How long does it take you to recover from a defeat?

[Kieran]

So while we’re waiting for the US Open, let’s be honest about our commitment to wealthy strangers: how long does it take you to get over a match your champion might might lose?

For example, I’m still stunned by Borg’s 2 double faults at 3-all the fifth in the USO 1980 edition. I could go on but it’s too painful. Feck it, I’ll go on. The following year Vitas Gerulaitis beat Lendl in the fourth round 6-4 in the fifth, Lendl who had won the last two against Mac and who would go on to beat him five more times in a row. Lendl, who lost his first 4 slam finals, could have played Mac in the semis, then Bjorn in the final. I still role play that one in front of the mirror.

There have been worse defeats since, too painful to mention..

 

[El Dude]

The hardest one for me was the 2019 Wimbledon final. That took me several months to even want to follow tennis, and even now I never watch clips of it or don't really want to think about it. Definitely the most disappointing loss of Roger's career for me.

I haven't bonded with a player fully yet since, so no loss is particularly hard at this point. The closest thing I have to a favorite is probably Fonseca, but it isn't the same kind of attachment as with Roger. It is more hope that he becomes great because one of my favorite things about tennis is following the younger players speculating and witnessing the emergence of the next great player. So I'm a bit disappointed when he loses, but it doesn't take "recovery."

 

[Kieran]

The hardest one for me was the 2019 Wimbledon final. That took me several months to even want to follow tennis, and even now I never watch clips of it or don't really want to think about it. Definitely the most disappointing loss of Roger's career for me.

I haven't bonded with a player fully yet since, so no loss is particularly hard at this point. The closest thing I have to a favorite is probably Fonseca, but it isn't the same kind of attachment as with Roger. It is more hope that he becomes great because one of my favorite things about tennis is following the younger players speculating and witnessing the emergence of the next great player. So I'm a bit disappointed when he loses, but it doesn't take "recovery."

What irritates me about that match is, Roger was cusping 38, he reached the FO semi, lost to Rafa, beat Rafa at Wimbo and got to a 13-12 final set against a man six years younger, and people treat him like he's a meme. His reputation enhanced in that match, but in a B&W world that obsesses about the wrong things, he's treated like a blooper reel. Senseless! But I understand why you reacted that way. He's was never going to get a better chance again...

 

[atttomole]

My feeling after the 2019 Wimbledon final is beyond description . Not easy to recover from that!! I think it’s the same for most Federer fans.

 

[El Dude]

What irritates me about that match is, Roger was cusping 38, he reached the FO semi, lost to Rafa, beat Rafa at Wimbo and got to a 13-12 final set against a man six years younger, and people treat him like he's a meme. His reputation enhanced in that match, but in a B&W world that obsesses about the wrong things, he's treated like a blooper reel. Senseless! But I understand why you reacted that way. He's was never going to get a better chance again...

Well, I don't think Roger is treated like a blooper reel, but I think your point is that it was amazing that he was there in a first place, with match point against a six-year-younger Novak. And really, they were virtual equals in that match. Roger even had the edge in some sense, but Novak just got in his head and he "blew it" - but against arguably the greatest defender in tennis history. It happens. Roger didn't take home the trophy, but there's really no shame in what he did there.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Rafa's straight sets loss to Djokovic in the 2019 AO final
It was the most lopsided final Rafa has played in.
Djokovic played a flawless match, while Rafa struggled with ufe and missed shots.
I can still picture Rafa's facial expressions he was visibly frustrated
Rafa described it as a 'devastating experience and said he has never rewatched the match, I could not force myself to rewatch the match, I dont think I have ever got over the match quite frankly, the score was 63 62 63 it really was a one sided Grand Slam final.

 

[Kieran]

Rafa's straight sets loss to Djokovic in the 2019 AO final
It was the most lopsided final Rafa has played in.
Djokovic played a flawless match, while Rafa struggled with ufe and missed shots.
I can still picture Rafa's facial expressions he was visibly frustrated
Rafa described it as a 'devastating experience and said he has never rewatched the match, I could not force myself to rewatch the match, I dont think I have ever got over the match quite frankly, the score was 63 62 63 it really was a one sided Grand Slam final.

In fairness to Rafa in that one, I don’t think he’d played in a while and was rusty as a nail. He went through the draw handy but it was a deceptive run. He only bowled over drunks. He avenged that defeat comprehensively in Paris in 2020, but yeah, Australia has been cursed ground for him.

What about the time he played a bloke who he’d beaten eleven times without dropping a set - and his back went and so he couldn’t compete?

Or the 2 times he was up a break in the fifth? Australia has been unholy ground for St Ralphy. All of them were painful. Still can’t watch those fifth sets without being high blood pressure.

Can’t watch the match you mentioned cos it’s too sad..

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

In fairness to Rafa in that one, I don’t think he’d played in a while and was rusty as a nail. He went through the draw handy but it was a deceptive run. He only bowled over drunks. He avenged that defeat comprehensively in Paris in 2020, but yeah, Australia has been cursed ground for him.

What about the time he played a bloke who he’d beaten eleven times without dropping a set - and his back went and so he couldn’t compete?

Or the 2 times he was up a break in the fifth? Australia has been unholy ground for St Ralphy. All of them were painful. Still can’t watch those fifth sets without being high blood pressure.

Can’t watch the match you mentioned cos it’s too sad..

I hear you Kieran
I was also going to mention that final when Rafa did his back in in his warm up before he played Wawrinka, at the AO another match I really havent got over, I had to sit in Rod Laver Arena while he was getting booed for having treatment on his back, I was there at his warm up when all of a sudden he was hitting serves, looked up and stopped, I knew there and then something was very wrong.
Yes Rafa and the AO has been in the past an unholy ground for Rafa
Then low and behold he came back from being 2 sets down to Meddy and won the AO in 2022, but that is our Rafa

 

[Kieran]

I hear you Kieran
I was also going to mention that final when Rafa did his back in in his warm up before he played Wawrinka, at the AO another match I really havent got over, I had to sit in Rod Laver Arena while he was getting booed for having treatment on his back, I was there at his warm up when all of a sudden he was hitting serves, looked up and stopped, I knew there and then something was very wrong.
Yes Rafa and the AO has been in the past an unholy ground for Rafa
Then low and behold he came back from being 2 sets down to Meddy and won the AO in 2022, but that is our Rafa

That was a horror show. I was thinking, he’s obviously gonna roll Stan the way he dismantled Federer in the semi (in straights) - he’d never dropped a set against Stan - and it would be his double career slam, bragging rights and everything that comes with it - and then he couldn’t move. I remember people saying he was faking it, when the evidence was in front of their stupid eyes. Pete Sampras in the stand to present Rafa with his (Pete-equalling) 14th slam title, and then………WTF?!

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

That was a horror show. I was thinking, he’s obviously gonna roll Stan the way he dismantled Federer in the semi (in straights) - he’d never dropped a set against Stan - and it would be his double career slam, bragging rights and everything that comes with it - and then he couldn’t move. I remember people saying he was faking it, when the evidence was in front of their stupid eyes. Pete Sampras in the stand to present Rafa with his (Pete-equalling) 14th slam title, and then………WTF?!

People were booing and indeed a lot of people said he was 'faking it'
The poor guy could hardly move and for the life of me I dont understand to this very day how Rafa managed to win a set off Stan 63? I think Stan lost focus quite frankly and then reset his focus and game to win the match 63 62 36 63

 

[mrzz]

with match point

Match points. And he also had another break point later in that last set.

Roger even had the edge in some sense

I think he had a clear edge. It was a good match, with good level, but he was clearly the better player up until those match points. Credit to Djokovic for playing three absolutely perfect tie-breaks.

 

[El Dude]

Match points. And he also had another break point later in that last set.


I think he had a clear edge. It was a good match, with good level, but he was clearly the better player up until those match points. Credit to Djokovic for playing three absolutely perfect tie-breaks.

Shut your whore mouth.

 

[Jelenafan]

Well, I don't think Roger is treated like a blooper reel, but I think your point is that it was amazing that he was there in a first place, with match point against a six-year-younger Novak. And really, they were virtual equals in that match. Roger even had the edge in some sense, but Novak just got in his head and he "blew it" - but against arguably the greatest defender in tennis history. It happens. Roger didn't take home the trophy, but there's really no shame in what he did there.

For goodness sake, can we please stop comparing Federer to Methuselah??!! I was once 38 and it is a young, spry age. I even walked with a gait in those days….

 

[Kieran]

For goodness sake, can we please stop comparing Federer to Methuselah??!! I was once 38 and it is a young, spry age. I even walked with a gait in those days….

I dunno what age you are now but 38 is a kid to an old man, and 38 is an old man to a kid…unfortunately

 

[El Dude]

For goodness sake, can we please stop comparing Federer to Methuselah??!! I was once 38 and it is a young, spry age. I even walked with a gait in those days….

Not in the tennis world. 38 vs. 32 is a rather large difference.

 

[Moxie]

I remember when Rafa lost to Soderling in 2009 at RG. On an appropriately gray, solemn day. After hearing for years that Rafa was the favorite at RG, and not believing it, I finally accepted in 2009 that he was unbeatable there. And then he wasn't. I hate to admit this, but when he lost that day, it was as if someone had died, to me. Utter grief. Rafa became mortal at RG. It hurt like hell. There have been others, but that was the most painful, to me.

I understand why Fed fans say the 2019 Wimbledon. That one hurt me to watch, and I (almost) didn't care who won. (Realistically, I as massively torn.)

 

[atttomole]

For goodness sake, can we please stop comparing Federer to Methuselah??!! I was once 38 and it is a young, spry age. I even walked with a gait in those days….

Regardless, you could see how good Roger was, even at 38. His tennis was sumptuous!!

 

[Jelenafan]

Not in the tennis world. 38 vs. 32 is a rather large difference.

I’m losing my touch, thought my tongue in cheek intended humorous post was clear.

Back to the corner in my assisted care facility.

 

[Kieran]

I remember when Rafa lost to Soderling in 2009 at RG. On an appropriately gray, solemn day. After hearing for years that Rafa was the favorite at RG, and not believing it, I finally accepted in 2009 that he was unbeatable there. And then he wasn't. I hate to admit this, but when he lost that day, it was as if someone had died, to me. Utter grief. Rafa became mortal at RG. It hurt like hell. There have been others, but that was the most painful, to me.

I understand why Fed fans say the 2019 Wimbledon. That one hurt me to watch, and I (almost) didn't care who won. (Realistically, I as massively torn.)

That was earthshaking. It was like when Buster Douglas beat Tyson. It was bigger than the sport. Especially that Rafa lost to his troll.

And he was a solid number one, and he was injured for Wimbledon. It was like, Welcome to Rafa Life. It was never easy. There were no cheap slams, no cheap seasons…

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I remember when Rafa lost to Soderling in 2009 at RG. On an appropriately gray, solemn day. After hearing for years that Rafa was the favorite at RG, and not believing it, I finally accepted in 2009 that he was unbeatable there. And then he wasn't. I hate to admit this, but when he lost that day, it was as if someone had died, to me. Utter grief. Rafa became mortal at RG. It hurt like hell. There have been others, but that was the most painful, to me.

I understand why Fed fans say the 2019 Wimbledon. That one hurt me to watch, and I (almost) didn't care who won. (Realistically, I as massively torn.)

I did not want to bring that loss up Moxie, ' I have no words' like other Rafa fans had to accept that Rafa was beatable, then like a 'phoenix who rose from the ashes' Rafa found his rebirth' after that loss.