[Orange Wombat]

I feel that whenever some guy wins against a top player, everyone immediately says how amazing the low ranked player played. But sometimes it is just an average match, in which the low ranked player simply does everything a little better.

For example, the Rosol vs Nadal match. Rosol was possessed only in the 5th set, and other sets he ballbashed good, but not unbelievable. Yet after he won, everyone thought he played like a God.

Discuss, and give examples.

[Slasher1985]

I think that the most important factor that says such a victory is unbelievable is the "shock" factor. In all cases with this era, I would say that not even 1% of fans actually expect a victory from the underdog. So, even if the player winning is just 2% better than the Top Player losing, the "shock" factor greatly exaggerates the feat and the victory becomes legend.

[Sanya]

When Fed lost to Montanies in Estorial I thought that spanish played OK, but nothing that special. Melzer once defeated Nadal in Shanghai with relatively casual play.

Yes, you are right. Sometimes it happens. But in every victory underdog must show "unbelievable" level of self-confidence. Because usually most part of them is prone to choke from any position.

[IOFH]

I agree. Generally players ranked under 10 have to play a good complete match to get it done against the big 4, but the play definitely doesn't have to be unbelievable or unconscious.

[TigerTim]

Loads of Murray matches

[Freak3yman84]

Mugbych "surprises" happen every other week, so none are very impressive. For example, after Mugbis defeated him at Wimbledon everyone was orgasmic over the guy...

[Mark Lenders]

Originally Posted by Freak3yman84

Mugbych "surprises" happen every other week, so none are very impressive. For example, after Mugbis defeated him at Wimbledon everyone was orgasmic over the guy...

This is not a good example. Gulbis played an amazing match, his second serve average speed was over 110 mph+. Berdych played very well too, Gulbis was just a little bit better in every set and was Godmoding on serve.

[Ash86]

Sure - sometimes it's the top player being mediocre on that day or it being a freak match of sorts e.g., Nadal v Mayer at Shanghai last year or vs. GGL in Bangkok where Nadal had 26 BPs but only converted 1 or 2 - it wasn't GGL playing unreal or anything. It's the wins at slams that are more remembered anyway - Rosol v Nadal is impressive due to the fifth set and also because to stick with a top player, even when they are not at their best, for that long, is really impressive. Clearly was a one off though as Rosol has been terrible ever since - he must have been possessed to stay mentally in it for that one match.

Lower ranked wins over Tsonga often have a lot to do with Clownga turning up too... Same for Berdych.

[Freak3yman84]

Originally Posted by Mark Lenders

This is not a good example. Gulbis played an amazing match, his second serve average speed was over 110 mph +

He played well indeed, but afterwards everybody hyped Mugbis up only to see him lose to a 136th ranked Mugowicz in the next round The win was not that unbelievable considering the fact that Mugbis and Berdych are very up and down

[Certinfy]

Originally Posted by Mark Lenders

This is not a good example. Gulbis played an amazing match, his second serve average speed was over 110 mph+. Berdych played very well too, Gulbis was just a little bit better in every set and was Godmoding on serve.

2nd serve average was 112mph overall and 116mph in set 1 and 117mph in set 3 if I remember correctly.

Even as a Berdych fan I think he played well, definitely played better in that match than he did at the Olympics, Toronto and Cincinnati, that's for sure.

[Mark Lenders]

Originally Posted by Freak3yman84

He played well indeed, but afterwards everybody hyped Mugbis up only to see him lose to a 136th ranked Mugowicz in the next round The win was not that unbelievable considering the fact that Mugbis and Berdych are very up and down

Yeah, everyone knows he's inconsistent and has never fully fulfilled his potential. But in that particular he played great, it was an excellent tennis match, one of the best displays of first strike tennis in recent memory for sure.

Originally Posted by Certinfy

2nd serve average was 112mph overall and 116mph in set 1 and 117mph in set 3 if I remember correctly.

Even as a Berdych fan I think he played well, definitely played better in that match than he did at the Olympics, Toronto and Cincinnati, that's for sure.

No doubt about that. An inspired Gulbis is just infinitely superior to the mug likes of Darcis or Gascoke.

[Freak3yman84]

Originally Posted by Mark Lenders

Yeah, everyone knows he's inconsistent and has never fully fulfilled his potential. But in that particular he played great, it was an excellent tennis match, one of the best displays of first strike tennis in recent memory for sure.

But my point is that the win wasn't unbelievable

[TigerTim]

We are discussing top players, not slamless pushers like Clownbych

[Freak3yman84]

Originally Posted by TigerTim

We are discussing top players, not slamless pushers like Clownbych

pusher...

[Orange Wombat]

Originally Posted by Mark Lenders

Yeah, everyone knows he's inconsistent and has never fully fulfilled his potential. But in that particular he played great, it was an excellent tennis match, one of the best displays of first strike tennis in recent memory for sure.




No doubt about that. An inspired Gulbis is just infinitely superior to the mug likes of Darcis or Gascoke.

Gasquet is a much better player than Mugbis and even Darcis is better than Mugbis slightly.
And anyway, I meant players like Nadal and Djokovic, not Berdych.