RICKY DIMON SHARES MY MOST MEMORABLE MATCHES IN 2015, INCLUDING DONALD YOUNG JR. VS. VIKTOR TROICKI & RAFA NADAL & ANDY MURRAY & ROGER FEDERER & NOVAK DJOKOVIC

Written by: Staff on 31st December 2015

RICKY DIMON SHARES MY MOST MEMORABLE MATCHES IN 2015, INCLUDING DONALD YOUNG JR. VS. VIKTOR TROICKI & RAFA NADAL & ANDY MURRAY & ROGER FEDERER & NOVAK DJOKOVIC

epa05060090 Spain's Rafael Nadal of the Indian Aces in action against Canada's Milos Raonic of the Philippine Maverics during their men's singles match at the second leg of the International Premier Tennis League (IPTL) at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay city, south of Manila, Philippines, 08 December 2015. The IPTL features five teams made out of a hybrid mix of current and former men's and women's players. EPA/MARK R. CRISTINO |

It was another long and interesting year on the ATP World Tour in 2015. And I was lucky enough to catch at least a small portion of it in person, mainly in the United States but also abroad–to cap off the season in style at the World Tour Finals. From Indian Wells to Miami to Atlanta to Washington, D.C. to the U.S. Open and finally to London, the 2015 campaign delivered plenty of memorable moments for me.

As the year comes to a close and 2016 tennis action rapidly approaches, let’s take a look back at the most entertaining matches–the list could be much longer but for now we’ll go with one at each tournament–I witnessed this season.

Indian Wells: Second round – David Ferrer d. Ivan Dodig 4-6, 6-1, 7-6(6)

David Ferrer of Spain in action against Ivan Dodig of Croatia during their second round match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament in Indian Wells, California, USA, 14 March 2015. EPA/JOHN G. MABANGLO

A day-session match that turned into an enthralling night contest did not disappoint the Indian Wells faithful that stuck it out for long haul on Court 3. What ensued between Ferrrer and Dodig–although slightly more competitive than what their respective rankings would suggest–is exactly what should have been expected from two tenacious veterans who are both known at least in part for outstanding defensive skills: high intensity and amazing rallies. That is exactly what was on display, especially in the third set after Dodig endured a bit of a mental walkabout in the second to gear up for the decider. On the heels of 10 consecutive holds, sudden service breaks were traded starting at 5-5. Ferrer seized the initial upper hand for 6-5 but failed to close out the match. The Spaniard twice battled back from mini-breaks down in the tiebreaker, both times with incredible returns. It finally ended after two hours and 42 minutes when Dodig, who had already saved three match points, netted a drop-shot at 6-7. Sergiy Stakhovsky was among the fellow players transfixed by the proceedings. “Phenomenal match!” he posted on Twitter at one point. Later he wrote: “Are you watching this??? Incredible!!”

Miami: Third round – Fernando Verdasco d. Rafael Nadal 6-4, 2-6, 6-3

Once in a blue moon, Nadal and Verdasco bring out the best in each other (see: Australian Open, 2009). This was not one of those blue moons. In fairness, however, it was far better than their Cincinnati showdown in 2011–although that is not exactly saying a lot. Hindsight being 20-20, Verdasco beating Nadal in Miami was not a terribly huge upset. After all, the 14-time major champion did little right this past season until the fall swing. Of course, Verdasco only got worse following his Miami upset of Nadal. As for this match, Verdasco certainly played well by his 2015 standards, striking 29 winners to 34 unforced errors. But Nadal finished with 32 errors to just 18 winners and was plagued by laughably short service returns on a consistent basis. It was not a match that will be immortalized in the Smithsonian…but it was borderline shocking at the time–and for Nadal fans, alarming.

Atlanta: Semifinals – Marcos Baghdatis d. Gilles Muller 6-7(4), 6-3, 7-6(4)

Semifinal Saturday in Atlanta produced the goods, as both matches went deep into third sets. After eventual champion John Isner outlasted Denis Kudla 4-6, 6-2, 7-5 in an all-American affair, Baghdatis and Muller took the court for the nightcap. Muller had not been broken a single time in three previous matches and his serve (60 percent, 15 aces) and aggressive all-court game worked well again in this one. But Baghdatis had an answer thanks to his ever-solid ball-striking, as the Cypriot broke twice in the first set (but lost it in a tiebreaker) and once in the second. That set the stage for a dramatic and high-quality decider, which Baghdatis took in another ‘breaker after coming up with clutch service holds at 4-5 and 5-6 to stay alive. The No. 5 seed barely had anything left in the tank for a lopsided final against Isner after needing two hours and 34 minutes of gripping tennis to get past Muller.

Washington, D.C.: Second round – Teymuraz Gabashvili d. Andy Murray 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(4)

Murray’s U.S. Open preparation would soon get much, much better (he won the Masters 1000 event in Canada), but the start of his hard-court summer was a rocky one in Washington, D.C. But it was not really any fault of Murray’s own. The Scot simply ran into an on-fire Gabashvili, who fired aces and winners from every direction–even during pressure-packed moments with his back against the wall. Murray actually served for the match at 5-4 in the third, but Gabashvili broke right back, forced a decisive tiebreaker, and never looked back. The underdog Russian called it “something special” and “100 percent” the most important win of his career.

U.S. Open: Third round – Donald Young d. Viktor Troicki

Donald Young of the US hits a return to Viktor Troicki of Serbia during their match on the sixth day of the 2015 US Open Tennis Championship at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 05 September 2015. The US Open runs through 13 September, which is a return to a 14-day schedule. EPA/JOHN G. MABANGLO

Not even Hollywood could make up a script like this for the last-ever men’s singles match on one of the greatest courts in tennis: the Grandstand at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Set to be torn down prior to the 2016 U.S. Open with a new Grandstand emerging on the opposite side of the grounds as part of the tournament’s ongoing renovation project, the court’s last hurrah saw Young help carry the American torch at the expense of Troicki, Serbia’s No. 2 player. Perhaps the only thing more shocking than what transpired in this five-set contest was the way in which Young reached the third round. Prior to coming back from a set and 2-0 down against Aljaz Bedene, the Atlanta, Ga. native dug out of 6-2, 6-4, 3-0 deficit against world No. 11 Gilles Simon. With one more magic trick up his sleeve, Young treated a raucous crowd to yet another improbable resurrection from the dead. Not only did he lose the first two sets to Troicki 6-4 and 6-0, but the unseeded upstart also took a medical timeout for a back injury prior to the third. From out of nowhere, though, Young caught fire and enthralled the intimately packed house the rest of the way en route to a 4-6, 0-6, 7-6(3), 6-2, 6-4 triumph.

World Tour Finals: Round-Robin – Roger Federer d. Novak Djokovic 7-5, 6-2

Djokovic vs. anyone was expected to be straightforward in London–and anywhere else throughout the fall swing. And this round-robin showdown did, in fact, turn out to be relatively routine…but not in the way anyone could have anticipated. Although Djokovic-Federer Part 1 of 2 (they also faced each other in the title match) may not have been the best match of the tournament (that was arguably Nadal vs. Ferrer), it temporarily sent the O2 Arena–and the whole tennis world–into a frenzy. Djokovic had not lost since Cincinnati in August, but Federer scoffed at any notion that the world No. 1 was unbeatable. The 34-year-old Swiss fired 19 winners in just one hour and 17 minutes of play while breaking Djokovic a hard-to-believe four times. Federer’s win allowed him to avoid Nadal on semifinal Saturday, during which he took care of countryman Stan Wawrinka before falling to a reinvigorated Djokovic in the final.

Switzerland’s Roger Federer returns the ball to his compatriot Stanislas Wawrinka during their semi final match of the ATP World Tour Finals tennis tournament in London, Britain, 21 November 2015. EPA/ANDY RAIN

Doubles honorable mention: World Tour Finals Round-Robin – Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan d. Jamie Murray and John Peers 6-7(5), 7-6(5), 16-14

In one of the longest and probably most stunning doubles matches of 2015, the Bryan Brothers somehow managed to punch a ticket from round-robin competition to the semifinals. But it was not before coming with one point of elimination on an incredible five occasions. After splitting the first two sets in tiebreakers (the Bryans were two points away from a straight-set defeat even before the real drama began), Bob and Mike faced deficits of 7-2 and 9-5 in the super-breaker. But the Americans saved four match points in a row and five in total, including one when Peers missed an easy put-away forehand right on top of the net at 9-8. Murray and Peers fought off four match points, themselves, before the Bryans finally clinched a shocking victory on serve at 15-14.

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

Topics: 10sballs.com, Andy Murray, Atp World Tour, David Ferrer, Donald Young jr, Fernando Verdasco, Ivan Dodig, Novak Djokovic, Rafa Nadal, Ricky Dimon, Roger Federer, Sports, Tennis News, Viktor Troicki

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Dimonator says:

December 31, 2015 at 10:46 am

RT @10sBalls_com: -@Dimonator Shares Most Memorable Matches In 2015, Including @Yimlife1313 Vs. Troicki & More
https://t.co/h6VdG0iuJU http…
pedrohncunha says:

December 31, 2015 at 10:46 am

RT @10sBalls_com: -@Dimonator Shares Most Memorable Matches In 2015, Including @Yimlife1313 Vs. Troicki & More
https://t.co/h6VdG0iuJU http…
Kamakshi_Tandon says:

December 31, 2015 at 12:18 pm

One more top 10 matches from @dimonator, ‘memorable’ the criteria that gets in Young-Troicki and Bryans WTF https://t.co/KUf0Un512d
Kamakshi_Tandon says:

December 31, 2015 at 12:19 pm

One more top 10 matches from @dimonator, ‘memorable’ the criteria that gets in Young-Troicki and Bryans at WTF https://t.co/pV88o2QkQ1
Dimonator says:

December 31, 2015 at 12:19 pm

RT @Kamakshi_Tandon: One more top 10 matches from @dimonator, ‘memorable’ the criteria that gets in Young-Troicki and Bryans at WTF https:/…
tenniswriters says:

December 31, 2015 at 12:20 pm

RT @Kamakshi_Tandon: One more top 10 matches from @dimonator, ‘memorable’ the criteria that gets in Young-Troicki and Bryans at WTF https:/…
tennis_onthego says:

December 31, 2015 at 1:00 pm

RT @Kamakshi_Tandon: One more top 10 matches from @dimonator, ‘memorable’ the criteria that gets in Young-Troicki and Bryans at WTF https:/…