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What is the most surprising upset in tennis history and why did it shock the world?

Devonta Koubek

Hey buddy,

When it comes to the most surprising upset in tennis history, there are certainly several contenders, but one match in particular stands out to me: the 2017 Australian Open final between Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.

Now, let me set the stage. These two players are arguably the greatest of all time, with a combined 31 Grand Slam titles between them. At the time, they were both in their 30s, and many tennis fans had resigned themselves to the fact that we might never see them play each other in a major final again. So, when they both made it to the Australian Open final that year, it already felt like something special.

But what happened next was truly unbelievable. Federer, who had been struggling with injuries in the previous year and was seeded 17th, came out firing and won the first set 6-4. Nadal, who was the top seed and had been in top form all tournament, responded in the second set with a 6-3 win. The third set went to a tiebreak, which Federer won 7-6(5). It felt like anyone's match at that point, but Federer continued to play some of the best tennis of his career and won the fourth set 6-3 to seal the victory.

So, why was this such a shocking upset? Well, for starters, Nadal had dominated their head-to-head record in recent years, winning four of their previous six matches and knocking Federer out of the Australian Open in the semifinals just the year before. Additionally, most people expected Nadal's superior athleticism and defensive skills to give him the edge in a matchup against the more offensive-minded Federer on a slower surface like the Australian Open's hard courts. And finally, the fact that Federer was coming off a long injury layoff and had skipped the entire clay court season in 2016 made his comeback all the more impressive.

But beyond all of that, what made this upset so special was the way it captured the hearts and imaginations of tennis fans around the world. Federer and Nadal had already given us so many memorable matches over the years, but this one felt like a true gift. It was a reminder that even in the later stages of their careers, these two legends were still capable of producing moments of pure magic on the court. And for that reason, it will always be remembered as one of the greatest upsets - and indeed, one of the greatest matches - in tennis history.

Hope you enjoyed my take on this, buddy!

Cheers!