A three-team panel makes its picks for the men’s singles final on Monday at the U.S. Open.
Hasan Murad – The most intense rivalry in tennis will enter the record books as Djokovic and Nadal lock horns for the 37th time. It is the element of unpredictability in their rivalry that’s most intriguing. Nadal has pocketed a career-best hard-court season in 2013 as he enters the final having won 21 of 21 matches (48/54 sets) and possessing a tour-best 93 percent of service games won record on hard courts. Djokovic, on the other hand, is unsurprisingly a comfortable leader in return games won (36 percent) on hard courts this year. Nadal’s current momentum is unprecedented because this is the first time he has consistently played phenomenal tennis on faster surfaces. Djokovic is usually favored in their hard-court matches because of the matchup, but over the last two years Nadal has done wonderfully well to shift the dynamics. He has once again found winning patterns that include breaking down the Serb’s forehand, varying his own serve, and adding more penetration on his service returns. Djokovic is a perfect 36-0 at the U.S. Open after winning the first set, so if the No. 1 seed takes charge from the beginning, Nadal will have to use every ounce of energy to surmount the best hard-court player the last three years. Despite trailing 9-4 on outdoor hard courts, Nadal currently has the mental edge because of his peerless confidence and Djokovic’s recent mental hiccups (as a consequence of which he entered this fortnight ranked 32nd in deciding sets won this year). The player who produces courageous and aggressive tennis in key moments will have the edge. Nadal 6-4, 4-6, 6-2, 7-5.
Ricky Dimon – Nadal may lead the overall head-to-head series 21-15, but Djokovic has won 11 of their 18 hard-court meetings and he is 2-1 lifetime against the Spaniard in Grand Slam finals. The edge in current form and and physical well-being may go to Nadal, but there is reason to think Djokovic can overcome those issues. At the 2012 Australian Open, the Serb won a four-hour and 50-minute semifinal against Andy Murray then went back out two days later and outlasted Nadal in a title match that lasted five hours and 53 minutes. Although Djokovic called Nadal “the ultimate competitor” after Saturday’s semifinals, these two men should really share that title. Just as it is almost impossible to win three sets in a span of five against Nadal on clay, it is extremely difficult to do the same against Djokovic on hards. The surface, the evening conditions, and arguably the best two-handed backhand on tour right now (a shot that can stand up to Nadal’s topspin) may be just enough to put an end to Nadal’s unbelievable hot streak. Djokovic 3-6, 6-4, 5-7, 7-6, 6-3.
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tough call.. right.. if we follow the women’s trend and cincy open where vika beat sarena but lost here then djiker should beat rafa but overall its rafa ..
i pick rafa in 4 or 5 sets… 🙂
To me, Novak has more to prove in this final: this is the surface he is suppossed to be superior, Rafa has bested him on it as recently as Montreal, Rafa has garnered the better HC record this season, Novak needs to reverse his current Slam “slump”. So all this will add to his already existing motivation to beat Rafa whenever they meet. He will be ready.
Rafa has less pressure: he has already exceeded his expectations for the season and the hard courts in particular, he knows this is Novak’s favourite surface and his worst so being in the final is a bonus on its own, he has improved his points position and most importantly, by being in the final he gives himself a chance to win. As a result of all this, Rafa should be calmer and swing freely.
I want Rafa to win, it could go either way but Rafa has already exceeded my expectations this season, I hope he has a good match.
Vamos Rafa!
Ricky says, “The surface, the evening conditions, and arguably the best two-handed backhand on tour right now”
Have you been watching Novak recently, Ricky? His BH has not been firing, it has been leaking unusual errors. In fact, he lost faith in this particular shot of his as recently as during the semi against Wawa and resorted to running around it. It may be the best two-hander on tour right now because the rest are that abysmal, but that does not make Djokovic’s the terror-inducing shot of old.
That is not to say he may not find it during the final……………
I was also wondering whether Ricky has been watching Nole lately. His game seems to be lacking in all areas. Rafa just needs to look after his service games and not give Nole a free break of serve leading to a set and Nole will lose all on his own.
^^^Forgot to mention Nole’s tally of UEs in the QF and SF.
Keep your mind focused and sharp like a laser beam, remain calm and be strong like steel, Rafa!
This is what I am talking about, Novak has been favouring his FH compared to his double handed BH this tournament, I hope this continues in the final!:
“Djokovic has hit more winners with his forehand (77) than his backhand (32) at the Open and has sometimes opted to hit his one-handed slice backhand rather than his two-hander up the line, but he will need that hit the tougher shot against Nadal.”
http://www.tennis.com/pro-game/2013/09/2013-us-open-mens-final-preview/49103/#.Ui1oOj9RCDc
Sean Randall made a point of bringing up Djoker’s backhand not working for him, especially in the match with Stan. He said that this is one shot he will need to beat Rafa. He had other points to make, but I thought that stood out since Djoker did run around his backhand to hit forehands in the semifinal. That shows a lack of confidence in that shot. Why? That is what has made him so tough, particularly for Rafa.
If he does find it in the final, then that’s going to make it harder for Rafa. But Rafa will be trying to use his own tactics. He’s not going into this match without his own game plan. I just think that Rafa is as ready as he can possibly be to meet Djoker in this slam again.
It’s going to be a battle for sure. I know that I should consider the possibility that Djoker could win, but I just really want Rafa to do this. It’s not that he must do it or the world will end. I think Djoker has a great deal on the line because Rafa has gotten the best of him in their last five or six matches. Getting beaten at Montreal had to sting even more. The number one ranking for year end might be decided by this match.
They both have a lot to play for right now. That’s why I think it will another one of those slugfest battles right to the end.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/tennis/news/20130907/rafael-nadal-novak-djokovic-us-open-final/#ixzz2eL97oicE
May the best man win!
Vamos Rafa!
No mercy on Novak this time.
Show the world who’s really the best player this year.
Nadal in 3 !
That’s what I am hoping for, @Shireling!
If there is one thing I have not been happy about Rafa 3.0 is this: he has been allowing opponents to hang around on court! He allowed Novak to hang around in the RG semi, he allowed Reeshad to hang around in the USOpen semi, and I am sure there are other examples out there. Rafa is ruthless, but he needs to be more ruthless. When he puts that jack-boot on an opponent’s throat, he needs to keep it there until he taps, to use a wrestling metaphor……….
Ah Shireling. Happy to see the post from you. Usually you are a bit tentative like you were about Rafa vs Philip..seeing your brave prediction makes me feel better
so nervous… just like i’m having a hard exam ahead of myself…
Some thoughts to help you cope with your nervousness, @rafaelo:
1. This is Novak’s best surface, he is expected to win, so if he wins, it should not be a surprise;
2. This is Rafa’s worst surface, he can’t be expected to win, so if he loses, it should not be a complete surprise;
3. Even if Rafa loses, he will end the year as #1, barring any unforeseen circumstances;
4. Rafa is in another final, that is jam
and most important of all: Rafa will give his best, so if he loses, he will have lost giving his best.
Cheers!
yes ritb! thes are true! but something about djoker bothers me! he is not a sweet champion! not so grounded like rafa!
and the bad thing is that he didn’t play well all year long but now if he wins he had 2 slams this year! and that sucks!
rafaelo@September 9, 2013 at 9:11 am
Chant ‘vamos’! 🙂
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BCmw9oOCIAA3pVw.jpg
nice 😀 😀
@rafaelo, if Novak wins it will be because he was the better player on the day, so we have to accept that. However, I am very bullish about our guy, I feel he will pull it off.
Believe!
Amen 🙂
I’m not worried this time.
Rafa is going to win.
This argument of the ‘worst surface’ is just not valid any more. When a player dominates the HC season as much as Rafa has done so far this year it becomes quite clear that this is no ‘worst surface’. It’s not his fault that there aren’t any more HC tourneys otherwise he would have won just as many as on clay this year.
If any I’d say Rafa’s worst surface is grass due to his awful results in Wimby these last years.
I totally agree with you @Shireling regarding the “HC is Rafa’s worst surface” spiel. Advancing it is my way of lowering my expectations, a coping mechanism. I am not as brave as you in stating the obvious: Rafa is damn good on HC!
I think I said the same in another post, Rafa cannot continue to be judged by his pre 2013 HC record, it makes no sense, especially if people will not judge Novak by his pre 2011 record.
Gasquet, in his post semi presser, even went as far as saying Rafa is the best on HC currently. I agree.
There were good reasons for those two early Wimbledon losses Shirling. Time was when it was said he would not beat Federer on grass and then look what happened.
He set himself the task of conquering playing on grass just as he has done now on HC.
Ditto, the refrain was Rafa is always spent after RG and Wimby. No signs of that so far this year 🙂
All that remains now is for Rafa to overcome his distaste for indoor HCs. lol.
Ricky, I have responded to your email . Please add my preview if possible, I hope it is ! 🙂 Could not respond on time because of the difference in time zones perhaps.
you guys are right,novak’s backhand is has not been the same in this tournament. On the backhand side,he has 32 winners to 70 U,E so far as compared to rafa’s 28 winners to a mere 29 U.E . Rafa’s backhand has been much more solid. This is definitely one of the reasons I have confidence in rafa…
I am beginning to wonder: during the semi against Gasquet, Rafa hit a lot of neutral shots I.e. deep, mid court shots and I remember wondering why he was not going cross court or DTL. Could it be Rafa was already practicing handicapping Nole’s DHBH? He hit those neutral shots with success against Nole at RG, denying Nole angle and forcing him to hit with his least favorite shot, the FH. Novak lost the last game in that semi because of successive FH errors.
the key to success for rafa is his forehand DTL and I/O! even middle court balls do not help him!
The reason Rafa wasn’t aggressive against Gasquet was the wind. He said in his presser that it was difficult to control the ball so that might be why he was playing safe.
It was very windy during the Ladies’ final last night, I am hoping it will be a lot calmer tonight.
Nole has not been playing well but that’s not to ay he won’t play well tonight. Rafa should just deny him the ability of hitting winners from the back of the court.
I agree with Rafaelo that it would be a travesty if Nole won tonight considering how badly he’s played since the AO.
39 U.E for rafa’s backhand**
@Shireling, todate, Rafa has 3 HC Masters shields compared to 2 for clay. If he wins tonight his HC season will officially have been better than his clay season, with room for further improvement in Shanghai, Paris and WTF.
A couple of corrections in the above previews :
In steen Kirby’s post, its mentioned djokovic has a 10-5 advantage on hard courts..its actually 11-6
In Ricky’s preview, it’s mentioned djokovic has won 11 of their 18 meetings…its actually 11 of their 17 meetings
Vamosrafa: You’re very beady eyed today 🙂
RITB, i don’t think so….It was because of the wind mainly and because rafa was just not at his aggressive best against gasquet. He’l go for corners and lines against novak… but yea good obersvation, rafa sent heavy,deep ground strokes in the centre of the court in neutral rallies to work his way into the point.
A lot of the running forehands were also hit in the middle of the court so as to deny rhythm to djokvic..but if he goes at the middle, he has to ensure depth ! otherwise, nole has a great inside out forehand to punish short balls from the middle of the court
I am referring to the RG match, of course
Yes, depth is key for Rafa, which is why the wind factor will be important. The wind will play havoc with shot timing and this is one of the reasons the Gasquet match ended up being more laborious than it was projected to be.
The wind played havoc in the Serena match too!! Hope Rafa does not get too rattled by it! Vamos!!
I believe Rafa will win perhaps in 4. He has come this far and when Rafa gets to a final we know what we get, his best! He is prepared, he knows what he has to do! He is our warrior, never say die, plays every point likes its the last!!!!
Vamos Rafa, cant wait to see you bite no. 13!!!!
don’t think it’s supposed to be nearly as windy
The last quarter of the season will be intriguing. Federer, Djokovic and Murray have all had considerable success on indoor HC whereas they are Nadal’s least successful surface. To be honest, I will be happy if Rafa puts in credible performances but I’m not convinced he will sustain his current winning streak.
On the other hand he has proved even the pundits wrong so far this year!!!
Post US Open, I hope Rafa restricts his schedule to Shanghai, an indoor 500 and the WTF. He is playing Davis Cup, that’s more than enough.
I dont think he will play more than that RITB..He does not need to either if he wins USO, he is assured of No 1 year end. Only if he does not win today, expect him to play a bit more to rake up points.
Djokovic’s backhand up the line has not been working at all this tournament.(which is his money shot.) That will put him at a major disadvantage if this continues against nadal. So I consider nadal the favourite. Of course, if Djokovic finds the range off the backhand wing in the final, I think he will have a decent chance at winning.
The closer we get to the kick-off the more I’m hoping the wind gets up!
Djokovic will be going for broke but he will be living dangerously if he goes for too many high-risk shots with the conditions we have seen on the Arthur Ashe court in the past few days.
Weather forecast (updated at 6:45am EDT) for the playing hours:
¤ partly cloudy,
¤ temperature: 71 -> 66 degrees Fahrenheit (22 ->19 degrees Celsius),
¤ humidity 49 -> 68 %,
¤ wind 10 -> 9 mph (16->14,5 km/h).
http://www.weather.com/weather/hourbyhour/graph/Flushing+NY+USNY0504:1:US
Its’ probably as windy as it was during the Rafa – Gasquet match.
If anything a stronger wind for the first hour! Tricky conditions to say the least.
Wouldn’t you just love to be a fly on the wall and hear what Djokovic’s team are saying to him right now?
Possibly drilling into his head ‘You are the best, you can do it..It is HC..it is your surface’
🙂
vamosrafa..what is your Pred?
BTW ice words from Martina for our Rafa
“When you are playing that well, you almost forget how to lose,” Navratilova said on Saturday. “You have this extra confidence on the big points and you are not second guessing yourself. Even if you choke or get nervous, it’s okay, you can still handle it. Rafa knows on his best day he will probably beat everybody. It’s a great feeling. You just get this sense of ‘I almost don’t know how to lose’ and the other guy thinks he needs to redline to win.”
ritb – September 9, 2013 at 9:54 am
I wasn’t referring to the Master events but in the total of matches all together. My point was that had he played as many HC tournements as on clay he would have won even more.
Ok, so Djoko won MonteCarlo but he came short in RG which was his main goal.
For me, the way Novak panicked in the last set at RG (you might remember, asking for the court to be watered and blablabla) was a turning point. Rafa put a stop to Nole’s mental edge and there are reasons to believe that it could be reversed in this match.
Nole hasn’t been fantastic and Rafa is hungry!
Vamos Rafa!!
Totally understood your post @Shireling, and you are right. I deliberately picked on the Masters and Slams won for the year because of their prestige that’s all.
I said it before and I will say it again: this will be a watershed Slam for Novak and Rafa. If Novak loses, I expect him to collapse mentally against Rafa henceforth. Novak losing would have the same impact as if he had beaten Rafa at RG.
I do not really think so RIBT, Novak will be devastated, sure, but he will pick up and try to fine tune his game. He will not allow himself to contiune to be dominated by Rafa! I think, if Rafa wins, sure he would have erased that monkey on his back which is Novak but I think their matches going forward will be extremley competitive with either one winning on occasion.
I thought about that moment when Nole asked for the court to be watered when in that very humid weather players were slipping on the wet patches because there was so much sweat flying around. lol.
Lest we forget:
https://twitter.com/usopen/status/377038269747195905/photo/1
For Rafa, it’s not about beating Novak, beating records or anything else we fans think about, it’s simply about winning the US Open. That simple.
Vamos Rafa!
And the good thing is that at least you gave yourself a chance!!!! Go for it, Rafa. Your fans are behind you!!!
.. but I think he wants to win the US open to add more Slams to his count. At this point of his career he doesn’t want to be remembered as ‘just another dirtballer’ (although I don’t see how anyone can argue this by now but anyhow…), winning a 3rd HC Slam would even out things even more and leave him with less things to prove, if he still needs to prove anything
Vamos Rafa!
What Novak is cherishing most:
@usopen
#Djokovic: “7, 8 years I have been coming back here I have played at least semifinals in every #USOpen. Fantastic.” pic.twitter.com/SjTiJuuyNl
I think he is gunning for Fed’s Salm semis record……………why not?
^^ Forgot to post link:
https://twitter.com/usopen/status/377040076259069953/photo/1
Hahaha! This is a perfect article with prefect quotes from Uncle Toni:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/tennis/24011898
I especially like the following quote which I wish a certain poster on tennis-x blog called @Grendel would read:
” And, according to Toni Nadal, there is no mystery about the way his nephew will approach the final.
“Sport is very simple, always,” he said. “Journalists, the media, the public think he should do this or this. For me, it’s so much easier.
“You should play good, nothing else. You should play very well.
“And when you want to beat Novak Djokovic, you should do all the things very well – a good serve, a good return, a good forehand.
“This is so simple. Sport is not for making philosophy or science. It’s easy – play very well.”
:))))) =)))))
It was Arthur Ashe who said ‘There is a syndrome in sports called ‘paralysis by analysis’.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/09/09/us-tennis-men-nadal-coach-idUSBRE9880G020130909
Sanju, Ricky emailed me to give me the chance to join him and other writers in previewing the final. I was a little late in checking my email so even though I have sent out my preview, it has not been posted yet. I hope we can have my preview here lol…
Anyway, my pred was Nadal in 5 initially but now finally I have arrived at Nadal in 4. I don’t have enough faith in djokovic’s game at the moment. If I were to make a pred after wimbledon, it would have been probably djokovic , no way I was going to pick rafa at that stage. However, the way rafa is demolishing opponents with ruthless consistently, can’t think of anyone beating him in a best of five set match, not even djokovic. Djokovic obviously has a very decent chance and he can surely win his 2nd USO !
it’s up. good info and stats!
Thanks Hsan, hope your pick comes true 🙂
many thanks 😀
Federer has gone up to #6 and Delpo down to #7.
This corroborates your stats, @vamosrafa:
http://www.tennis.com/technology/2013/09/comparing-greatness-djokovic-vs-nadal/49105/#.Ui3U0z9RCDc
As a Rafan, gives me goose-bumps to see Rafa mentioned as a best server……..but this is the result of hard work, hard work……….
thanks for the link RITB !
RITB, were you successful registering at TalkTennis?
I haven’t tried yet, @clayqueen, will let you know as soon as I do.
Failed again using different email address and changing my name to ednumbers ?
at TW?
Ricky: Yep
I’m not deserting. Tenngrand is my first priority.
Have to admit I miss the in-depth blogs. It would be great if you could feature Cheryl as a guest writer from time to time between the main tournaments.
haha no I was just making sure you weren’t having registering problems here!
Viktoria Azarenka supports Rafa.
An excerpt from an interview on September 8, 2013:
—Q. Who is going to win the men’s final?
VICTORIA AZARENKA: Who’s gonna win? I don’t know. Who I want to win? You know, Rafa convinced me, you know, to vote to just, you know, how do you say? Support him. Support him (laughter). Okay.
Q. How did he convince you?
VICTORIA AZARENKA: How? He was practicing with his shirt off (laughter). (Applause.)—
http://www.usopen.org/en_US/news/interviews/2013-09-08/201309091378689894929.html
🙂
can’t base this opinion on anything objective, but I like Joker in 4….should be a great match for all of us lucky enough to watch on tv.
Folks, I watched both the semis live and was so enthralled that I have purchased tickets for the final too. So its time to see the dream match Rafa v Nole live. If its anything like the french open semi, it would be a corker. I did not get the opportunity to see Rafa in full flow against Reeshard however nothing less will do.
🙂 🙂
epic. Enjoy it!!!
Wish I were in your shoes. Enjoy!
@vmk1
Lucky you 🙂 Have a brilliant time.
vamosrafa,
I just wanted to say that I really liked your prediction write up. Good stuff with the facts and stats to back it up! Nice read!
I think it’s all been said. I believe that Rafa will do it in four, possibly five. I do want him to win this one. I would like to see him beat Djoker in a hard court slam final. That would be a great feat to top off what has been an extraordinary year.
I really love what Uncle Toni said. It’s not complicated! He broke it down so simply and there is so much truth in what he said.
Good luck, Rafa!
I think Rafa will need to be more aggressive than he was in Montreal to be sure. Playing Nole’s baseline game will not cut it, it just gives Nole a look in.
#Vamos Rafa
many thanks NNY 🙂 yeah I really hope rafa can do it ! VAMOS
have fun , vmk ! 🙂 very lucky
Give us a wave from time to time vmk – we’re bright green with envy. ?
😀 Def a dream come true
Have just checked out weather conditions. At 17.00h a 13mph wind is forecast. That’s more than it was for Rafa’s SF. In fact I think it is more than we have seen this week. Predicted to ease slightly to 10-11mph from18.00hrs onward.
HOW EXCITING IS THIS?????
It has a special quality. The last time I felt this tense was the final at the Beijing Olympics.
Ed, its 14kmh not mph? right?
Americans don’t do metric, do they?
no, wind speed is given in mph. It has already eased slightly to between 11-10mph
Rafa looks nervous. I’m sure he’ll settle down after the warm-up.
I was thinking the same thing – refrained from mentioning it though………………
He looked as nervous before the Gasquet match. I guess the inane interview just gets in the way of his mind preparation.
he goes for same old way! forehand CC!
The Queen of Spain is there.
The wind seems OK.
30-30
sjoker is trying to return to rafa’s forehand again!
Help! If it goes on like this I’ll be a total nervous wreck.
i think in-match comments are on the match preview
oh nevermind. i didn’t see the “older comments” thing.
Djoker destroying forehands
blew the first chance!
both held from deuce situations. Djoker at 30-30, Rafa at deuce.
chess match so far. lots of dinks then one unloads on a winner.
Have you noticed Djokovic is bouncing the ball for longer before serving. I counted up to 10 twice already. A sure sign he is very tense.
oooooooof 😀
Rafa draws blood first.
???
just consolidate,,, plzzzzzzzzz
Yeah, lets hope he consolidate, you know how that goes!
Come on Rafa! Consolidate the break!
pleeeeeeaaaaasssse :(((( same scenario as 2011
Nole is blasting UE’s like anything.
i was watching 4 minutes behind. LOL.
rafa should serve to nole’s forehand!
not good service games by my man 🙁
bad feelings…
rafaelo,
Can you cool it with the negativity? After all Rafa is up a break right now.
rafa playing too safe
Yeah, I feel so too!! I suspect Novak is going to come out in the second set guns blazing, so Rafa should step on the gas!!!
that’s more like it!
The crowd are rooting for Rafa.
Nole is totally out of his zone. Not able to take advantage of Rafa who is playing too safe.
YESSSS
How’s that then!!!!!!!
5-2
YES!vamos
Rafa is up 2 breaks 🙂
I think it was Wellington who said ‘Whether this war is long or short, it will seem long’
Nole is certainly doomed now. The 1st set was crucial in this contest.
don’t go for ad an middle court rafa!!!
2more to go! first set 6-2
4 UFEs from Rafa. 14 from Djokovic
vamosrafa,
Why do you think Rafa is playing too safe? Is it then that Djoker is just playing that poorly? Because I believe that Rafa is out thinking him on the court.
Djoker just seems flat to me.
set
Good 1st set fronm Rafa…Won it easy 6-2
But this is when Novak starts getting dangerous..Rafa please be cautious, dont lose focus,please pocket the 2nd set, dont take your foot off the pedal
1st set Rafa. On course to win the title!
Rafa needs to take the 2nd set to kill Nole’s spirits.
Novak has upped aggression in Set2, he just hit hi trademark DTL BH well on the lines
I am keeping in mind that Djoker lost the first set to Stan 6-2. Then Djoker came back to win the second set in a tb. Of course, this is Rafa and not Stan, but I don’t see Djoker just rolling over here. Too much at stake.
djoker is getting angry!
Nole just not able to hit through the wind.
eating my heart out!
Djoker not playing big points well
Nole is moving really bad by his standards. His foots fought frozen on numerous occassions till now.
Rafa serving terrible. Djokovic unable to take advantage
why is rafa playing so defensive all of a sudden? 🙁
Djoker heating up
And I thought that that SF against Wawa was over. Nole has picked up exactly where he left off against Wawa.
Djoko stepping it up , Rafas level started dropping a bit in last game..
All picks above have Djoko winning 2nd set, hope not (:-
Rafa hasnt done anything great yet except on a few pts.
Maybe its bcos there is no need to………YET!
there have been a few ridic rallies
Rafa’s backhand has been so so so solid today!!!!!
Rafa responds with a big game.
Going forward, for the rest of the season Nole should set a goal of improving his slice and overhead.
tiebreaker?
Djokovic playing better than nadal in the 2nd set till now
rafa serve is not accurate at all… and NNY, the backhand has been very tentative… rafa is slicing sooo many balls and he is giving such a big net clearance on his backhand side.. may be it was nerves ! and the fact that djokovic was doing some self destruct so rafa did not have to do much..
HOWEVER, rafa’s backhand has been better in the last 2 games
Rafa can’t buy a first serve in this set but Nole still hasn’t broken him. Weird.
The wind is getting stronger.
Level of play has gone a notch up in this set.
no… I think it’s an turn over!!!! 🙁 I think I just go to bed 🙁
Epic rally.
Hated the way Djokovic celebrated like he’d won the set.
well point was EPIC
Nadal is not playing well at all in the 2nd set
Come on Rafa attack now…no hanging about please anymore
Go on Rafa. Break back. That’s an order.
He absolutely did.
And Djoker again wanes off!
Had to be a Novak error…playing playing too cautiously
And Nole just gifted the break back!
Djoker will lose the set now 6-4.
Rafa is passive.
Strange match.
this one aint ending anytime soon
Rafas slices are irritating me and Djoko is pouncing on them. Novak deserves this set all said and done. Rafa has been rubbish this set
Brain cramp by Rafa on BP!
Oh no
That’s the 2nd set blown ?
abhirf: They are both strung out with the tension.
Neither of them playing their best tennis.
Nadal just through this set away!!!! This he might regret!!!
Looks like the 2011 finals…the patterns of play very similar in that 2nd set.
Not good
Very disppointed with Rafas play in 2nd set, he just let Novak back in the match and momentum now clearly with Novak.
Cant just figure out why Rafa was hitting those dead slices which Novak is feasting on.
Oops! Seems I spoke too soon.
Nole ties it at 1 set all.
Has any rivalry produced more closely contested matches than this?
1 all! now I am really off to bed! rafa let djoker back in the match! I hope that I will wake up with good news! but don’t see that coming
good night folks!
@ed,
yeah. Agree with you. It’s rare to see these 2 so tensed in a match.
There lost 3rd set serve to love..Rafa is fading and he is only resp for it, he better regroup fast
Whatever happened to Rafa’s serve. Djokovic is eating it up and at the same time upped his own serve in the significantly.
Oh come on Nadal – you can do better than this.
No wonder Noel is smirking now…….. 🙁
Rafaelo, just stay up a bit more, wait till the end if the 3rd set and see!!!
Where is the HC beast of this year? This looks like 2011 Rafa..nothing more
Never seen Rafa make so many wrong challenges.
He does that when he is nervous. Normally he gets it right but he is challenging out of desperation in this match.
Are you smiring Ricky?
*smirking*
Djoker in control but 3rd set still far from over.
Please dear god dont let this be a massacre.
very poor from rafa. crappy
Rafa seems to have lost the plot here. He is on defense now and running all over the place. I just don’t want to see this be an embarrassment. Some of the same old patterns are coming up in this match.
If Rafa can’t hold his serve, then that’s not good. I felt that it was too easy, but to see Rafa without the answers is just hard to watch.
Rafa was passive from the start of the match. It was just that Nole was flat to take any advantage. That seems to have lulled Rafa into a false sense of confidence regarding his game plan.
Needs to readjust his game plan as quickly as he can.
Nole is painting the lines over and over again. Why isn’t that wind swirling inside the court tonight. It has for every other bloody match.
That was a crucial hold.
Indeed!!!!
this is really bad…except for 2-3 games, backhand has been beyond pathetic..inexplicable….and serve’s accuracy has been very poor
Rafa serve is at 2011 level
Nole is super confident now. Rafa in big big trouble
Are you still there Clayking. Do you need the smelling salts?
Lol!!!
Yes, pass me the smelling salts.
Rafa needs a review of his tactics. He seems surprised by Djoko’s level.
I feel Rafa slowly getting back into the groove, if he breaks Novak momentum may shift
match entirely on Djoker’s racket right now
I meant Clayqueen. Shows how stressed out i am………………….
Told you all.. was feeling it that he will break
Sanju: And you’re usually so pessimistic!!!! There’s definitely a shift in momentum for the moment.
And all of sudden, floodgates of UE’s open from Nole. This could turn out to be the decisive moment of the match.
I was going to tell that ..I am usually very pessimistic about Rafa..and .. Well but I sumhow felt he was slowly getting into the groove and Nole started missing a bit.. Some of his shots last 2 games were pathetic
agreed. serve is nowhere near the lines, djokovic is eating his serves up. Court positioning the worst I have seen on 2013 from him. Rafa emphasizes the importance of playing more inside the court, I wonder whats preventing him from doing that…
Rafa had better find his serve or he’ll be roasted if it goes to a tie-break.
Why didn’t you keep your mouth shut ed.
Pheeew. We might have a TB after all.
Why was Djoker playing c**p against Wawa?
Elementary dear Watson. He was sandbagging, no?
And here comes the wind………….
Nole let a big chance to win the 3rd set in that game.
Rafa now has the upperhand in the set. I feel a break for Rafa to end this set 6-4.
whatta hold
whatta point
Like I said Rafa to break for 6-4.
Well stone the crows…………………………talk about getting out of jail.
Stone the crows! Love that expression!
Only Rafa is now facing break point! No let up!
Wow..Rafa won this set on sheer guts and aggressive play. Down a break, down triple break point and he takes the set 6-4..This set was huge.
I hope Rafa wins this now a he is 2 sets to 1 up, time to really step up the pressure now..dont get defensive
End of match for Nole. He will not forgive himself ever for letting Rafa win that 3rd set.
Rafa does what he does best, just hang and withstand the tide.
Unbelievable. Rafa steals the set out of nowhere.
Crazy even for the great fighter Rafa
Rafa just stole that set! I was yelling it all over the house and then JMac said the same thing! How did he do it?
They don’t call Rafa “Houdini” for nothing!
Watch this, because we will never see anyone like this in our lifetimes!
Come on Rafa! You can do it!
One more set!
Rafa holds in another tough service game. Hang in there! Get it done in four!
I am getting chest pains from watching this match.
Queen Sofia is enjoying herself
Nole UE’s splaying all over the court.
Nole is no more NOLE nowadays.
That’s put a spring in Rafa step 🙂
GSM Rafa! Djoko lost the plot big time.
far from it!
Accept it Ricky! Nole is making too many UE’s to turn things around.
Rafa has got the bit between his teeth at last…………………..
I almost shed a tear when Rafa won that 3rd set. He was thoroughly outplayed the entire set, well almost. What a fighter though
Even if he loses fro here in, he would have gone down swinging. Not like their 2011 matches, that was painful to watch
@ricky – definitely not over. Not with Djokovic around
But he’s not out of the woods yet.
Alright, that fearhand is back in business
Got to love 5 set tennis. The ebbs and flows just make is so exciting.
I think this match pretty well sums up Djoker’s season. He had things under his control in the matches and somehow he found a way to lose. He does not deserve to be the no.1 player.
Youre a bit harsh, he at least made the finals in all of the Slams unlike osme of us!! Commies to Novak fans……..at least he still get to keep #1 and might do well at WTF!!!
The good news is Rafa has his first serve under control and winning more points on it.
52 UE to 20 UE’s. That speaks for itself.
And Djokovic inexplicably has started to unravel.
it’s very explicable
surprising? yes.
GS 13 coming up…yaay
Make that 53 UE’s. And Rafa gets the insurance break.
Seriously guys, is this really Djoker playing. Or someone else under his mask.
Vaaaaaaammmmmoooooooossssss!
Oh congratulations to us all, Rafa fans!!!! Wehoo!!! No 13 in 2013!!!!
Game, set, championship – Rafa Nadal!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rafa won his 13th GS trophy!!!!!!!!!!!!! In a few minutes he can hug and bite it!
Vamos tennis virtuoso Rafa! Vamooooooooooooos!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Vamos!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rafa Nadal.. 13 time GS champion
What a 4th set it was..totally crushed Novak … No 1 coming 🙂
Congrats everybody !!!!
10titles and counting..Player of tthe year 🙂
I’m lost for words. It’s just a miracle. I’m ashamed of myself for losing hope for much of the match.
Group hug Rafans….6am here in India now..I will go off to sleep peacefully
Congrats Rafa!
As for Nole, I hope he just goes back to the drawing board and start up things again. It’s a different thing to lose playing your best, but it’s entirely different to bring your crap when it matters most.
I expected a lot from this match, but it turned out anti climatic.
@atul, well I’m disappointed to remain awake till 6 am for this.
congrats, Rafans
Thanks Ricky. Maybe you’ll start picking Rafa for the win now on h/c.
NEVER!!!!!!!!!!! 😛
Ricky, the Jinxter! (secret Rafa fan)
Rafa won his 13th GS title in his 13th tournament in year ’13. 13 is a lucky number for Rafa!
Rafa’s other achievements in North America this summer:
¤ Rafa accomplished an American Summer Slam. He became the third man in the Open Era to win Montreal/Toronto, Cincinnati and the US Open in the same year. This achievement has been dubbed the American Summer Slam. The first two men were Patrick Rafter (in1998) and Andy Roddick (in2003).
¤ Rafa won his second US Open Series title (he won the first one in 2008). He became the second male player who have won it more than once. The first man was Andy Roddick in 2005-06.
Vamos tennis virtuoso Rafa! Vamooooooooooooos!
Not bad for a claycourter.
This season, Rafa has won all 22 of his matches on hard courts – his least favorite surface, and today Djoko became the first man beaten by Rafa 22 times. This is a sweet victory, no?
Vamos tennis virtuoso Rafa! Vamooooooooooooos!
I’m coming out of the back of my sofa. OMG! RAFA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I had to compose myself before I could come on here to celebrate. Tears of happiness for Rafa! I don’t know how he won that third set, but that was the key to this match. He was just willing himself to hang in there while Djoker outplayed him. He was hanging on by his fingernails, yet somehow he dug deep to fight off those three break points. Then he managed to come out of nowhere to break Djoker for the set! That’s when I knew he would win. I knew it would break Djoker mentally. That has been Djoker’s weakness this year and it’s why he lost this match. Rafa’s superior mental strength won the day.
Rafa has managed a whole bunch of achievements with this win! It’s just beginning to sink in! Wow! The American Summer Slam! Undefeated on hard courts this year. Third man in the Open era to win Montreal, Cincy and the USO!
What can anyone say? Now he has his 13th slam! Three hard court slams. For all the crap Rafa fans have had to hear this year from the haters, this is a sweet moment!
Rafa beat Djoker on hard court! Goodness, I like the sound of that! 🙂
Agree NNY..Not converting 3rd set broke Novak totally. His mind fed him all doubts and his game disappeared. Rafa really had guts to steel to win that 3rd set. Even I knoew once he won the 3rd from that position, nothing will stop him a you could see in Noles body language that he had resigned.
I am also a bit proud of myself that I saw the Rafa momentum back on this thread ;-).. That says a lot for a pessimistic Rfan like m 🙂
Rafa has to win the AO 14 now..its time to go for the double career slam.
No HC titles since Sep 10 is what we had to keep hearing and here we are..4 big ones in 2013..makes p fo the 0 in 2011 and 2012.
In 2010 we were 6 slams to Feds 16, today we are 13 to 17..the gap has narrowed.
Not sure about you all but I m not going to stress about Rafa anymore for USOPen. I wanted him to win 2, he has done it. Now the nerves only for AO (till he wins 2), RG 9till he wins 9 or 10), Wimby (till he wins 3)
Rafans, just came online now to check the score. I did not watch the match, could not, did not have the courage. I am going back to bed. I will speak to you later when this has all sunk in.
the forehand at 4-4, 0-40 was just unbelievable
Now I’m waiting for a DVD to come out to watch the whole match unless someone knows a replay video somewhere? Pretty please?
NNY, I hope Rafa wins AO14 too. Two career GSs. How many player has done that in history? I know Laver did it. Anyone else? That will really shut up all people who say Rafa is only a clay court specialist. And it will make Fedfans even more desperate. J. McEnroe just mentioned on ESPN that Rafa should be considered as the GOAT because he won Olympic Gold Medal and Davis Cups while Federer didn’t. Federer doesn’t have 2 career GSs either. If Rafa wins AO 14 and of course, FO 14, he’ll have 15 GSs with 2 career GSs. The GOAT debate will really heat up. 😀
Ricky, hahaha, your crystal ball recently is really cloudy. 😛
YouTube is your friend
Thanks. I’ll search it.
No, no video so far. 🙁
Thanks Ricky for choose Nole!!!!
your welcome
Oh, Bloomberg sports columnist just wrote an article online that basically says Rafa uses PEDs and that’s the reason why he could have such a spectacular comeback. I was so mad that I registered in that site just so I could make a comment. He actually cited Noach’s accusation as “proof”. Unbelievable.
Vamos Rafa!!! Congrats to all Rafa fans!!!! Commiserations to Nole fans! Rafa haters go hide under a rock or stew in your own poison!!!!!
Although it was Rafa who proved his detractors wrong, I feel so triumphant as if I had done it!
I guess I can take some credit because I was the first to make Rafa favorite for the USO.( before he won Montreal). Ricky attacked me saying it was not based on facts!
After Rafa won Montreal and Cincinnati, lots of people started looking on Rafa as the favorite!
I based my prediction mainly on Rafa’s interview when he had just come back ( NNY also referred to it) and his statement that while grass is unpredictable, hard court is not. His declared intention to play both Montreal and Cincinnati showed he was going all out for the USO!
Vamos champ! Stay healthy!
Vamos Rafa!!! Congrats to all Rafa fans!!!! Commiserations to Nole fans! Rafa haters go hide under a rock or stew in your own poison!!!!!
Although it was Rafa who proved his detractors wrong, I feel so triumphant as if I had done it!
I guess I can take some credit because I was the first to make Rafa favorite for the USO.( before he won Montreal). Ricky attacked me saying it was not based on facts!
After Rafa won Montreal and Cincinnati, lots of people started looking on Rafa as the favorite!
I based my prediction mainly on Rafa’s interview when he had just come back ( NNY also referred to it) and his statement that while grass is unpredictable, hard court is not. His declared intention to play both Montreal and Cincinnati showed he was going all out for the USO!
Vamos champ! Stay healthy!
vamosrafa, although I was not posting here for sometime, I was reading all your posts! You are one of the best posters and I find your analysis really insightful.
If only luckystar was also here……
holdserve, thanks a bunch 🙂 🙂 and please keep posting, its so much better to have you and your valuable insights ! yes I exactly remember you predicting rafa as USO champ even before montreal..WOW ! standing ovation for you for this….that was such a gutsy pick and I respect your faith in rafa !
and thanks to all who read/liked my preview , and those not aware , hasan murad is my real name ! haha…
don’t know what to say right now, it was such an emotional win ! VAMOSSSSSSSS ! many many many congrats to rafa fans… Rafa was clearly not playing great , not part of his game was working really well but still he defeated djokovic on a fast hard court.wow..unbelievable …
people had starting saying djo is mentally asd tough as rafa and is may be a better fighter…i was actually waiting for this moment! it is much easier to win all crucial points and tough matches when your confidence is on the seventh sky and this was djo’s case in 2011 and start of 2012 ! I was waiting to see him face a moment of severe adversary and now he is going through that period.. these mental collapses are almost shocking ! he has wilted in so many pressure moments this season and it is getting worse !
Rafa playing below par was able to compete SO WELL. he just refuses to lose and this is something you cannot teach. He fought for every single point and inexplicably squeezed out set 3 from a 0-2 deficit.
vamosrafa,
Yes we know your real name! 🙂
My mother and sister were watching the match and called me when Rafa won. They know how much it means to me and they even got in on the excitement, because they never watch tennis.
I told my sister that Rafa’s refusal to lose, his will to win, how he fights even when he’s down, is something that you cannot teach. You either have it or you don’t. I was watching the third set and it actually took about a minute for it to sink in that Rafa had won the set! I was in such shock that it did not register right away. He was fighting from behind that whole set, just hanging on and refusing to go down. I had tears in my eyes just watching it. Then when he was down 0-40 I resigned myself to him being broken and Djoker serving for the third set. But he somehow fought off all those break points. It was sheer will power. He was not going to lose! So he tied it up and I wondered if we were headed for a tiebreak.
Then I am watching this third set where Rafa was behind almost the whole time and then – he breaks Djoker and wins the set! I was just speechless! How Rafa does this, I will never know. But it is part of his greatness.
This victory is so momentous that I am quite overwhelmed. I watched the end of the match on my recording and started crying all over again. Just to see his reaction. He was crying, too! Just to see how much it meant to him. To know that he wasn’t even able to play here last year.
I see that some Rafa fans have a wish list now. Of course, I would love to see Rafa win the 2014 AO. But I don’t want to get too far ahead. It would give him the double career slam. I think my wish list is like Sanju’s. Rafa now has his two USO’s. I would love to see him win another AO to have even more hard court slams. I hope that he can find a way to win another Wimbledon. Three would be so nice. Then can he win even more RG’s?
For now, I think that I will just enjoy this moment. It’s quite something.
I got so confused that I didn’t even know what I was writing in my previous post about the end of that third set. Rafa came back from 0-40 down to make it 5-4, not tie it up as I originally wrote. I am still so excited I don’t even know what I am saying! That’s when he broke Djoker to get the set at 6-4. I will be watching my recording tonight over and over again. I will probably watch it again tomorrow.
It was the very quality that we talked so much about- mental strength – that was what cost Djoker this match. That’s where Rafa had the edge.
I also want to congratulate holdserve for the brave prediction back when no one was saying it. Yes, you called it for Rafa as the favorite to win the USO even before he won Montreal and Cincy. But I remember saying that he was a man on a mission. Once I saw him play at Montreal, I knew that he had his eye on the USO.
Rafa did it! Party time!
#13th slam for rafa ( 3 HC slams, 2 clay slams, 8 clay slams) ,the most versatile combination ever !
# Rafa now has more USO titles than djokovic , LOL..clay court specialist?
# when was the last time rafa won a slam outside clay? 9 september 2013 ! got it haters?
#king of clay forever, king of hard courts for 2013 (22-0 , 3 masters 1 slam)
#Watchout Sampras and Federer
I think you meant 2 “grass slams” in the 1st line… 😀
one more Aussie and I suppose he’s the GOAT
Thanks, NNY! I like your posts and have been reading them from 2011. You are an honest and excellent observer and I get additional insights when I read your posts.
vamosrafa, of course, is the king but he will have competition if luckystar were to come back!
Rafa has given us fans, more, much more than we ever expected, driven his haters to despair and enabled his faithful fans to proudly answer the question we were pummeled with:
When was the last time Rafa won a GS off clay?
Rafa is the King of tennis!!!!! The true no. 1!!!!!
NEVER, Ricky, im disappointed in you!!!…………….lol!
what do Rafans think his schedule should be the rest of the year?
Rafa will end his career with the highest slam tally ever.
You heard it first here!
if by first you mean 7 millionth, then yep! 😛
Another record no one has mentioned here: Rafa is the only player who has won at least one GS for 9 straight years.
wow
Amazing, although what I expected :-). I was not able to see the match but will after this vacation. I have enjoyed reading your comments. I did predict Rafa in four as the most likely result. Mostly due to Novak’s below part mental toughness and consistency this year and Rafa’s aggressiveness and consistency as the US Open was approaching and throughout the hardcourt season. And his own confident words in interviews. You were right, holdserve, to put much weight in those as Rafa does not usually use such language.
The GOAT question never made or will make sense to me but Rafa’s career results so far already negate any reasonable arguments that the man from Switzerland who rose to prominence years ago and since then has essentially not been open to keep adapting his game is GOAT. Not, of course, that it ever made sense. It was always a blown out of proportion perception that suited writers and companies sellings ads and tv stations. It will die slowly if ever but all the handwringing to come will alas taint Rogers’s glory.
Rafa, one of the athletes who most gets closest to his potential by using his brains, courage, and the humility to keep learning and improving whatever needs improving in whatever way necessary. And if people say he won last night based on mental toughness, let them but remember always that tennis more than a lot of sports is at once ultra physical, ultra coordination and ultra mental.
Vamps Rafa, no matter what!
http://www.changeovertennis.com/liveanalysis-novak-djokovic-vs-rafael-nadal-us-open-finals/
“If you ever want to see a master tactician in play, watch Rafael Nadal play tennis. If you ever want to watch a fierce competitor battle adversity and find solutions to all sorts of problems, go watch Rafael Nadal play tennis. If you want to watch a man fight for every point like his life depended on it, go watch Rafael Nadal play tennis.
Heck, even watching him practice might do the trick.”
Nothing more to say.
“Through the years, Nadal’s career has been belittled by the sort of notion that what he does is “just” effort. It’s just “fight.” It’s just “physical.” As if there were no skill other than doggedness, persistence and natural gifts to what he is. Which of course, is what the British would simply classify as “bollocks.”
Simply put, you will never see anybody compete on an athletic field like Rafael Nadal. It won’t happen again. And maybe when he’s long retired and they show some of his matches, this simple thought will become quite evident.
Also, you won’t see that forehand ever again (indeed, that shot could be the focus of a 5000 word piece on its own). You probably won’t find a better problem-solver out there, either: a man who knows when to throw in a backhand slice, an unexpected angle, or rush the net at the absolute perfect time of a rally.
So enjoy him while he’s out there. And if you just came to tennis, look for some of his classic matches. It’ll be more than worth it.”
– See more at: http://www.changeovertennis.com/liveanalysis-novak-djokovic-vs-rafael-nadal-us-open-finals/#sthash.MtotVNTf.dpuf
Chloro,
When I said that Rafa’s mental strength was the difference in the match, I did not mean to denigrate his physical effort. Watching these two blast shots all over the place and engage in endless rallies over and over again, one can only marvel at their skill. Of course there is a lot that goes into winning a slam final. But I thought that in this particular match, the contrast between Rafa’s mental toughness in that third set and Djoker’s mental collapse afterwards, kind of summed it all up.
It’s been quiet on other sites where the haters reside. What are they going to say now? I despise the GOAT argument. I never bought into it. But I read on one site that Rafa now has the same number of slams that Fed did at his age. So there! I don’t know why people can’t just talk about the greatest players of all time. Plural! Not one so-called GOAT! An absurd argument put forth by a some rabid Fed fans who identify too closely with him and bask in his reflected glory. The media has also done their part to promote this GOAT nonsense.
Fed never was the GOAT because there can’t be one. Now at least we won’t have to hear that taunting question – when did Rafa win a non-clay slam? When did Rafa beat Djoker on hard courts? It’s kind of hard to argue with a player who has now won three hard court slams, two Wimbledon and eight RG titles!
—I read on one site that Rafa now has the same number of slams that Fed did at his age—
Comparing Rafa and Roger Federer at the age of 27 years, 3 months, 6 days:
¤ Rafa on Sept 9th, 2013:
– singles titles, total 60,
– Masters titles 26,
– GS titles 13;
¤ Roger Federer on Nov 14th, 2008:
– singles titles, total 57,
– Masters titles 14,
– GS titles 13.
——-
Fed won his:
– 58th title at the age of 27y, 9m, 9d
– 14th GS title at the age of 27y, 9m, 30d
Ricky is really being at his most hilarious here in the comments. Pardon us Rafa fans while we go a bit delirious. We have reason to do so now.
I think Rafa should decide what his schedule is for the rest of the year. He is supposed to play Davis Cup later this week. I hope he is okay to play after these weeks competing on hard courts. I don’t want him to overdo it. I thought that he was going to play at the China Open or Tokyo or somewhere in the Asian swing.
Of course he will play at the WTF in London. He is in the position to pick and choose now.
Ricky had made a statement I read before Montreal ‘ Take it to the bank that Rafa will reach semis of Montreal and withdraw from Cincinnati’ .
Well nothing of that really happened. He won Montreal, Cincinnati, USO beating the so called HC specialists like Novak, Fed etc.
I dont think even the most optimistic Rafa fan would have expected or foreseen these results.
I really dont care what Rafa does now till WTF, he can lose in 1st round of all tourneys for all I care. If he has a good run at WTF, I will be happy. If he has proven us all wrong this year with his results, it will be like icing on the cake if he wins WTF on indoor too 😉
Ricky had made a statement I read before Montreal ‘ Take it to the bank that Rafa will reach semis of Montreal and withdraw from Cincinnati’ .
Well nothing of that really happened. He won Montreal, Cincinnati, USO beating the so called HC specialists like Novak, Fed etc.
I dont think even the most optimistic Rafa fan would have expected or foreseen these results.
I really dont care what Rafa does now till WTF, he can lose in 1st round of all tourneys for all I care. If he has a good run at WTF, I will be happy. If he has proven us all wrong this year with his results, it will be like icing on the cake if he wins WTF on indoor too
Ricky@4:09am
Be fair Ricky. The vast majority of hardcore Rafans do not indulge in the concept of goatdom.. Au contraire. Many have written reams on the subject – refuting one person can ever be elevated over all others.
It’s nice to measure a player’s progress by the records achieved but records are there to be broken by later generations.
Right now Rafa stands head and shoulders above his nearest rivals. And we are enjoying the moment while it lasts.
ed,
Thanks for chiming in on this. Ricky likes to prod us or taunt sometimes. But in this case, I think we are entitled to enjoy ourselves. Before Rafa came back we heard how he was done, washed up, wouldn’t ever win anything again. Then once he came back it was all about, well when was the last time he won on hard court, a clay court specialist, a one-dimensional player. Then he won Indian Wells. So then the refrain went something like this – but when was the last time he won a hard court slam? So then Rafa managed to win Barcelona, Madrid and Rome and the big prize, RG. Beating Djoker in the semis in the bargain. But still that refrain – when was the last time Rafa beat Djoker on hard court?
All year long we have been taunted by the haters. Now Rafa has given us the answers to tthose questions. He beat Djoker at Montreal in the semis. That’s a hard court Masters win. Now he just beat Djoker at the USO. That’s a hard court slam win. He also did something that not even Fed or Djoker have done on hard court – the American Summer Slam!
I don’t care about the stupid GOAT argument! There is no GOAT! But Rafa is in the rarefied atmosphere of being among the greatest to ever play this game. And there aren’t too many of them.
augusta,
Thanks for that info comparing Fed and Rafa at the same age! Interesting!
I just finished watching the third set again. I wanted to see that particular set again because it all seemed like a blur in my mind. When you watch it live, sometimes the perception can be skewed. That set was when it all turned around for Rafa. So I wanted to relive it.
The first crucial game was when Rafa was already down a break and 0-2 in the third set. When he was serving to get on the board, he had to battle hard to hang onto that game. I also read the transcript of Rafa’s presser on another site. He was asked about that game and he said that if he went down two breaks, then the set would be over. So he had to fight to stay close enough and wait for his chances. That’s what he did. He stayed down just one break. Sure enough, he did get the break back to make it 3-3. Although Djoker was playing some great tennis at that point, Rafa wasn’t out of it. He wasn’t just hanging on by his fingernails as I thought. He was fighting fiercely throughout that third set.
The other crucial game was at 4-4 when Rafa was serving and went down 0-40. Watching it again I realized that after almost every point, Rafa would pump his fist furiously and almost stomp around the court and talk to himself. He was intense and focused and determined. He was not going to let Djoker break him! He came up with the shots to hold serve. You could see the frustration from Djoker as Rafa came back to 40-40 and then had game point. JMac said that Djoker couldn’t believe that he hadn’t gotten the break yet. That was the moment. Once Rafa held serve he seemed to get the momentum. Then he just went after his shots as Djoker served. Djoker went up 30-0, but little by little Rafa chipped away and got to break point. Before anyone knew what happened, the set was over and Rafa won it!
I loved Rafa’s reaction when he won the set. He crouched down on the ground repeatedly pumping his fist and arm. That was how intense he was in that moment. Because he knew that he had done it. He knew that he had turned the match around.
Those comments posted about Rafa are spot on. I said on the live blog during the match, watch this because you will never see anyone like Rafa again. The way he sets his mind and just refuses to lose, is just like a force of nature. I have seen him in moments of many matches when his back seemed to be against the wall. I have seen him push himself, pump his fist and almost stomp around the court talking to himself. We know what usually follows – Rafa turns defeat into victory.
I am going to watch the match from start to finish tomorrow. It’s interesting to see the things you notice watching it after the fact.
NNY: I’m loving your posts these days. Freed up from the tyranny of the odious gang who harangued you so mercilessly you have come into your own as an observant commentator.
For my part, I am so glad there are none of the tedious arguments endlessly going round in circles with acrimony on all sides.
I’ve noticed for some time now Rafa celebrates far less often after winning a crucial point. And it’s fairly rare to see the full blown fist pump with the knee lift these days.
I wonder if this is a conscious decision, he has simply matured, or perhaps he does it less when he plays Djokovic as an antidote to Nole’s profligate celebrations.
ed,
That’s high praise coming from you. I feel so different here because I don’t have to be afraid of being hounded and taunted and attacked for every word I write. I love this sport and enjoy discussing all aspects of tennis. Luckystar and I used to get into some great discussion about all things tennis. But we couldn’t do it anymore once the trolls took over on TT.
It’s my passion and I could talk about it all day. I do go on and write really long posts. That is one fault. But it’s just that there are so many thoughts I have in my mind.
I really enjoyed seeing the third set after the fact. It just gave me a whole different feelling than the one I had while watching it live. I really thought that Rafa was fighting for his life. But that was not the case. He was in that set all the way. That was when I thought Djoker played his best. But Rafa was just too determined. When I saw him punching the air with his fist after every point as he fought from 0-40 in that crucial game, it just made such an impression.. I have seen him do this before in other matches when he was in a fight. He kept nodding his head and walking around with such purpose and talking to himself.
He is one in a million!
rafaelo my dear friend..you missed living the moment..you should have controlled your nerves and stayed on..worst that would have happened is he would have lost..
whatever you see now as repeat telecast will not match the sheer exhiliration of watching it live and feeling it. Next time you are too nervous, take a flight ticket and come to India and you will feel less nervous watching with me (just joking lol) but dont miss living such moments LIVE 😉
Rafans I have 2 questions to ask you all, please answer if you can
Q1) I know 2013 is not over yet but where would you rank Rafas 2013 compared to 2010 and 2008?
To me I still think 2010 is greatest as he completed career slam that year nd won 3 slams on 3 different surfaces, 2013 will come 2nd and 2008 3rd.
Q2) If you would have known in 2012 that Rafa would have given us this super strong 2013 season and go to the very top, how many of you would have signed up to agree for him missing 7 months due to injury in 2012? I know it is a speculative question, not easy to answer as an afterthought, still will be nice to hear your opinions.
2010 was “better”
2013 was more “impressive”
I hope Rafa wins 1 more Masters so that he has the lone record of max Masters in a year 😉
My wish for remainder year ..win Shanghai and WTF :-)..I know being too greedy
Next year Rafa will have like a herculean task defending so many points (very difficult to do) , he has to make very deep runs in Wimby and AO to compensate for the potential losses elsewhere .
I want to make a very important point here based on Fed vs Rafa stats shared by Augusta
Comparing Rafa and Roger Federer at the age of 27 years, 3 months, 6 days:
¤ Rafa on Sept 9th, 2013:
– singles titles, total 60,
– Masters titles 26,
– GS titles 13;
¤ Roger Federer on Nov 14th, 2008:
– singles titles, total 57,
– Masters titles 14,
– GS titles 13.
The very fact that Rafa has more tiles, same GS, far more Masters yet close to 120 weeks less as No 1 at age 27 itself shows the difference in depth of fields during Rogers dominating years vs what Rafa had to face. Rafa inspite of bagging more titles, equal slams has spent far lesser years at No 1 compared to Fed.
Haha Novaks coaching consultants comments
Wojtek Fibak: “It’s like Chopin who was born to compose music. Nadal was born to win tennis matches”.”During the match, the thought that kept coming to my mind was that I was watching a genius”
Look at Andy Murrays tweet..he really adores Rafa doesn’t he
@andy_murray: Rafael Nadal Perera… Legend
Good articles..enjoy
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/tennis/news/20130910/rafael-nadal-novak-djokovic-us-open-final/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/tennis/24028499
Funny post on a site
………. YET ANOTHER CLAY COURT TITLE FOR NADAL……………
Rafael Nadal has won another clay court on the dust of Flushing Meadows, New York. This has shown his supreme ability to win on clay as he has already captured clay court titles at Montreal & Cincinnati dust bowls before coming to New York.
But Tennis pundits admit that it may take probably another decade for Nadal to win on hard courts as he has been clearly struggling against GREAT HARD COURT MAESTROS ROGER FEDDERER & NOVAK DJOKOVIC as they have beaten Nadal in every meeting on Hard Courts right through out his career.
And Nadal has extended his unbeaten run of 22 matches on clay courts this year.
Many great Tennis pundits like Overestimation Nadal have suggested that if Nadal needs to be one the greatest players in the history of Tennis like Federer or Djokovic who have been brilliant on all surfaces, he must be able to win on Hard surface & need to maintain winning streak of 22 like he’s been maintaining on Clay in 2013.
Therefore those pundits call him as KING OF DUST in the years to come.
– BELGRADE TIMES – 10/09/2013 (MORNING EDITION).
Novaks coach Fibak going on and on about Rafa 🙂
After Djoko failed to convert 3 BP in 3rd set at 4-4
“That’s where I think Djoko lost his heart,” Fibak said. “He lost his belief that he can beat Rafael on the day like this, in New York. Rafael just believes. His courage to produce the biggest shots, the most risky shots, like his forehand down the line? How many great cross-courts did Djokovic hit and then he has practically no time? How many times? Novak was in disbelief. He saw and couldn’t believe: One, two, three, four, five, six, 10 times, the biggest points.”
link?
Here’s the link, Ricky, the quote is at the bottom of the article, hope you don’t mind @sanju:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/10/sports/tennis/nadal-beats-djokovic-to-win-us-open.html?pagewanted=2&_r=0&smid=tw-share
nice, thanks.
Nny,
Of course I didn’t have any of your comments in mind when I wrote about mental toughness :-)!
This was addressed to those who would write that Rafa won the third set and therefore the match ‘merely’ thanks to his doggedness. You have to not want or know to see 90% of the other factors. In other words because they are not convenient or you simply know too little at the moment.
I used to write that when Roger rose to prominence high and fast at a time when there just was no one else in his league (Agassi was already well past 30) he became mythologized beyond reasonable perceptions of his abilities and achievements. He was from then seen as an absolute. A phenomenon in a class apart from mere mortals, mere superb players. Dionysus if you will. A sun god whose absolute brilliance would blind more than half of the writers, commentators, tournament organizers and fans to any truly grounded views of the divine player or of any other male players. When Rafa was quickly rising to the number two spot in the ATP his hard to believe achievements were not seen in their entirety or objectively if at all. Like stars who can not be seen during the day due to the strong light from the sun. Still the case today for so many tennis fans and others.
Now imagine if Rafa had played in the same era as he has but there was no Roger. His achievements would be seen more objectively, clearly by anyone as the blinding effect would not be there.
In summary they have each achieved unbelievable things, in different ways and many of the same ways. They certainly both belong in the rare company of the very best male tennis players in the history of the sport. And while the excellence of the one is routinely exaggerated the excellence of the other is routinely downplayed or in the case of some simply denied.
Chloro,
This is a brilliant post! Thanks for saying it! I think it’s been true for so long. Rafa has always been measure by the Fed standard, if you will. His accomplishments, achievements and records have not been allowed to stand on their own. It’s one reason why I detest this GOAT argument and won’t participate. It’s a phony argument that was created by desperate Fed fans to put their guy on a pedestal that no one else could ever touch.
I never understood how anyone could compare Rafa to Fed, when Rafa has had three years less in this sport. Could anyone seriously argue that Rafa should have 17 slams at this point in his career when even Fed didn’t?
There’s really not much more to say, because you said it all so well!
Thanks! 🙂
Amazing coincidence:
Djokovic engaged in a 54 stroke rally aganist Rafa last night which he won but ended up losing the match. Djokovic also engaged in a 54 stroke rally in last year’s us open final against Muzza. He outlasted his competitor (Murray last year, Nadal tonight) in both cases, and won the point. But then went on to lose the match. Watch the you tube videos of both points below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PO3cvxgxCgg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajcuIlKvjxk
nice
Sanju@1.35pm
Almost impossible to rank them, even with 20/20 hindsight. But here goes. My picks are based on emotion rather than logic.
1. 2008
That was the year he became World No.1 and year ending No.l; won the Olympic Gold (a magical moment in my book); clocked up his 4th consecutive RG; conquered grass with his first Wimbledon title (in doing so he broke Roger’s stranglehold and achieved the back to back Channel double) and also reached the other two Slam SFs. But for sheer exhaustion and jet lag he might well have gone on to win the USO that year: won three Masters and reached a second final and three SFs.
I put 2008 above 2010 and 2013 because it included some significant firsts and it’s harder to break through the barrier for the first time.
2. Has to be 2013
Whatever happens for the rest of the year the year to date is simply mind boggling and will go into the history books as one of the most remarkable comebacks ever staged. However for me it still does not carry the same impact as his 2008 year at the age of 22.
3: 2010
2010 was impressive particularly as he came back from being crippled for a long period with his knee and having suffered possibly his most painful ever defeat at the hands of Soderling. But in the overall context it is not on a par with either 2008 or 2013,
Part 2 of the questionnaire is a tad hypothetical ? but if you recall almost everyday on TT people were saying ‘take your time’, ‘dont rush back too soon’ , ‘we’ll wait patiently for as long as it takes’ etc. etc.
Ricky’s blog that ran for months was testament to the worry and concern but I guess 99% would have signed up for an indefinite wait provided he was eventually restored to tennis in good health.
Let me rephrase the last sentence:
99% would have signed up for an indefinite wait if it meant he would be restored to tennis in good health.
which blog?
‘Feeling the pain’ – you cant have forgotten that one surely?
nope, just didn’t know which one you were referring to. I’ll have to go back and re-read.
Google is our friend!
Feeling the Nadal pain now more than ever
2012-11-11 06:21:20
http://www.tennistalk.com/en/blog/Ricky_Dimon/20121111/Feeling_the_Nadal_pain_now_more_than_ever
oh there it is. Nice, thanks.
Sanju,
You pose an interesting question about how to rank Rafa’s greatest tennis years. It’s a tough one because each was special in its own way.
I do have to agree with ed that 2008 has to be #1 on my list. It was a watershed year, the changing of the guard. It was when Rafa finally came into his own after being #2 to Fed’s #1 and battling to try to beat him at Wimbledon. That was the year that he did it in what is widely regarded as the greatest tennis match ever played. Rafa finally broke through and beat Fed somewhere other than at RG. Fed had such a stranglehold at the time, that I think people may not fully realize the importance of this win.
It was also the first time a player won the channel slam since Borg did it in 1980. How fitting that it was Rafa who finally managed to end that drought. It was also the year I believe, that Rafa won RG, Queens and Wimbledon. If I am correct, he is the only one to have completed this trifecta. Of course, beating Fed finally gave Rafa the #1 ranking.
Then there was the Olympics where Rafa won the gold medal. All this playing took its toll and Rafa ran out of gas at the USO. But this was a breakthrough year and Rafa’s rise to the top.
It’s harder to rank 2010 and 2013. Each of these years was special in its own right. Rafa was coming back from the bitter disappointment of his fourth round loss to Soderling at the 2009 RG. He had to withdraw from Wimbledon and could not defend his 2008 title. When he came back to the USO, he was nowhere near his best form and battling a nasty stomach tear. Rafa would go on a ten month title drought until the 2010 MC. After winning that tournament, Rafa was off to the races. He won Rome, Madrid and RG in fitting fashion by beating the man who had beaten him the year before, Soderling. Then it was on to Wimbledon where Rafa completed his second channel slam. I don’t remember when he got the #1 ranking back, but it happened.
Then the icing on the cake- the unbelievable victory at the USO. This was significant because Rafa was the first man to do this since the great Rod Laver did it forty years ago. Winning RG, Wimbledon and the USO consecutively. Something that Fed was never able to do. Rafa would go for his fourth slam in a row, the Rafa slam at the 2011 AO and we all know how that turned out. But 2010 was Rafa’s emergence as the dominant force in men’s tennis as Fed’s era was over.
Then there is this year. Rafa coming back from being out seven months with another knee injury. So many doubts and questions. He had to start slow with the South American clay court swing. Then he moved on to Acapulco. He got better as he went along. Then the decision to play I/W. Getting the win there, finally on hard court. Then skipping Miami to get ready for the clay court season. The disappointment of having his winning streak end at MC with his loss to Djoker in the final. All the talk about how Rafa wouldn’t be ready or able to win RG this year. All Djoker’s incessant blathering on about how he wanted to complete his career slam. Then we all know what happened in that great semifinal match where Rafa gutted out another great victory. He would go on to win his record 8th title at RG. But he would come up short at Wimbledon, crashing out in the first round.
Now this American Summer Slam. Undefeated on hard courts this year. Two slams. It’s hard to rank 2010 and 2013. Both were historic and significant. How do you compare winning the channel slam for the second time and then the USO, equaling Rod Laver’s achievement so long ago, something that has not been done by anyone else?
They have to be tied for me. I can’t choose between them.
Ricky: I meant to say what an inspired idea of yours it was to publish that blog when you did. During those long seven months it provided somewhere for Rafans to share their hopes and fears and to exchange every bit of news, no matter how small, about his progress.
Thanks Ricky, ed, NNY..interesting views
Would like to hear from others too 🙂
Anybody who says that Rafa only wins because of his physical ability and mental strength needs to get his head examined. Rafa is as much about physical strength & endurance & mental toughness as he is about tennis skill/problem solving/adaptability and tennis brain.
@NNY, true ! rafa’s fighting abilities are just unmatched, nobody comes even close ! He was not able to play aggressive tennis for set 3 (though the aggression was missing from the backhand for almost the entire match), he was just competing SO WELL…
Holdserve, WOW ! I am extremely flattered with all the praise , thank you so much! However, I think there are many other awesome posters here with such abundance of knowledge. NNY is one of the favourite posters for a long time ! I have great faith in her insights and observations and yes she is a very honest poster ! You are also a great poster, please keep posting regularly 🙂
Sanju, wow what a tough question! I think its impossible to rank these three years lol… The reasoning given by NNY,ed are great..I am not sure, 2010 has the most impressive feats on paper and it featured remarkable fighting skills. When rafa retired against Muzz in the qtrs of Oz 2010, many said his career was done ,esp following what had happened to rafa since RG 2009… Rafa roared back and won the next 3 slams .he also raised his game to a whole new level at USO 2010! So 2010 tops my list , BUT ONLY JUST.
2008/2013 are really really close to call…I would rank 2013 because of this 60-3 mark, being undefeated, reversing the dynamics of the rivalry against djokovic,..this is easily the greatest comeback year ever ! Agassi said rafa might need twice the amount of time he was out to get back into top form…but he has been near perfect since feb ! so:
1.2010
2.2013
3.2008
I think it depends on the context. I might rank 2013 at the top by the end of the year because its not over yet. 2008 was a breakthrough year and that 2008 wimb win was so emotional and freed rafa of all shackles…
may be 2014 will be even better?! u never know with rafa
Rafa’s best streak came at 2008 though, that 32 match winning streak between MC 2008 to Cincy semi was out of this world ! one of the best streaks ever… so yeah one could strong make cases for all these seasons
Ricky’s response was really wise ! 2013 was more impressive ,2010 was better…but there’s more to come in 2013 !
For me there is no contest, 2013 is the best of the lot for the following reasons:
1) Rafa has no business being where he is now. This was supposed to be a transition year for him. Instead, it’s turned out to be a “re-asserting my authority” year.
2) He was not even expected to play on HC again, ever. But here he is, on a HC winning streak like never seen before. Can someone please confirm if anybody else has ever enjoyed a consecutive HC winning streak like Rafa’s in 2013 todate?
3) He beats not once but twice, the guy everybody says is he best HC player of modern times, on his favorite surface, in the process stringing together a North American HC slam which said ” HC specialist” has yet to contrive.
4) 2008, 2010 did not have Djokovic 2.0 so one can argue that Rafa faced stronger competition in 2013 than before.
It is his 2013 performance on HC that clinches it for me. And he is doing it WITHOUT compromising his clay court credentials, establishing himself as a true all- round tennis player. As Tiggy puts it in his most recent blog, it’s time to replace the label “clay court specialist” with “clay court lover”. 2013 has proved to us that Rafa is a complete, all-round tennis player who just happens to love playing on clay.
—Can someone please confirm if anybody else has ever enjoyed a consecutive HC winning streak like Rafa’s in 2013 todate?—
There are several players.who have had a long HC winning streak:
matches, name, years
56, Roger Federer, 2005–06
36, Roger Federer, 2006–07
35, Novak Djokovic, 2010–11
34, Pete Sampras, 1994
34, Pete Sampras, 1996–97
Thank you @Augusta08. Given that, for me, it would be preferable to focus on the WTF and Oz Open 2014, I hope Rafa does not have extending his HC record in mind. Wouldn’t want him busting his guts to win all in the Asian swing for example. He needs rest and prepare for the big ‘uns.
EXCELLENT POINT by Sanju about the depth of field … same GS, ,twice as many masters but still no.1 far less weeks…although there are small caveats in this notion but this is a pretty good deduction! well done
thanks for the list of hard court streaks augusta ! was wondering the same yesterday..
and rafa playing davis cup is not good 🙁
I don’t know that I agree that this year has provided the toughest competition ever for Rafa. In 2008 Fed was still a force in the game and was easily the dominant player. That is why I believe that Rafa’s Wimbledon win that year is such a watershed event. Rafa had already shown that he could beat Fed at RG, but no one was able to beat Fed anywhere else.
This was Rafa’s moment of triumph. He arrived, in a big way. Rafa had tried and failed in two previous attempts to beat Fed at Wimbledon. After years of being #2 to Fed, Rafa finally came into his own and out of Fed’s shadow as the new #1 player. There was no tougher competition at that time than a Fed who was still in his prime. Djoker won the AO that year and started acting like he would win everything. But he came up short and maybe learned a lesson. Murray was not really on the radar yet.
Now we can say that Fed was not a force this year. He is in the twilight of his career. We now have a top three, not a top four. We do have other players stepping up and making some noise, but who have not been able to break through or seriously make a run at any slam. I am talking about Berdy, Delpo, Tsonga. Now we can add Wawrinka, to those guys. I don’t know about Gasquet. Then there are the up and comers like Jerzy, Raonic, Dimitrov and Tomic. But they have not shown the fitness and mental toughness to challenge the top players in slams.
The bottom line is that we can all have our own opinions regarding how to rank 2008, 2010 and 2013. It’s a nice problem to have.
vamosrafa,
Thanks for your kind words. Now at least here I feel free to express my thoughts without fear of being personally attacked by trolls. I have expressed my respect for you many times. Your knowledge of the game and ability to break down the essentials when analyzing players and matches, is unparalleled.
The only one missing is Luckystar.
Oh, and I am not happy about Rafa playing DC so soon after the USO.
Good points @nny. Yes, Fed was THE competition in 2008, and formidable at that as he successfully kept Rafa from the #1 spot. But I would say Novak and Muzza were not yet the developed spices they now are. So, while Fed is a tard slower now, He has been replaced by Nole and Muzza in their prime, and Rafa has had to recalibrate and raise his game to counter them. Just after his US Open success, Rafa was quoted as saying beating Fed is easier than beating Novak, now of course, doubt that was the case in 2008. Regardless, I think there is some truth to that.
Sorry one more thing to add to my previous post. I should note that Murray did make the 2008 USO semifinals, beating Rafa. I don’t know that it was accurate to say that he was not on the radar. Maybe I should have said that he had not established himself among the top players. But he was good enough to beat Rafa back then. He came more into his own in 2009. Now of course he is right up there with the best.
NNY, great points ! and yes, I really wish luckystar could join us….she was a big asset
victory was sooo sweet… i watched the game again another 3 times … lol i celebrated as though i won lol…. it was great to see rafa comeback in this fashion.. he is such an inspiration for me too in my own life…. i never complaint and always been working harder … how can i not do that after being Rafa fan. thx Rafa!!
victory was sooo sweet… i watched the game again another 3 times … lol i celebrated as though i won lol…. it was great to see rafa comeback in this fashion.. he is such an inspiration for me too in my own life…. i never complaint and always been working harder … how can i not do that after being Rafa fan. thx Rafa!!
Chuck