After witnessing the incredible drama of the Juan Martin Del Potro final match emotions with his dear friend Novak Djokovic last weekend, it inspired this feature compiling other extraordinary tennis moments…
In no particular order…
The Monica Seles return to competition after two years hiatus following the alleged (by Donald Budge) inside job stabbing in Hamburg, Germany 1993. Her first match was in July in Atlantic City, NJ, with Martina Navratilova, her first tournament was in Toronto at Canadian Open (she won the title), and her first Grand Slam was US Open (finals vs Graf). Each Seles appearance were massive events celebrating the long awaited comeback by one of the greatest champions in tennis history.
Andre Agassi’s final match at US Open vs Benjamin Becker in 2006, round of 32. The German won 75 67 64 75 in a jam-packed Arthur Ashe Stadium on a hot sunny day. I was there and it’s possible there was not a dry eye in the gallery as Agassi delivered his final words in the post match interview.
Roger Federer’s first Grand Slam title at Wimbledon. 2003 vs Mark Philippoussis 76 62 76. During the post match interview with Sue Barker, Federer broke down in tears and was so humbled he could barely mumble his words. We never saw a player express so authentically raw how much winning a major title meant to him. Journalist Richard Evans later told me reporters were crying in the Wimbledon press box during the ceremony.
Novak Djokovic vs Juan Martin Del Potro first round Olympics 2016 match in Rio, won by the Argentine 76 76. The duel was so outrageously competitive and high level that BOTH gladiators cried on court after the match. I had never seen that happen before.
Jana Novotna won the first set of the 1997 Wimbledon final vs. Martina Hingis and appeared en route to her first Grand Slam title but she faltered in the next two sets and broke down in tears at the post match ceremony. The following year Novotna, regrouped and won Wimbledon by beating Venus Williams in the QF, Hingis in the SF and Nathalie Tauziat in the final.
And the no. 1 most emotional spectacle moment I ever saw in tennis was Juan Martin Del Potro and Novak Djokovic in Delpo’s farewell finale match in Buenos Aires on Sunday. Before a full stadium, on the final point Djokovic paused and signaled to his pal that this was the last point, he soft served Delpo who stepped in and crushed the forehand winner cross court for the 64 75 win. The two heroes joined forces at the net and embraced for a half minute, heads on each’s shoulders, both crying, both holding each other’s heads. It was tennis magic. Djokovic had flown 17 hours from Qatar to be there, Federer and Nadal both were absent.
Jana Novotna · Juan Martin Del Potro · Monica Seles · Novak Djokovic · Roger Federer
Scoop Malinowski · December 4, 2024 at 10:01 am
Probably should add Connors US Open SF run in 1991. Hingis Graf famous French Open final and the walk off court by the Swiss Miss. Seeing Nalbandian crying on court during Argentina national anthem being played before a tie in Agentina. Vilas being carried off the court. And Ted Schroeder’s final match in Davis Cup down in Australia as told by Jack Kramer in his book “The Game.”