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1. Gaston Gaudio d Guillermo Coria 0-6 3-6 6-4 6-1 8-6 - French Open 2004 Final It looked like cheerio for Gaudio as he not only struggled to win points but also just to keep the ball in the court in the first two sets. Facing a two set to love deficit, and a foxing opponent, Gaudio finally relaxed and surged to victory while a teary Coria was left to rue his missed oppurtinity. 2. Lleyton Hewitt d Roger Federer 5-7 2-6 7-6 7-5 6-1 - Davis Cup 2003 Semi Final Australia v Switzerland Hewitt was typically bull-like in this prize-fight. THe game looked all over, but Hewitt's amazing self-belief helped him fight back from the brink of defeat. Hewitt later said that is was the past heroics of former Australian champion Pat Cash that gave him motivation. Lleyton's legend grows. 3. Jennifer Capriati d Martina Hingis 4-6 7-6 6-2 - Australian Open 2002 Final With a 6-4 4-0 lead, Hingis had to shoo away a television cameraman who was sneaking on court trying to get a good shot of her victory celebrations. In what both players described as the toughest conditions of their career, Hingis crumbled while the tenacious Capriati smacked ball after ball for a winner. 4. Steffi Graf d Martina Hingis 4-6 7-5 6-2 - French Open 1999 Final While Hingis did fall to pieces, Graf definitely played her part in her opponent's demise. In Steffi's final match at Roland Garros , she rose above Hingis' antics to come from a set and a break down to mentally dominate her younger opponent in the final set. 5. Andre Agassi d Andrei Medvedev - French Open 1999 Final In the battle of the RH's (Receding Hairlines) Agassi looked mentally beaten as Medvedev played near flawless tennis to crush the American. However it was Medvedev who lived up to his reputation as a 'choker'. Agassi clawed his way back into the match, completing the rare feat of winning all four Grand Slams. 6. Pat Rafter d Andre Agassi 2-6 6-3 3-6 6-2 8-6 - Wimbledon 2001 Semi Final The guts of Rafter while down breaks on numerous occasions in the fifth set against a red hot Agassi will be long remembered. Agassi lost his cool while Rafter attacked the net with his trademark gusto. A blistering cross-court winner secured what semmed an impossible victory 10 minutes prior. 7. Steffi Graf d Jana Novotna - Wimbledon 1993 Final This was the match that lead to the catch-cry in social tennis: "Don't do a Novotna!" Despite leading Graf 4-1 in the third set with a point to go 5-1 up, Novotna refused to let herself believe that she could win. Therein lies the difference between the two players ... oh, and about 20 Grand Slam titles. 8. Arnaud Clement d Sebastien Grosjean 5-7 2-6 7-6 7-5 6-2 - Australian Open 2001 Semi Final Friendship was the last thing on Clement's mind as he found himself two match points down. Grosjean faltered, unable to close out the match as Clement stormed home. Perhaps Grosjean let maeship de-power his killer instinct in closing out the match. 9. Justine Henin-Hardenne d Jennifer Capriati 4-6 7-5 7-6 - US Open 2003 Semi Final In one of the best women's matches played in the last 10 years, leading a set and 5-2, Capriati looked certain to pull of a surprise victory. Henin-Hardenne battled cramp and came within two points from losing the match an amazing ten times to totally dishearten Capriati. 10. Pete Sampras d Jim Courier 6-7 6-7 6-3 6-4 6-3 - Australian Open 1995 Quarter Final In tears for his critically ill coach, Sampras unleashed a barrage of aces to claw his way back into the match. Courier yelled to Sampras: "We can do this tomorrow, you know." Sampras stayed on court and sent Courier packing. OTHER COMEBACKS Virginie Razzano d Jelena Dokic 3-6 7-6 6-1 - Australian Open 2006 First Round In a closely watched encounter, Dokic led 6-3 6-5 and held two match points - one what she thought she hit a winning forhand before the umpire over-ruled. Dokic crumbled while Razzano raced away with the third set 6-1. Serena Williams d Maria Sharapova 2-6 7-5 8-6 Australian Open 2005 Semi Final Sharapova looked to have booked her place in her first Australian Open Final as she served for the match against Serena on two occasions. Serena saved 3 match points and began to take control winning the match on her first match point. Venus Williams d Lindsay Davenport 4-6 7-6 9-7 - Wimbledon 2005 Final Davenport looked to add to her 3 Grand Slam titles as she held match point against the 2000/2001 champion, only for Venus to save it with a screaming backhand winner. Davenport struck injury at a critical time as Williams took advantage to take the her third Wimbledon title. Chanda Rubin d Jana Novotna 7-6 4-6 8-6 French Open 1995 Third Round Novotna struggled to establish a 6-7 (8-10) 6-4 5-0 lead in an already-intriguing match. With Rubin serving at 0-5, the Czech then secured three match points at 0-40 on Rubin's serve. Rubin saved the match points, then saved another six before emerging victorious 8-6. Novotna cried out in anguish and shed tears of desperation. made for unpleasant viewing but, from 0-5 0-40 down, Rubin had achieved the ultimate comeback. Anastasia Myskina d Elena Dementieva 1-6 7-6 7-5 Wimbledon 2005 Fourth Round Dementieva almost embarrassed Myskina for first set and a half when she held a 6-1 5-1 lead and held 2 match points before losing a second set tie-break and going down in the third 7-5. |
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