Andrei Medvedev was two sets up on Andre Agassi and at 4-All, had 30-40 with a second serve to break Agassi (who had just double faulted twice in a row) to serve for the French Open. Medvedev was just five points away from capturing his first (and only) major title. Of course as we all know, Agassi hung on and battled back to win in five sets.
Guillermo Coria had a match point against Gaston Gaudio to win the French Open but failed to capitalize.
Nicolas Kiefer and Rainer Scheuttler had four gold medal match points in the fourth set tiebreak against Nicolas Massu and Fernando Gonzales in the 2004 Olympic gold medal doubles match, but were not able to win the match, instead losing in five sets and settling for silver.
These are three of the closest examples I can think of where players came oh so close to making history, but unfortunately could not convert in the crunch.
Let’s open a discussion about other “close but no cigar” scenarios in tennis and talk about memories of some of these dramatic situations…
6 comments
<< Peter Graf Dies & The Dissapearance of the Famous Wrathful Tennis Papas
Gaurang · December 2, 2013 at 9:49 pm
Scoop congratulations on being on the Official ATPWorldTour.com homepage!!!
Just read
http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis/2013/11/48/Roger-Federer-Malinowski-Book.aspx
The book excerpts sound impressive!
Wish you great success!!
Scoop Malinowski · December 3, 2013 at 8:44 am
Thanks Gaurang that was a huge break for the book big thanks for the ATP for doing that, it really raised awareness. So far happy that reader response to the book is very very positive.
Doogie · December 3, 2013 at 12:00 pm
Haas was up 2:0seta 3:1 and breakpoint for double break against Federer 2009. Fed went on to win the title. Haas would have probably not won the FO but he would have made history because this was Feds only chance for FO crown.
Scoop Malinowski · December 3, 2013 at 12:55 pm
Wow Doogie I forgot Fed’s title that year came so perilously close to failing. Nobody ever talks about this astonishing comeback by Federer in a major.
Mitch · December 3, 2013 at 3:23 pm
Roddick was arguably an easy volley away from winning Wimbledon in 2009. He had that sitter in the first set tie break, and then I feel like he may also had some break points or at least love-30s in the final set.
Scoop Malinowski · December 3, 2013 at 8:00 pm
True Mitch. But at least Roddick had already won a major. The previous players I mentioned never won any major titles. They came oh so close but never got a sniff again. That loss by Roddick had to destroy a part of his belief. He was never the same player. I don’t think he ever came close again to winning a major.