The most endearing images that last long in one's memory are the big games, the big wins, especially the hard-fought ones. Wimbledon has witnessed such thrillers over the years, but how about the one-siders? Thrashings are memorable too (unless you have been in the receiving end).
We wanted to find just that - the 'thrashings', 'one siders' or 'dominant wins' - call it what you will.
Who are the players who have dominated matches in Wimbledon in the last 15 years? To find that lets take the straight-set wins. Scores along the lines of 7-6 6-3 6-4 cannot be considered as one-siders and so lets add a criteria - the winner shouldn't have conceded more than 3 games in each of the 3 sets.
2013 witnessed the most number of straight-set wins - 78 matches (Wimbledon matches since 2000). How many of them were 'dominant wins'? By our criteria, only 9 matches. In 2012 the number of straight set wins was only 58 but the number of dominant wins was 11. In 2007 though there were only 6 dominant wins out of the 73 matches that ended as straight set wins.
Most of these 'dominant straight set wins' happen in Rounds 1, 2 & 3. But there have been exceptions too. The Finals of 2002, 2003, 2005, 2010 & 2013 were straight-setters but none were as one-sided as Lleyton Hewitt's hammering of David Nalbandian in the 2002, 6-1 6-3 6-2.
Vintage Federer
In the last 15 years of Wimbledon who are the top 10 players to have won most matches in straight sets? How many of those have been dominant wins? Roger Federer stands tall with 55 straight set wins out of a total of 75 overall wins.
The Curious Case of Tomas Berdych
Berdych has lost 11 matches in his Wimbledon career and all of them have been straight set losses ! 6 of those losses were against a top 10 ranked player. Ranked 7th in 2012 he lost in straight sets to the 87th ranked Gulbis. Berdych also happens to figure in the top 10 players list with most straight set wins.
One-sided thrillers
We've considered any match where the winner has won in straight sets without conceding not more than 3 games in each set. But what about players losing the advantage of a 3-0 lead and ending up losing the set 3-6 and eventually the match in straight sets? Would you call that a one-sided thriller? If you remember one, do let us know.
What does Wimbledon 2015 have in store for us? Lets wait and watch.
Data Courtesy: https://tennis-data.co.uk/