.
Biggest positive turnaround was in a the last league match of the year in the Spring where the 2nd and 3rd place teams were playing to decide which one went to playoffs with the first place team. We got drilled the first set 0-6 and lost the first 13 points of the match in a row. We then crushed them and won the second set 6-1 and 10-2 in the TB. Tennis can be weird.
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GlennK
Rookie
Singles match. I won the first set 6-2 and was up 5-1 and serving. I proceeded to lose that game and the next 5 to lose the second set 7-5. Totally lost my confidence and ended up losing the third set and the match. Can't remember the exact score of the third set but I am pretty sure I lost 6-2.
Glenn
Glenn
dizzlmcwizzl
Hall of Fame
Biggest choke ... I was in a weight loss contest at work and had a big match on the same day as our weigh in. Foolishly I had dehydrated myself to maximize my chances of winning the small cash prize for the weight loss contest. Later during the match I won the first set easily. When the lack of fluids kicked in I proceeded to lose the next two sets 6-0, 6-1 .... It was worse than the scores suggests.
Biggest Comeback ... this year in sectionals we were down a set and 5-1 to a strong opponent and came back to win the match with two come from behind tie breaks.
Biggest Comeback ... this year in sectionals we were down a set and 5-1 to a strong opponent and came back to win the match with two come from behind tie breaks.
I've choked tons of times, but one memorable choke was the quarters at the '78 ChineseNationals in SanFrancisco. Most guys thought I had a chance to make the finals. I'd been playing successfully in A/Open events all around the BayArea. Met JohnLee, a really old and decrepit 40 year old who pitty patted the ball and acted like he was gonna die the next point, limping, hobbling, rubbing his muscles, and complaining almost every point.
Up 5-0 in the first set, I managed to lose that one AND the second set bagel.
Good show, lost a couple of very potential g/f candidates right there! Lucky for me.
At least my doubles tourney ended in the finals for another resounding defeat.
Up 5-0 in the first set, I managed to lose that one AND the second set bagel.
Good show, lost a couple of very potential g/f candidates right there! Lucky for me.
At least my doubles tourney ended in the finals for another resounding defeat.
Back in the '80s, I always choked and lost when playing this one guy, even when I was up 5-3 or so in a set. Then I wised up and read Jim Loehr's "Mental Toughness---Training for Sports", the only book that ever really worked for me. I beat this guy a few days later, and usually every match thereafter.
Jon Hampton
Rookie
Strange but true...I had the biggest comeback wins at Sectionals two years ago. It works like this:
#1: First match my partner and I play at sectionals. We lose the first set 3-6 and are down 4-5 with our opponents serving for the match. My wife comes over to see how we're doing and I flash her the "thumbs down" to mean it's over. At this point, we are 2-2, so this match will decide who wins the match up. At 30-40, my partner hits a great winner down the line and we're at 5-5. We hold, they hold. We win the tiebreak 7-5 and win the second, 3rd set tiebreak 10-8.
#2: My team is exhausted after our first day encounter and this match is in the middle of the day. My partner and I win the first set 6-4 or something similar and then my partner gets a massive cramp in his leg and has trouble moving. We are thinking about calling the match, but decide to play on. We quickly are losing games and end up losing 1-6. In the 3rd set tiebreak at 3-4 us serving, the heavens open up and it begins to pour. Match is rescheduled for the next day--and it turns out that my team is down 0-2, but all three of our doubles matches went to third set tiebreaks when the rains came. We come back the next day, I am serving at 3-4, we end up winning the last few points to make it 10-5. To boot, our other two doubles matches end up winning their tiebreaks, so we win the match up 3-2.
#3: Last sectional match against the other undefeated team. My partner and I start off well and win the first set 6-3. We are so tired from previous days that we end up losing the second 3-6. In the third set tiebreak, it's a continuous battle of having match points and being down match points. Eventually, on our 7th match points, our opponents make an error and we win. Unfortunately, we end up losing this match up 1-4 against the other team, but two of our singles matches went to third set tiebreaks and we just couldn't pull them out.
Overall, it was in incredible match. Definitely one for my memory banks to re-live again.
#1: First match my partner and I play at sectionals. We lose the first set 3-6 and are down 4-5 with our opponents serving for the match. My wife comes over to see how we're doing and I flash her the "thumbs down" to mean it's over. At this point, we are 2-2, so this match will decide who wins the match up. At 30-40, my partner hits a great winner down the line and we're at 5-5. We hold, they hold. We win the tiebreak 7-5 and win the second, 3rd set tiebreak 10-8.
#2: My team is exhausted after our first day encounter and this match is in the middle of the day. My partner and I win the first set 6-4 or something similar and then my partner gets a massive cramp in his leg and has trouble moving. We are thinking about calling the match, but decide to play on. We quickly are losing games and end up losing 1-6. In the 3rd set tiebreak at 3-4 us serving, the heavens open up and it begins to pour. Match is rescheduled for the next day--and it turns out that my team is down 0-2, but all three of our doubles matches went to third set tiebreaks when the rains came. We come back the next day, I am serving at 3-4, we end up winning the last few points to make it 10-5. To boot, our other two doubles matches end up winning their tiebreaks, so we win the match up 3-2.
#3: Last sectional match against the other undefeated team. My partner and I start off well and win the first set 6-3. We are so tired from previous days that we end up losing the second 3-6. In the third set tiebreak, it's a continuous battle of having match points and being down match points. Eventually, on our 7th match points, our opponents make an error and we win. Unfortunately, we end up losing this match up 1-4 against the other team, but two of our singles matches went to third set tiebreaks and we just couldn't pull them out.
Overall, it was in incredible match. Definitely one for my memory banks to re-live again.
DeShaun
Banned
I've stormed back from 0- or 1-5 down a few times, but never actually clinched the set afterward, only managed to force a tiebreak or finally lose 5-7.
Also, playing in my first ever tournament, I fought off four match points against an eventual finalist.
I guess my biggest choke would have to be in mixed doubles. My partner and I were up 5-1, played a couple of loose points and wham! Next thing you know, we got beat 5-7. Yeah, that was definitely my worst choke.
Also, playing in my first ever tournament, I fought off four match points against an eventual finalist.
I guess my biggest choke would have to be in mixed doubles. My partner and I were up 5-1, played a couple of loose points and wham! Next thing you know, we got beat 5-7. Yeah, that was definitely my worst choke.
Biggest choke was definently in the semifinals of the conference tournamnet freshman year of college.
I got u p 5-1 in the 1st set, game up a brief comeback to close it out 7-5.
Next set, I get up 5-1 again, start choking. At 5-5 my coach comes over to me and jokes around about how this happened last set. Manage to hold my serve, get into a tie break, get up 6-1 in the tiebreak and then lose 9-7.
For the third set we play a 10 point match tiebreak. I get up 9 to freaking 0. Managed to lose it 18-16.
Won 3rd place in the tournament over a teammate of mine that became a victim of wrath as i was just pissed off and won 6-0 6-0
I got u p 5-1 in the 1st set, game up a brief comeback to close it out 7-5.
Next set, I get up 5-1 again, start choking. At 5-5 my coach comes over to me and jokes around about how this happened last set. Manage to hold my serve, get into a tie break, get up 6-1 in the tiebreak and then lose 9-7.
For the third set we play a 10 point match tiebreak. I get up 9 to freaking 0. Managed to lose it 18-16.
Won 3rd place in the tournament over a teammate of mine that became a victim of wrath as i was just pissed off and won 6-0 6-0
radicaluser22
New User
Biggest choke, took first set 6-0 lose 2nd set 4-6 and then third set 0-6.
Could make excuses for this but not worth it, in the end it was down to me having a weak mental game and allowing things to get to me -.-''
Could make excuses for this but not worth it, in the end it was down to me having a weak mental game and allowing things to get to me -.-''
jonnyjack
Semi-Pro
Ouch...that's a lot of match points, haha.
worst loss.... Member guest tourney I met my partner that day ....make it to the finals..... playing the team that had won it 5-6 years in a row... up 6-1, 5-1.....lose 7-5 , 6-4 .....felt like a cat hanging on a wall with its claws out.....sliding down
best comeback.... playing in the final of a local 5.0 tourney down 6-0 in a third set tiebreak....win the next eight points
best comeback.... playing in the final of a local 5.0 tourney down 6-0 in a third set tiebreak....win the next eight points
slickerthansleek
Rookie
Haven't had any real major chokes yet, however last week we lost the first set against the team in my league coming last (in a tiebreaker) which was kind of a letdown, and have had a few sets where we were up 5-1 and let them come back to 5-4 or 5-5. (I play social doubles)
Best comeback was a few months ago, we won the first set 6-3 but were down 5-1 in the second, we brought it back to a tiebreaker, got down 6-1 in the tiebreaker and then ended up winning it 9-7, then won the final set 6-0.
Oh, and a game we played about a month ago, in the final set after having lost the first two (in our comp we play all three sets even if the game is lost after the first two, because you can still get a point for winning the last set), we were down 5-1, got it back to 5-4, and saved 17 match points in that game before we were eventually beaten. It was one of those games where even though we lost, we left with our heads held high.
Best comeback was a few months ago, we won the first set 6-3 but were down 5-1 in the second, we brought it back to a tiebreaker, got down 6-1 in the tiebreaker and then ended up winning it 9-7, then won the final set 6-0.
Oh, and a game we played about a month ago, in the final set after having lost the first two (in our comp we play all three sets even if the game is lost after the first two, because you can still get a point for winning the last set), we were down 5-1, got it back to 5-4, and saved 17 match points in that game before we were eventually beaten. It was one of those games where even though we lost, we left with our heads held high.
g4driver
Legend
Up 5-1 against a friend in a USTA singles match, he rolls off 6 straight games to win 7-5, I win the next set 6-4, then loss in the 10 pt TB. Choked.
Also in a USTA singles match, won the first set 6-4, serving for the match at 5-4 in the 2nd. Choked on match point, lost that game and the next six, to lose 6-4, 5-7, 6-2. Complete choke!
Best doubles comeback. Down 2-4, and a double break (5-40) in a 7.5 Combo match about to be down 2-5. Won that game and the next 10 games to win 6-4, 6-0.
Best singles comeback. Lost the first set USTA single's match 6-7 that went 90 mins. Then won the next set 6-0, and TB 10-5 for the match. Match time 3 hours. Hot and humid.
Also in a USTA singles match, won the first set 6-4, serving for the match at 5-4 in the 2nd. Choked on match point, lost that game and the next six, to lose 6-4, 5-7, 6-2. Complete choke!
Best doubles comeback. Down 2-4, and a double break (5-40) in a 7.5 Combo match about to be down 2-5. Won that game and the next 10 games to win 6-4, 6-0.
Best singles comeback. Lost the first set USTA single's match 6-7 that went 90 mins. Then won the next set 6-0, and TB 10-5 for the match. Match time 3 hours. Hot and humid.
Choke: had plenty of those but the one that still rankles was in a doubles tournament this year. We were up 7-2 in the 10pts match tiebreaker... ended up losing 10-8.
Comeback: a doubles tourney last year. Lost first set 6-1. Came back from 2-5 down in the second to force a tie-breaker, and won it 8-6. Won 10pts match tiebreaker 11-9.
Somehow I never have these wild rides in singles... it's always more orderly, one way or the other
Comeback: a doubles tourney last year. Lost first set 6-1. Came back from 2-5 down in the second to force a tie-breaker, and won it 8-6. Won 10pts match tiebreaker 11-9.
Somehow I never have these wild rides in singles... it's always more orderly, one way or the other
Choke and comeback in the same match...
I was playing my 1st round of a local league playoff. Went way up in the 1st set, 5-1. I was winning so easily I lost my focus, started wondering what was on tv, thinking about everything except finishing the match. Well, I lose the set 7-5 and "woke up" down 5-2, double match point on my opponent's serve. All he has to do is win one of the next two points. He doubles to make it 40-30, babied a serve in to my forehand that I crushed for a return winner. I rolled of the next 5 games and won the 3rd set 6-1.
I never should have let myself get into that spot.
Two funny things about: my opponent threw two of his racquets into a retention pond. I ended winning the whole league playoff/tournament.
I was playing my 1st round of a local league playoff. Went way up in the 1st set, 5-1. I was winning so easily I lost my focus, started wondering what was on tv, thinking about everything except finishing the match. Well, I lose the set 7-5 and "woke up" down 5-2, double match point on my opponent's serve. All he has to do is win one of the next two points. He doubles to make it 40-30, babied a serve in to my forehand that I crushed for a return winner. I rolled of the next 5 games and won the 3rd set 6-1.
I never should have let myself get into that spot.
Two funny things about: my opponent threw two of his racquets into a retention pond. I ended winning the whole league playoff/tournament.
athiker
Hall of Fame
Down 2-5 in 3rd set (I had won the 1st and lost the 2nd) and came back to win 7-5. I thought my opponent was going to tear his car door off when he left.
Lost 1st set 0-6 and won 2nd set 6-0 and the 3rd set tiebreaker vs a younger guy that was in shape...not a conditioning issue. He just couldn't win a game after the first set. Not really a blow-out...just every deciding point went my way.
Won first two sets fairly easily and then got down 0-5 in 3rd before losing it 4-6. The 3rd set was for fun but it wasn't like I was not trying....he just got hot.
Won first set fairly easily and up 5-2 in the 2nd. Lost the set and lost the 3rd set tiebreaker. That one hurt.
Lost 1st set 0-6 and won 2nd set 6-0 and the 3rd set tiebreaker vs a younger guy that was in shape...not a conditioning issue. He just couldn't win a game after the first set. Not really a blow-out...just every deciding point went my way.
Won first two sets fairly easily and then got down 0-5 in 3rd before losing it 4-6. The 3rd set was for fun but it wasn't like I was not trying....he just got hot.
Won first set fairly easily and up 5-2 in the 2nd. Lost the set and lost the 3rd set tiebreaker. That one hurt.
Playing in a USTA tournament a few years ago. Lost the first set 3-6 and was down 2-5 in the second set and my opponent is serving for the match. He had two match points on his serve and since I was expecting I was going to eventually lose I became more relaxed. I ended up winning the second set 7-5 and then the third set 6-2.
We were one of the last matches of the day and when my opponent was serving for the match I could see the umpire that had been watching our match was expecting his day to be just about over. When we went to a third set I got the sense he wasn't very happy with my opponent for not closing out the match in two sets. Instead of the match being over in about 90 minutes it went on for almost three hours.
We were one of the last matches of the day and when my opponent was serving for the match I could see the umpire that had been watching our match was expecting his day to be just about over. When we went to a third set I got the sense he wasn't very happy with my opponent for not closing out the match in two sets. Instead of the match being over in about 90 minutes it went on for almost three hours.
athiker
Hall of Fame
Interesting, kind of like Djoker vs Fed in U.S. Open. He seemed to go wth and just ripped that forehand return of serve winner...then rolled from there.
Which btw I don't consider that shot a "lucky shot" like Fed implied...and I'm generally a Fed fan. Djoker had a phenomenal year going, was at the top of his game and all the work he had put in since a kid to get to that point makes it hard to call ANY shot he makes "luck"! For others maybe luck...not him in that season, in that particular moment. Anyway it was amazing. Sorry to side track....your comment just reminded me of it.
Totai
Professional
I was up 6-0 5-0 (40 - 0) serving for the match. I double faulted, (40-15), double faulted again (40-30), then double faulted a 3rd time (deuce), then guess what? another double fault (ad out), then, you guessed it, 5 double faults in 1 game, in a row. I ended up losing the match 6-0,6-7,1-6
SuperLotto
New User
I hate being up 5-2....I have been up 5-2 and then won in a tiebreaker. Now whenever I get to 5-2 I panic. I have won first set 6-0 and lost the match. That sux big time.
InspectorRacquet
Semi-Pro
The biggest comeback I've ever had was only in a single set. After being down 0-5 and 15-30 (in a singles match), I rallied off seven straight games to win the set 7-5.
Sadly, my biggest choke came right after the second set, losing in a tiebreaker in lieu of the third set. I claim it as a choke because I had won 7 straight games but lost nearly 6 straight points in the tiebreaker immediately following my comeback. What a day.
Sadly, my biggest choke came right after the second set, losing in a tiebreaker in lieu of the third set. I claim it as a choke because I had won 7 straight games but lost nearly 6 straight points in the tiebreaker immediately following my comeback. What a day.
I've won a few matches in 3 where I've been drubbed in the first set... I often take a while to warm up. Best comeback though was probably a match where I was down 1-5 in both sets but won the match 7-5 7-5. My opponent just about cried.
Twice I've lost a match when I've been up a set and a double break. You just have to shrug at that stuff.
Twice I've lost a match when I've been up a set and a double break. You just have to shrug at that stuff.
TenS_Ace
Professional
Grab a wine and spark up a cigar...2005 World Master Games, men's doubles over +45 age, my partner and I are in the third set of the bronze medal game. We are up 5-3. He's serving, no problem..I'm at the net wondering how do "keep care of a bronze medal"? What kind of polish do you use? etc etc etc...Uh-OH...he loses his serve..5-4...No big deal..At the baseline returning serves, I have a party in my head!! UH OH...5-5..we go on to lose 7-5! That was "THE" biggest choke of my tennis life. I'm still in therapy But hoping to get to Torino Italy 2013 for the next World Master Games! Get some revenge!:twisted:
But hoping to get to Torino Italy 2013 for the next World Master Games! Get some revenge!:twisted:
OrangePower
Legend
You sir, are the winner!
Just goes to show, in tennis you're never out of it until you lose the last point.
I had a league match where I was up 6-0, 5-0, with me serving for the match. I decided this was a good time to practice my serve-and-volley, which is not my usual style. Needless to say, I lost that game, and the following three. That left us back on serve with my opponent serving at 4-5 to even up the second set. Luckily I was able to break him to win the match, otherwise who knows what would have happened - by then I had lost confidence in my ability to hold serve.
In 2009, I came back from 0-6, 0-5 40 love in a Men's Open tournament in a round of 16 match. My opponent had an easy overhead on match point and hit the overhead in but his whole body fell over the net and we both agreed that it was my point. It went all down hill from there lol. I started to slowly creep back and he seriously had a nervous breakdown. This year I also had a nice comeback being down 1-5 in the 3rd set with no match points against me in a 5.0 singles final against a familiar opponent. I ended up coming back to win 6-1, 3-6, 7-6(3).
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Choke and win in same match:
Yesterday I'm playing a 5.0 who's won the singles league the last two years while staying undefeated. I lost to him last year 10-6 (we've since changed the scoring format). Anyway, I win the first set 6-4. Playing solid tennis, we go into the second set, trade a few breaks and I break him to go up 5-4. So serving for the match, I double fault to get broken and then lose the next two games. Lose 2nd set 7-5. In the match breaker, I'm down 6-3. I win the next 7 points to win the breaker 10-6 and the match.
This was a big win because 2 weeks ago I played a 5.0 where I won the first set 7-6, then lost 2-6, 10-5 and lost the match.
Not the worst chokes ever, but disappointing when you're playing against guys that are .5 above you.
DH
Yesterday I'm playing a 5.0 who's won the singles league the last two years while staying undefeated. I lost to him last year 10-6 (we've since changed the scoring format). Anyway, I win the first set 6-4. Playing solid tennis, we go into the second set, trade a few breaks and I break him to go up 5-4. So serving for the match, I double fault to get broken and then lose the next two games. Lose 2nd set 7-5. In the match breaker, I'm down 6-3. I win the next 7 points to win the breaker 10-6 and the match.
This was a big win because 2 weeks ago I played a 5.0 where I won the first set 7-6, then lost 2-6, 10-5 and lost the match.
Not the worst chokes ever, but disappointing when you're playing against guys that are .5 above you.
DH
anantak2k
Semi-Pro
I was up 62 52 30-0 trying to serve the match out. I hit a 3 DFs in a row. After that my right calf starts cramping up and I can barely move. I end up losing the set 57. By the 3rd set my calf muscle cramp goes away and I run off to a 4-0 lead serving for a 5-0 lead. Up 15-0, and just like in the 2nd set I hit 3 DFs in a row. Besides these 6 DFs I have only had like 2 other DFs throughout all of my other service games all match. Now my left thigh starts cramping up... and I lose that game and the set 46. so 62 57 46. I obviously really did not want to win that match.
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