Top list of ‘match of your life’ matches

[Denis]

Top list of ‘match of your life’ matches

Cilic reaching the semis again reminded me of last year’s performance in the semis. Cilic level was insane that semi clearly an example of someone playing the match of his life. All the more remarkable because he went on to win the US Open. A truly career defining moment. This got me thinking of other spectacular and similar matches. I came up with this list:

1. Stan Wawrinka def. Novak Djokovic 2015 FO final
2. Marin Cilic def. Roger Federer 2014 US Open semifinal
3. Richard Krajicek def. Pete Sampras 1996 Wimbledon QF
4. JM Del Potro def. Roger Federer 2009 US Open final
5. Robin Soderling def. Rafael Nadal 2009 FO fourth round
6. Goran Ivanisevic def. Pat Rafter 2001 Wimbledon final
7. Andy Roddick def. David Nalbandian 2003 US Open semifinal
8. Lukas Rosol def. Rafael Nadal 2012 Wimbledon 2nd round

Any thoughts, additions?

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

RE: Top list of ‘match of your life’ matches

Roger beating Pete at Wimbledon. He did not go on to win it all, but the clear signal was there, that this pony tailed punk was going to do good things.

 

[Denis]

RE: Top list of ‘match of your life’ matches

Roger beating Pete at Wimbledon. He did not go on to win it all, but the clear signal was there, that this pony tailed punk was going to do good things.

That's a good one.

 

[Fiero425]

RE: Top list of ‘match of your life’ matches

Cilic reaching the semis again reminded me of last year’s performance in the semis. Cilic level was insane that semi clearly an example of someone playing the match of his life. All the more remarkable because he went on to win the US Open. A truly career defining moment. This got me thinking of other spectacular and similar matches. I came up with this list:

1. Stan Wawrinka def. Novak Djokovic 2015 FO final
2. Marin Cilic def. Roger Federer 2014 US Open semifinal
3. Richard Krajicek def. Pete Sampras 1996 Wimbledon QF
4. JM Del Potro def. Roger Federer 2009 US Open final
5. Robin Soderling def. Rafael Nadal 2009 FO fourth round
6. Goran Ivanisevic def. Pat Rafter 2001 Wimbledon final
7. Andy Roddick def. David Nalbandian 2003 US Open semifinal
8. Lukas Rosol def. Rafael Nadal 2012 Wimbledon 2nd round

Any thoughts, additions?

- Ivan Lendl def John McEnroe 1984 French Open Final - IMO, it shouldn't have been considered an upset, but Lendl's '84 FO was life changing even though his opponent was just a serve-volley player in McEnroe! The thing was, Ivan hadn't won a major and John was up 2 sets to love and a break in that final! McEnroe decided to allow cameramen to irritate him IIRC and preceded to choke away the match in 5! Supposedly it took Ivan out of the rest of the season, unable to even come close to winning anything significant, losing final after final! People used terms like "recovering" concerning that clay court match! John was having a career season winning Wimbledon and the USO barely losing a couple matches!:angel: :dodgy:

 

[Denis]

RE: Top list of ‘match of your life’ matches

Cheers fiero, I knew you were going to throw in a classic.

Also I probably should have mentioned Nadal def. federer Wimbledon 2008 final and murray's gold medal match.

 

[Fiero425]

RE: Top list of ‘match of your life’ matches

Cheers fiero, I knew you were going to throw in a classic.

Also I probably should have mentioned Nadal def. federer Wimbledon 2008 final lol.

Thinking of CLASSICs, one I could barely watch was 1982 FO; an unknown Matts Wilander def Guillermo Vilas! Tiriac was Vilas' manager, who did just about everything it seems; including dressing him as a reclined Guillermo rested on the ground during their "break" after the 3rd set! Vilas was done and lost it in 4; 1–6, 7–6, 6–0, 6–4! :cover

 

[shawnbm]

RE: Top list of ‘match of your life’ matches

Marat Safin defeating Roger Federer in 2005 AO semifinal--that was Marat's all-time best. Still perhaps the finest quality match from start to finish I have ever seen.

 

[Fiero425]

RE: Top list of ‘match of your life’ matches

Marat Safin defeating Roger Federer in 2005 AO semifinal--that was Marat's all-time best. Still perhaps the finest quality match from start to finish I have ever seen.

You well know how much of a fan I was of Marat; one of the most gifted players! He's right up there with Ilie Nastase with every shot in the book; power and touch! He had the same scrambled brain too! :clap

 

[brokenshoelace]

RE: Top list of ‘match of your life’ matches

Good thread. Are we talking about a player having a performance of his life in a particular match or a career defining moment? Or maybe both?

If we're strictly talking about individual performances that were at an insanely high level (to the point where it's tough to reproduce) I can think of the following off the top of my head (I'll stick to matches that took place in majors):

1- Tsonga vs. Nadal 2008 AO semi final. Probably the greatest individual display I've ever seen and I'm not even exaggerating. When you take into account how low margin Tsonga's game is, it's all the more absurd, as the type of forehands he was hitting, as well as some of the finest volleying displays against the greatest passer of all time was stunning. Honestly, "stunning" is the word because that's how I felt watching. It probably further adds to the performance that Tsonga was an unknown at the time. Still can't get over how cleanly he played.

2- Wawrinka vs. Djokovic 2015 FO final. I think matches in which the underdog has a "match of his life" are a little higher on my list due to the fact that we just don't expect them to, making them truly a once in a lifetime performances. One of the biggest cases of "seeing the ball like a melon" that I've seen in recent memory. Stan was just in the zone.

3- Soderling vs. Nadal. 2009 FO 4th Round. The most shocking result in tennis history for my money, and I honestly can't think of a close second. Just a few weeks earlier, Nadal had beaten Soderling 6-1 6-0, on the same surface. Soderling absolutely bludgeoned the ball for 4 sets. If we're talking about "match of your life," then this is literally the case for Soderling. The man was a top 10 player for a good while and reached 2 major finals, and yet his career is synonymous and almost defined with that one match. Says it all really.

4- Safin vs. Federer 2005 AO semi final. How good was Roger Federer in his prime? Marat Safin is one of the most talented players of the last 15 years. When he's on his game, he's unplayable. So Marat Safin playing the match of his life should ostensibly run through his opponent...and yet it still went 5 sets. The reason it did though, is because this was one of the very few instances of two players playing close to their best at the same time, for 5 full sets without any letdowns. Though I guess the question is, how good was Safin when he was on? Since Roger played close to his best and it still wasn't enough. Safin's finest hour IMO.

5- Federer vs. Roddick 2007 AO semi final. OK, there shouldn't be something so special about Roger beating Roddick for the two hundredth time, especially since he almost always puts on a special performance against him. But that's how special this performance was. Just check both guys' post match interviews to get an idea as to how ridiculous Roger's level was. If you isolate the match from context (ie Roger always owning Roddick and being a terrible match-up for him), then this is honestly the greatest tennis display I've ever seen.

6- Nadal vs. Federer 2008 FO final. Not trying to be provocative, but people can rationalize that result any way they want (and yeah, Roger's strategy wasn't the best) but to beat the GOAT 6-1 6-3 6-0 in a grand slam final while hitting 47 winners and 6 unforced errors is utterly absurd.

Tried to limit these choices to the past 10 years or so.

 

[Denis]

RE: Top list of ‘match of your life’ matches

Good thread. Are we talking about a player having a performance of his life in a particular match or a career defining moment? Or maybe both?

I was thinking a combination of the two. But I like your list. If you would add the career defining moment, would you place Nadal's win at Wimbledon over Federer above the 2008 FO final (btw, lol that was indeed an utterly rediculous beatdown for a slamfinal against the GOAT)?

 

[brokenshoelace]

RE: Top list of ‘match of your life’ matches

Good thread. Are we talking about a player having a performance of his life in a particular match or a career defining moment? Or maybe both?

I was thinking a combination of the two. But I like your list. If you would add the career defining moment, would you place Nadal's win at Wimbledon over Federer above the 2008 FO final (btw, lol that was indeed an utterly rediculous beatdown for a slamfinal against the GOAT)?

Yes, definitely. I would call Wimbledon 2008 as Nadal's career defining moment, and in that case, I don't think the 2008 FO final is in his top 5. But obviously as a standalone performance it was insane.

If we're just looking at defining moments, irrespective of performances, then I'd also mention Novak's 2011 US Open semi final comeback against Fed, and that near-legendary return. But I wouldn't mention that performance as one of the Novak's finest if we're strictly talking about levels of play. So yeah, it's not clear cut and it's easy to confuse the two.

 

[Riotbeard]

RE: Top list of ‘match of your life’ matches

Novak d. Rafa at Rome 2011. I remember this and Madrid 2011 as maybe Novak's two best performances of his career. His back hand was incredible hitting into Rafa's forehand. Beyond that, Stan this year at the F.O. was a breathtaking (in the worst way as a Novak fan). These are the ones that immediately come to mind.

 

[Fiero425]

RE: Top list of ‘match of your life’ matches

Novak d. Rafa at Rome 2011. I remember this and Madrid 2011 as maybe Novak's two best performances of his career. His back hand was incredible hitting into Rafa's forehand. Beyond that, Stan this year at the F.O. was a breathtaking (in the worst way as a Novak fan). These are the ones that immediately come to mind.

IMO all 6 of those defeats of Rafa were incredible in 2011! He literally took ownership of Nadal for a time through 2012 AO final! He really put a dent in that lead Rafa had over both Fed and Nole and will probably pass them by in all records beside MAJORS; well maybe a chance at 14 if he takes this USO! :angel: :dodgy:

 

[GameSetAndMath]

RE: Top list of ‘match of your life’ matches

Nadal vs. Fed 08 RG does not belong in this list at all. While Rafa would have beaten Roger whatever scheme he tried, the beat down was due to the specific strategy he tried. All of us know that. Hence, it cannot be called a life-time performance by Rafa, come on.

 

[isabelle]

RE: Top list of ‘match of your life’ matches

Nalby winning Master's final or Bercy's final (I hesitate between those 2)

 

[shawnbm]

RE: Top list of ‘match of your life’ matches

Where is Cali?

 

[Denis]

RE: Top list of ‘match of your life’ matches

Novak d. Rafa at Rome 2011. I remember this and Madrid 2011 as maybe Novak's two best performances of his career. His back hand was incredible hitting into Rafa's forehand. Beyond that, Stan this year at the F.O. was a breathtaking (in the worst way as a Novak fan). These are the ones that immediately come to mind.

Yeah but hardly a career defining moment. I had a thought about this and the list gets quite long if we list the best matches every player has played. It's more a match where a player went so far beyond his normal level that his career becomes synonomous with that match. Hence Cilic US Open semifinal, Wawrinka FO final, and Krajicek against Pete in 96.

This is why I wouldn't put Roger vs Pete on the list either, or any of match of the Big 3. Murray will also be remembered for more than winning wimbledon or the olympics although the first certainly will remain huge.

 

[I.Haychew]

RE: Top list of ‘match of your life’ matches

Cilic reaching the semis again reminded me of last year’s performance in the semis. Cilic level was insane that semi clearly an example of someone playing the match of his life. All the more remarkable because he went on to win the US Open. A truly career defining moment. This got me thinking of other spectacular and similar matches. I came up with this list:

1. Stan Wawrinka def. Novak Djokovic 2015 FO final
2. Marin Cilic def. Roger Federer 2014 US Open semifinal
3. Richard Krajicek def. Pete Sampras 1996 Wimbledon QF
4. JM Del Potro def. Roger Federer 2009 US Open final
5. Robin Soderling def. Rafael Nadal 2009 FO fourth round
6. Goran Ivanisevic def. Pat Rafter 2001 Wimbledon final
7. Andy Roddick def. David Nalbandian 2003 US Open semifinal
8. Lukas Rosol def. Rafael Nadal 2012 Wimbledon 2nd round

Any thoughts, additions?

Soderling def. Federer in the 2010 French Open QF which, if I'm not mistaken, ended Federer's SF streak at majors. Also, I believe that was Soderling's only win over Federer. Isn't the head-to-head something like one million (Dr. Evil) to one in favor of Federer?

 

[nehmeth]

RE: Top list of ‘match of your life’ matches

One of the best matches I have ever seen, was the 1976 final of the Italian Open when Adriano Pannatta defeated Guillermo Vilas, 2–6, 7–6, 6–2, 7–6. Vilas was playing some of the best tennis of his career and he was on his favorite surface.

Pannatta would not be denied, and the Italian crowd was behind their guy 200%. When he won, the Foro Italico erupted, chanting his name Adri-a-no, Adri-a-no... that reverberated around the stadium until the hair on the back of your neck was standing on end. I was just a little kid, but I remember it to this day and still get chills.

Panatta had a great year in 1976 beating Borg in the quarters of the French Open and going on to win the final against Harold Solomon.

 

[Fiero425]

RE: Top list of ‘match of your life’ matches

One of the best matches I have ever seen, was the 1976 final of the Italian Open when Adriano Pannatta defeated Guillermo Vilas, 2–6, 7–6, 6–2, 7–6. Vilas was playing some of the best tennis of his career and he was on his favorite surface.

Pannatta would not be denied, and the Italian crowd was behind their guy 200%. When he won, the Foro Italico erupted, chanting his name Adri-a-no, Adri-a-no... that reverberated around the stadium until the hair on the back of your neck was standing on end. I was just a little kid, but I remember it to this day and still get chills.

Panatta had a great year in 1976 beating Borg in the quarters of the French Open and going on to win the final against Harold Solomon.

Panatta was that type of player who could upset the best clay courters in the history of the game! He had a big serve, nice FH, and great backhand approaches to the net! Borg's 2 losses at the FO were to Adriano; the Soderling of his time I guess you could say! His other memorable match against Borg happened on that court a couple years later! The fans were actually throwing coins on the court to help Panatta! It didn't and Borg started his wins of the "Old World Triple" taking Rome, Paris, and Wimbledon in 1978! :eyepop :nono :angel: :dodgy: