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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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!