THE MOST MEMORABLE MATCHES I SAW IN 2014, INCLUDING FEDERER VS. WAWRINKA BY RICKY DIMON

Written by: Staff on 5th December 2014

THE MOST MEMORABLE MATCHES I SAW IN 2014, INCLUDING FEDERER VS. WAWRINKA BY RICKY DIMON

epa04491548 Switzerland's Roger Federer embraces compatriot Stanislas Wawrinka following his three set win during the ATP World Tour Finals semi-final match at the O2 Arena in London, Britain, 15 November 2014. EPA/ANDY RAIN |

The most memorable matches I saw in 2014, including Federer vs. Wawrinka

By Ricky Dimon

I had the opportunity to attend six ATP tournaments in 2014—five in the United States and also the World Tour Finals in London. With the offseason finally upon us, it’s time to take a look back at the most memorable match I witnessed at each of those six events. From the high-quality, to the bizarre, to the controversial, I saw it all this year.

Indian Wells: Third round – Alexandr Dolgopolov d. Rafael Nadal 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(5)

Returning from a back injury sustained in the Australian Open final, Nadal was vulnerable at the BNP Paribas Open. The Spaniard managed to scrape past Radek Stepanek 2-6, 6-4, 7-5 in his opening match, but Dolgopolov was not so generous in the third round. After splitting the first two sets, Dolgopolov failed to serve out the match at 5-3 in the third. The Ukrainian, however, recovered in the tiebreaker. On match point at 6-5, a Dolgopolov ace was overruled by hawkeye, but he still sealed the deal with an inside-out forehand winner. Although the most high-quality encounter of the tournament was Ernests Gulbis’ 2-6, 6-1, 7-5 victory over Grigor Dimitrov, Dolgopolov-Nadal unquestionably provided the most drama.

Alexandr Dolgopolov of Ukraine celebrates after winning match point against Rafael Nadal of Spain at the BNP Paribas Open tennis in Indian Wells, California, USA, 10 March 2014. EPA/JOHN G. MABANGLO

Rafael Nadal of Spain tries to hit a return against Alexandr Dolgopolov of the Ukraine at the BNP Paribas Open tennis in Indian Wells, California, USA, 10 March 2014. EPA/JOHN G. MABANGLO

Miami: First round – Jarkko Nieminen d. Bernard Tomic 6-0, 6-1

Even by Tomic’s standards, this one was inexplicable. Playing in his first match since retiring against Nadal due to a hip injury in round one of the Australian Open, the 21-year-old Aussie was clearly not yet ready—if not physically, then mentally—to return to tennis at the Sony Open. Tomic’s premature comeback resulted in the shortest non-retirement match in ATP history. Nieminen clobbered his opponent in 28 minutes and 20 seconds, surrendering a mere 13 points in the process. Not a single game went due to deuce in a match that ended in appropriate fashion: with Tomic hitting a ground ball into the net.

Atlanta: Second round – John Isner d. Robby Ginepri 4-6, 7-6(5), 7-5

It’s not often that a player saves two match points in his first match of a tournament and then goes on to win the title. But that’s exactly what Isner did at the BB&T Atlanta, where he faced the additional pressure of being the defending champion. Trailing 5-4 in the third set, the 6’10’’ American found himself one point from defeat on two occasions only to serve his way out of trouble. With his big chance thwarted, Ginepri—an Atlanta resident—dropped serve for the first time all night at 5-5. Isner promptly wrapped things up with in a final game of the match that progressed as follows: ace, ace, ace, ace.

Cincinnati: Second round – David Ferrer d. Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-7(4), 7-6(4), 7-6(4)

This was 2014’s Best Match That Nobody Saw….well, except for me—and a few hundred others who were lucky enough to be in attendance. Good things often happen when Ferrer and Kohlschreiber play against each other and great matches often take place on Court 9 at the Western & Southern Open (“the bull ring” as I call it), so expectations were high for this one. To say it did not disappoint would be an understatement. The two tenacious baseliners battled for two hours and 41 minutes, although Kohlschreiber had an opportunity to finish the job sooner when he had two match points with Ferrer serving at 5-6 in the second set. The Spaniard survived and eventually won the last two frames in tiebreakers to overcome his loss of the first-set ‘breaker. Not entirely unlike Isner in Atlanta, Ferrer ultimately reached the Cincinnati final before succumbing to Roger Federer.

David Ferrer of Spain returns to Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany during the second round of the Western and Southern tennis tournament at the Lindner Tennis Center in Mason Ohio, USA, 13 August 2014. EPA/MARK LYONS

Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany returns to David Ferrer of Spain during the second round of the Western and Southern tennis tournament at the Lindner Tennis Center in Mason Ohio, USA, 13 August 2014. EPA/MARK LYONS

U.S. Open: Second round – Gael Monfils d. Alejandro Gonzalez 7-5, 6-3, 6-2

Monfils-Gonzalez by no means went down as the most competitive match of the U.S. Open, but it’s often good news for fans when Monfils does not have to worry about the outcome. When the Frenchman knows he is going to win (and sometimes even when he doesn’t), he morphs from tennis player into showman. This Grandstand contest began with Monfils looking entirely lackluster, to the extent that I almost thought he was going to retire during the first set. Gonzalez could not capitalize and dropped the opener 7-5, after which Monfils guzzled a Coca-Cola during the break. At that point it was all over for the Colombian, as new life was breathed into Monfils and the No. 20 seed turned in a virtuoso performance over the final two sets. It included arguably the shot of the tournament, a jumping forehand hit as hard as possible at 7-5, 1-0, 40-15.

World Tour Finals: Semifinals – Roger Federer d. Stan Wawrinka 4-6, 7-5, 7-6(6)

This one had everything—and I mean everything: awesome tennis, great drama, questionable tactics, multiple match points saved (or squandered, depending on how you look at it), and mysterious controversy. Saturday night’s semifinal at the O2 Arena almost saw Wawrinka turn the tide against his more accomplished Swiss countryman. Federer let the underdog dictate play the entire match—at least until the final tiebreaker. It should not nave even went that far, but Wawrinka cracked serving for victory at 5-4 in the third. He missed three match-point chances; two on forehand passes by Federer and one on his own botched backhand volley. Federer fought off another match point with a big first serve at 5-6 in the ‘breaker and won the last two points with forehand volley winners. Whatever happened in the locker room afterward may have been even more interesting than the match itself…but only Roger and Stan will ever know….

Switzerland’s Roger Federer returns to Switzerland’s Stanislas Wawrinka during the ATP World Tour Finals semi final match at the O2 Arena in London, Britain, 15 November 2014. EPA/ANDY RAIN

Switzerland’s Stanislas Wawrinka reacts after breaking Switzerland’s Roger Federer during the ATP World Tour Finals semifinal match at the O2 Arena in London, Britain, 15 November 2014. EPA/ANDY RAIN

Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand.

Topics: Alejandro Gonzalez, Alexandr Dolgopolov, Bernard Tomic, David Ferrer, Gael Monfils, Jarkko Nieminen, John Isner, Philipp Kohlschreiber, Rafa Nadal, Ricky Dimon, Robby Ginepri, Roger Federer, Stan Wawrinka, Tennis

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10sBalls_com says:

December 5, 2014 at 9:57 am

THE MOST MEMORABLE MATCHES I SAW IN 2014, INCLUDING @rogerfederer VS. @stanwawrinka BY @RD_Tennistalk- http://t.co/D7AoDZlIA6 #tennis #ATP
RD_Tennistalk says:

December 5, 2014 at 10:56 am

RT @10sBalls_com: THE MOST MEMORABLE MATCHES I SAW IN 2014, INCLUDING @rogerfederer VS. @stanwawrinka BY @RD_Tennistalk- http://t.co/D7AoDZ…
TheFanChild says:

December 5, 2014 at 11:21 am

RT @10sBalls_com: THE MOST MEMORABLE MATCHES I SAW IN 2014, INCLUDING @rogerfederer VS. @stanwawrinka BY @RD_Tennistalk- http://t.co/D7AoDZ…