Best to watch Nadal was when he hadn't peaked.
- Thread starter Chillaxer
- Start date
MichaelNadal
Bionic Poster
I agree, vintage Rafa was definitely the best. He's still my fav though and his style isn't duplicated by anyone.
RF20Lennon
Legend
Yes I agree to. I remember watching rafa's junior match against gasquet and i actually liked his play!! He was quick he went up to net. He was quick with serves, he didnt pick his butt. If that carried on I would most likely have become a fun of his. But I really loved watching him in 2005 when he won his first french in the final I thought he played great.
tennisMVP
Banned
I don't think any match in Nadal's career was as intense as the 2012 AO final. He was doing fist-pumps continuously after the 3rd set, and pelvic thrusts and other moves like punching the ground etc.
I know he also did that in other matches, but I think the 2012 AO final had more fist-pumps than any other match of his life.
I know he also did that in other matches, but I think the 2012 AO final had more fist-pumps than any other match of his life.
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6-1 6-3 6-0
Banned
Well noted, in fact at AO 2004 (against Hewitt) I recall him doing a lot of fist-pumping, as it was one of his first big matches against a former slam winner at a grand slam. Seems like the Australian Open is one of Nadal's favourite slams, or one that he has a lot of positive memories associated with.
tennisMVP
Banned
Its probably his favorite crowd.
ucr_tennis90
Rookie
2009 AO was probably the most entertaining Rafa ever IMO.
tennisMVP
Banned
Yep, the best his backhand has ever looked.
6-1 6-3 6-0
Banned
That would make sense, the Australian Open crowd cheers for the underdog a lot of the time, whereas the US Open cheers for their favourite player (or the American player), as we saw in Nadal's US Open 2004 match against Roddick.
tennisMVP
Banned
Yeh so true.
kishnabe
Talk Tennis Guru
They were cheering like crazy for Nadal against Roddick in 2011 US Open. Times change...and no knew Rafa in 2004.....only the fanatics.
Nadal was more entertaining to watch with his sleevless shirts....now he looks like a dork who tries to be like Federer.
RF20Lennon
Legend
YES^^^^^ seconded big time!!! he was so much more appealing when he had his own style of sleeveless shirts and pirate pants and the bolded speaks for itself
RF20Lennon
Legend
The french crowd is really anti-nadal and even though i dislike him i find it too offensive!
6-1 6-3 6-0
Banned
Sorry, you must have either been watching a different match, or not paying much attention to that match at all, because I recall hearing screams and chants of Roddick's name much more than Nadal's, and there were certainly more American flags than Spanish flags in the crowd.
6-1 6-3 6-0
Banned
Well, being 5-0 against a French-speaking player must really hurt them, especially when you get to lift the trophy in their stupid faces every time they cheer against him in the Roland Garros final.
6-1 6-3 6-0
Banned
I prefer Nadal's sleeveless look, but I think Nadal realised that everyone knows what his muscles look like, and players like Federer constantly have images of Nadal's huge biceps and triceps in their minds, so his work on damaging Federer mentally had already been done. No need to continue to rub it in, great move from Nadal in my opinion. And Nadal would never try to be like Federer; who'd want to be 2-8 against someone in slams?
RF20Lennon
Legend
Im a federer fan and yeah that hurts!! but come on that doesnt mean you have to cheer against the guy when hes trying to make a volley or hit an overhead. You can cheer more for federer but not put down nadal if that makes any sense
RF20Lennon
Legend
no actually nadal got a bigger on court cheer and what not even Jmac was like Highly surprising to see the fans behind nadal more in this match.
6-1 6-3 6-0
Banned
Have you got the video of this? I don't remember that being the case. (If this did happen, it's also possible that Roddick fans were simply quieter, though I still don't doubt that the crowd was heavily pro-Roddick.)
6-1 6-3 6-0
Banned
Agreed. But it doesn't matter, Nadal walks away with the victory every time. That's the ultimate revenge, and Nadal knows it.
RF20Lennon
Legend
6-1 6-3 6-0
Banned
I'm hearing more Roddick cheers than Nadal cheers. (By the way, I was asking for the part where they walk on-court, not a highlight video.)
RF20Lennon
Legend
plus its probably something to do with the fact that he's spanish as well. Didnt some french journalist accuse of the spaniards doping??
6-1 6-3 6-0
Banned
Don't know, sorry. I think that was Yannick Noah.
RF20Lennon
Legend
Oh ok yeah thats what I was thinking too
dudeski
Hall of Fame
I agree. The 2011 super peak Nadal was quite boring to watch.
Paul Murphy
Hall of Fame
It's a stark choice - one can either watch the GOAT who has elevated tennis into an art form (Federer) or you can watch Nadal bludgeon opponents with not a whit of subtlety or finesse.
I don't care what Rafa is wearing - he's only worth watching against the top players.
Watching him smash into submission some lowly ranked player is deathly dull.
However watching Federer artfully beat the same player through "death by a thousand cuts", now, that's entertainment.
Pure tennis.
I don't care what Rafa is wearing - he's only worth watching against the top players.
Watching him smash into submission some lowly ranked player is deathly dull.
However watching Federer artfully beat the same player through "death by a thousand cuts", now, that's entertainment.
Pure tennis.
tusharlovesrafa
Hall of Fame
I agree with the OP.Back in 2005 when I first watched him,I knew he had something special.Sleeveless t-shirt and capri pants were his USP..He had a sense of rawness..Now he has become civilized..lol..Reminds me of Rocky now..
MichaelNadal
Bionic Poster
Obvious hater is obvious.
Crisstti
Legend
I love to watch him play now as much as back in 2006. It's somewhat different, but equally good IMO... the sleeveless look was cool, but that ultimately doesn't matter. Plus he looks hotter now 
.
BTW, why would anyone think Rafa is trying to look like Federer?. It's not like Fed was wearing anything distinctive or looking particular in some what that one could say Nadal is trying to imitate...
Nadal has himself implied he thinks that is the case. There's some sporting rivalry I guess.
. BTW, why would anyone think Rafa is trying to look like Federer?. It's not like Fed was wearing anything distinctive or looking particular in some what that one could say Nadal is trying to imitate...
Nadal has himself implied he thinks that is the case. There's some sporting rivalry I guess.
Clarky21
Banned
I think his fans can stop saying Nadal was a "baby" in 2005 since he was a better mover, better defender than in his mid 25. Nadal is one of a very few player peak that early.
Mustard
Bionic Poster
Noah was just bitter that Nadal had completely thrashed Gasquet and Tsonga on clay in their Davis Cup semi final tie. Both matches were a stroll for Rafa.
Crisstti
Legend
Oh yeah. I meant in a more general way, about the RG public.
RF20Lennon
Legend
I agree!! Federer has the most beautiful tennis game ever. Its not a sport when he plays its ART!! The wilson racket becomes a paintbrush and he paints the lines while gracefully sliding across the court thats the best thing about watching him play!!
RF20Lennon
Legend
oh ok i see! yeah the french and the spanish tennis federation have some dispute
Sid_Vicious
G.O.A.T.
That is nauseating.
RF20Lennon
Legend
RF20Lennon
Legend
but still compared to other players except djokovic he still moves way more than anyone else
Ms Nadal
Semi-Pro
I think Rafa is still exciting to watch. Of course the sleeveless days were magical and will always remain legendary days for us Rafa fans. But, Rafa is no longer that teenager, he would have had to dump that look at some point. Rafa was a very cute teenager with a man's body . His passion and intensity always shone brightly. Talking about the dumping of the sleeveless, it seems to have gone out of fashion anyway. Delpo, Monfils etc have all dumped that look. It's sleeves, ahoy!
Rafa is still exciting to watch and the passion shows more when he is having a jolly good street fight ie AO 2012 final. Even though Rafa lost, it was a good loss. He fought till the end and my throat hurted for the rest of the week due to my screaming and screeching whilst watching the match. To me, Rafa is the most exciting player in tennis history. Rafa, please come back, sweetie! Tennis isn't the same without him!
. His passion and intensity always shone brightly. Talking about the dumping of the sleeveless, it seems to have gone out of fashion anyway. Delpo, Monfils etc have all dumped that look. It's sleeves, ahoy!Rafa is still exciting to watch and the passion shows more when he is having a jolly good street fight ie AO 2012 final. Even though Rafa lost, it was a good loss. He fought till the end and my throat hurted for the rest of the week due to my screaming and screeching whilst watching the match. To me, Rafa is the most exciting player in tennis history. Rafa, please come back, sweetie! Tennis isn't the same without him!
AnotherTennisProdigy
Professional
For me he was more interesting back then because of how unique he was. Sleeveless shirt, capri pants, and a lefty reverse forehand made him different from the typical player mold. Even better, he was a perfect contrast to Federer who was the complete opposite in play style and personality.
Today his capri pants have become shorter and his shirt is tighter and with sleeves. His strokes are still unique, but he has become closer to the player mold in order to become successful outside of clay. Also, the decline of the Fed-Nadal rivalry has started to decline.
Today his capri pants have become shorter and his shirt is tighter and with sleeves. His strokes are still unique, but he has become closer to the player mold in order to become successful outside of clay. Also, the decline of the Fed-Nadal rivalry has started to decline.
The-Champ
Legend
not just Djokovic, I think Andy Murray moves better than Rafa the last couple of years as well..
vive le beau jeu !
Talk Tennis Guru
the 2012 rusty peak injured golden bull has rather been fun to watch since wimbledon.
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