2013 Indian Wells Final: (5) Rafael Nadal vs (7) Juan Martin Del Potro

Who won the real 5th slam?


  • Total voters
    110

Rocky89

Professional
Pretty amazing. Three weeks ago he was "struggling vs. chumps on clay and would never be the same." Today, he's back on top. Could not have been better. Three weeks ago it was questionable whether he would still have the mental edge on clay. After this result, yes. Opponents will be scared ****less, as always.

It's crazy what a difference a couple of weeks make.

I can't believe he won IW, I didn't think he would be winning a title anytime soon after his performance on Chile, especially on hard court. Glad I was wrong :)

Nadal was limping a bit after the awards ceremony, he's going to feel to full effects of this match tomorrow. Good thing he is skipping Miami, it will give him time to recuperate and concentrate on the upcoming clay and grass swing.

Also really great performance by Delpo, he is a legitimate threat to the top 4 and deserves a higher ranking. I'll be rooting for him in Miami, really hope he can get a Masters title.
 

Mike Sams

G.O.A.T.
Djoker has to hold up his end of the bargain too, right? With Nadal now back, he won't stay there by default. He's playing nowhere near his 2011 level, and hasn't in quite some time.

Nadal also still has to win the tournaments in order to get to #1. He doesn't just receive Djokovic's points by default. :lol: There's a LOT of tennis to be played yet.
 

Mike Sams

G.O.A.T.
Wasn't that Davydenko??

I think Davydenko supported Nadal's argument. Nadal made some pretty fierce remarks towards Federer and then backtracked. Nadal hates Federer personally. And Federer probably never cared much for Nadal in the first place. This whole thing about them being buddies is a charade. :lol:
 

bluetrain4

G.O.A.T.
Nice final. At first, looked like Rafa was going to romp, Delpo seemed to be struggling after his two big wins. Then, seemed like Delpo couldn't do anything wrong and was on his way to victory.

A lot of exciting things coming out of Indian Wells

1. DelPo can be a real factor this season - even though he lost, look at what he did. Wow! He's shown he can be competitive with everyone.

2. Rafa's back! Not all the way back, but this is pretty darn impressive. He still looks like he was some work to do, but this was an incredible win. Still want to see how he does against Djokovic. Hope his knees hold up.

3. Djokovic - in the larger context, no big deal that he lost to DelPo. Overall, he's still the player to beat, and it's even tougher to take him out in best of 5.

4. Gulbis - yeah, there's always the risk of him going back into "I don't care" mode and disappearing for a while. But, let's hope he doesn't. We all know that a focused Gulbis is a real threat and would add a lot of spice to any tournament draw. I'm praying that he's still in mental form when Roland Garros and Wimbledon roll around.

5. Fed - bad loss, and clearly not at his peak. More "off" days now, but he'll still have "on" days and he'll still be a factor.

6. Murray - let's not forget Andy. He'll round into form and be a big factor this season. He's too good not to. Second half of the season suits him better anyway - Wimbledon, summer hardcourts, USO.

7. Berdych, Tsonga - I know, I know, not likely to win a Slam, but still players who can make things interesting against the right Big 4 (5 with Delpo) players on a given day.
 

bullfan

Legend
Don't know. Djokovic DID tear the ranking away from Nadal's grip in 2011 and Nadal still hasn't proven he can stop Djokovic anywhere off clay. Nadal is going to have to put some serious effort in to get back to #1 let alone stay there. Djokovic is by far Nadal's biggest rival.

But Novak is now old and decaying.... according to your comments about age and ability.
 

Bud

Bionic Poster
Damn it!! This sucks!! Why did I even start watching? I swear he was up 3-1 and I start watching and he loses frickin everything.

:cry:


On a brighter note...

ten_g_rnadal_cr_400.jpg
 

Ignatius

New User
For the time being. It's a cheap, one slam #1 ranking.

This is somewhat too hasty. I guess this what some meant with jumping the gun a little bit over Nadal's victory today.

Djokovic has proved to be no flash in the pan. He is super consistent across all surfaces these days making semis in most tournaments. Nadal's on the hand less versatile in that regard. So 'for the time being' Djoko will still hold the edge in terms of nr1 at least until USO I feel.
 

Antonio Puente

Hall of Fame
Sorry, but if you did the arithmetic as they say, you'd realize that you had your own math working. Novak will end this year as number 1.

Numerous posters responding to imaginary declarations I never made.

That said, it's March. Djoker could be dead by June. Who the hell knows what will happen. No one saw Rosol and a seven month vacation coming for Nadal either. And three weeks ago no one saw Nadal winning IW.
 
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bullfan

Legend
Numerous posters responding to imaginary declarations I never made.

That said, it's March. Djoker could be dead by June. Who the hell knows what will happen. No one saw Rosol and a seven month vacation coming for Nadal either. And three weeks ago no one saw Nadal winning IW.

Look, that's horrible to mention Djoker could be dead by June. That disgusting offensive comment aside, Just do the Math!

I'm thrilled that Nadal won, awesome for him, but I'm not a dope to think about how the points system works. It's called arithmetic. Even if Novak got injured he has so many points. Rafa has virtually all his points to defend, and only then could he make inroads. Rafa doesn't sound like he wants to "over-extend himself".
 

marc45

G.O.A.T.
I think Davydenko supported Nadal's argument. Nadal made some pretty fierce remarks towards Federer and then backtracked. Nadal hates Federer personally. And Federer probably never cared much for Nadal in the first place. This whole thing about them being buddies is a charade. :lol:

can you hate someone impersonally?

and you know this how exactly?

right, you don't
 

Mike Sams

G.O.A.T.
can you hate someone impersonally?

and you know this how exactly?

right, you don't

I DO know. I know that Federer hates Nadal and always has. Nadal used to be indifferent but now hates Federer. They both hate Djokovic. Djokovic loves them both. :lol:
 

veroniquem

Bionic Poster
I thinks that's a safe bet, as long as he stays healthy I wouldn't count out the possibility of him winning another slam either.

His level of play was very impressive this tourney (and to a lesser extent in Rotterdam this year as well).

He was a bit unlucky with the draw and the scheduling. Murray, Djoko, Nadal back to back was already the tallest possible order but having to do it over 3 consecutive days + the disadvantage of playing the second semi, that was dangerously nearing "mission impossible". Still, he came close, he was just one break down in the 3rd (even though Nadal was thoroughly dominating the second part of the match). I would say this is a very promising run for him. Hope he goes away with the positives more than the fact that he came up short in the end, which was pretty expected anyway, given the circumstances.
Fed is still the one with the most IW titles: 4. Rafa and Chang have 3.
After such a display in IW, I will miss Rafa in Miami :( but I understand it's for his own good and to enable him to sweep the clay season again :)
 

Towser83

G.O.A.T.
Let's see, what do we have here? We have a butthurt individual disguising his butthurt by accusing someone of being butthurt. That's a new twist.

Well maybe you don't think it's petty to say someone is a cheap number one. I do. Djokovic has a slim lead on titles but also a lot of consistency. Like I said, if Nadal gets the top ranking back well done to him he'll have desreved it even if he has only one slam in the process and I won't be calling him a cheapnumber one, but til then people should respect whoever is number one. No butthurt on my side.
 
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veroniquem

Bionic Poster
Rafa now has the most titles in 2013 (3). I can see him going on a rampage this season. Would be good to see after his disastrous meltdown in 2012.
 

Mike Sams

G.O.A.T.
Rafa now has the most titles in 2013 (3). I can see him going on a rampage this season. Would be good to see after his disastrous meltdown in 2012.

I don't see any rampages happening for anybody anymore at the age of nearly 27. As great as Nadal's win was, he didn't have to go through Murray and Djokovic back to back. All he got was a dead Federer who would've been smashed to pieced by anybody and that pigeon Berdych.
Beating Murray and Djokovic back to back is something even Nadal has seriously struggled with.
 

veroniquem

Bionic Poster
I don't see any rampages happening for anybody anymore at the age of nearly 27. As great as Nadal's win was, he didn't have to go through Murray and Djokovic back to back. All he got was a dead Federer who would've been smashed to pieced by anybody and that pigeon Berdych.
Beating Murray and Djokovic back to back is something even Nadal has seriously struggled with.


Yeah well, not Nadal's fault if neither Murray nor Djoko managed to make it to him. The way Rafa is playing, you see Murray or Djoko beating him on clay? I doubt it.
 

Mike Sams

G.O.A.T.
Yeah well, not Nadal's fault if neither Murray nor Djoko managed to make it to him. The way Rafa is playing, you see Murray or Djoko beating him on clay? I doubt it.

I don't know. A big part of me believes that Del Potro being completely exhausted is the reason Nadal is our Indian Wells champion today.
Like you said, it's a tall order for ANYBODY to beat 3 of the top 4 players. Not even Nadal has managed to do this. Remember World Tour Finals 2010? Nadal went through Djokovic and Murray and then was dead tired against Federer. He lost the final set 6-1 and couldn't move.
Same thing happened with Del Potro. Nadal was lucky. That's all. But he deserves his victory and tennis is exciting again.
 

Relinquis

Hall of Fame
well deserved win for rafa... looking forward to seeing more of his tennis in the coming weeks/months at monte-carlo and beyond.
 

Mike Sams

G.O.A.T.
well deserved win for rafa... looking forward to seeing more of his tennis in the coming weeks/months at monte-carlo and beyond.

BTW, Nadal vs Murray semifinal at Monte Carlo 2011 was a splendid 3 hour match. I hope Murray, Djokovic and Del Potro all enter MC and we get some great matches.:)
 

tlm

G.O.A.T.
I don't see any rampages happening for anybody anymore at the age of nearly 27. As great as Nadal's win was, he didn't have to go through Murray and Djokovic back to back. All he got was a dead Federer who would've been smashed to pieced by anybody and that pigeon Berdych.
Beating Murray and Djokovic back to back is something even Nadal has seriously struggled with.

Well I knew you would not be celebrating a rafa loss today just like i told you before the match, but now you have to resort to some real crap to try and take away from rafas victory.
 

tlm

G.O.A.T.
I don't know. A big part of me believes that Del Potro being completely exhausted is the reason Nadal is our Indian Wells champion today.
Like you said, it's a tall order for ANYBODY to beat 3 of the top 4 players. Not even Nadal has managed to do this. Remember World Tour Finals 2010? Nadal went through Djokovic and Murray and then was dead tired against Federer. He lost the final set 6-1 and couldn't move.
Same thing happened with Del Potro. Nadal was lucky. That's all. But he deserves his victory and tennis is exciting again.

Ya right nadal was lucky, only a complete idiot can make that statement. Rafa played some unbelievable tennis today and you have the nerve to say he was lucky.

Just shows your true hatred towards rafa, anyone with half a brain that watched that match could never say that rafa was lucky. Delpo played some great tennis and nadal had to play spectacular to win, luck had absolutely nothing to do with it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 

Mike Sams

G.O.A.T.
Well I knew you would not be celebrating a rafa loss today just like i told you before the match, but now you have to resort to some real crap to try and take away from rafas victory.

Are you kidding? Nadal is one of the reasons I even watch tennis. I skipped everything except USO, WTF and AO because tennis without Nadal was incomplete. I won't even bother with Miami. I think every event needs the top 4 guys (Djokovic, Murray, Federer, Nadal) to be a solid event. Now that Del Potro is in the mix, things will be more exciting.
Nadal is a true champion. He's not my favourite player (Del Potro and Tsonga are my 2 favourites) but Nadal is a legend in this sport and a great champion.
 

Mike Sams

G.O.A.T.
Ya right nadal was lucky, only a complete idiot can make that statement. Rafa played some unbelievable tennis today and you have the nerve to say he was lucky.

Just shows your true hatred towards rafa, anyone with half a brain that watched that match could never say that rafa was lucky. Delpo played some great tennis and nadal had to play spectacular to win, luck had absolutely nothing to do with it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think Del Potro was exhausted and played great in spurts. But it was evident he was out of gas. Nadal may still have won even if Del Potro was in elite form. But then again, I'm sure not too many people think Del Potro beat the best Rafa at USO 2009.
 

MichaelNadal

Bionic Poster
Are you kidding? Nadal is one of the reasons I even watch tennis. I skipped everything except USO, WTF and AO because tennis without Nadal was incomplete. I won't even bother with Miami. I think every event needs the top 4 guys (Djokovic, Murray, Federer, Nadal) to be a solid event. Now that Del Potro is in the mix, things will be more exciting.
Nadal is a true champion. He's not my favourite player (Del Potro and Tsonga are my 2 favourites) but Nadal is a legend in this sport and a great champion.

You're so much cooler when your troll-mode is off :)
 

The-Champ

Legend
I think Del Potro was exhausted and played great in spurts. But it was evident he was out of gas. Nadal may still have won even if Del Potro was in elite form. But then again, I'm sure not too many people think Del Potro beat the best Rafa at USO 2009.

Rafa was definitely not healthy in USO 2009. Had he been healthy, Del Potro might still have beaten him but, I doubt he would be a major champ today. Federer would have killed him in that final.
 
N

NadalAgassi

Guest
Rafa was definitely not healthy in USO 2009. Had he been healthy, Del Potro might still have beaten him but, I doubt he would be a major champ today. Federer would have killed him in that final.

What would Rafa being healthy have had to do with the final if DP still beat Rafa. Rafa had nothing to do with the final between Del Potro and Federer. Del Potro simply outplayed Federer as the match wore on.
 

tlm

G.O.A.T.
I think Del Potro was exhausted and played great in spurts. But it was evident he was out of gas. Nadal may still have won even if Del Potro was in elite form. But then again, I'm sure not too many people think Del Potro beat the best Rafa at USO 2009.

Rafa played a great match even though he is still rusty and you called him lucky. If delpo was out of gas well that is what happens to many players that have to face nadal. If you are not in good enough shape by the finals then you don't deserve to win.
 

The-Champ

Legend
What would Rafa being healthy have had to do with the final if DP still beat Rafa. Rafa had nothing to do with the final between Del Potro and Federer. Del Potro simply outplayed Federer as the match wore on.

Rafa would tire him out and federer would kill a gassed out DelPo in the final.


I don't call it outplay when it took him 5 sets to beat Federer.
 

Sid_Vicious

G.O.A.T.
Ya right nadal was lucky, only a complete idiot can make that statement. Rafa played some unbelievable tennis today and you have the nerve to say he was lucky.

Just shows your true hatred towards rafa, anyone with half a brain that watched that match could never say that rafa was lucky. Delpo played some great tennis and nadal had to play spectacular to win, luck had absolutely nothing to do with it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I know. I contacted the mods. They will hopefully send his IP address to the local police department so that he can be brought to justice.
 

GOAT BAAH!!!

Professional
Let's be honest here,
Had his back been better
AND
the surface been faster
AND
it been 2006
this would've been Federer's title to lose.
 

Towser83

G.O.A.T.
Rafa would tire him out and federer would kill a gassed out DelPo in the final.


I don't call it outplay when it took him 5 sets to beat Federer.

he did outplay him towards the end though. I remember watching that finaland although Federer was my favourite player,I was really keen to see Delpo grab a slam (especially as Fed had won 2 in a row and broke the record and got a career slam)

As tough as it looked at a set and a break down, I was saying "if you can break back and win the 2nd set on a tiebreak you can win" That's what happened. When Federer failed to win the 2nd set he effectively lost the match. Though Federer kept his nose in front Delpotro stayed close enough and in that 5th set Federer couldn't do anything.

I get your point about what if Nadal had tired him out though. But i'm really glad Delpo won it, even though it would have probably given Federer all 4 slams at once (providing the pressure didn't alter the AO 2010)
 

sbengte

G.O.A.T.
No surprises here, Ralph won as expected. This was the best surface and draw he had to capture a HC and good for him that he made good use of the opportunity.

Tough luck for Delpo, his chances were over even before he made the final after playing Murray and Djoker back to back in 3 setters. The guy never seems to catch a break. Earlier last year, he would land all the time in Federer's quarter when he was playing well and now that Fed is injured, he lands in Murray-Djoker half. Him landing in the opposite half of the draw would have meant a realistic shot at the title here. Anyway, hope he goes on to have a good season.
 
D

Deleted member 77403

Guest
Great match! Both players put on a wonderful spectacle, and as a tennis fan first and foremost I was enthralled all the way through. Congratulations to Nadal, I thought his play was sensational at times. Wonderful footwork, the forehand was magnificent at time, and the backhand was just as solid.

A good week for Del Potro also! He played his part in this event, beating Murray, Djokovic and then taking Nadal to the brink, even saving three match points!

Congratulations to all of Nadal's fan here, your boy is back and tennis is only better as a result. Let's hope he sustains this high level, and keeps things interesting, he's still got a few years left at the very top. As for the ******** who only showed up when Nadal came back, well, I don't see you as tennis fans, only Nadal fans, so...whatever. But the real Nadal fans, who stayed here and wished him, I hope you all enjoy this moment!

And anyone who says that Del Potro isn't a bigtime player, just needs to see what he did this past week. I hope he continues this, and gets back to where he belongs, a legitimate contender for slams.
 
~ A Fanboy Fairy Tale ~

Once upon a time, there was a Fedfanboy.The fanboy would childishly squeal with delight, however it had nothing to do with tennis. No, his squealing had to do with rooting against a player because this 'hated player' would usuallly kick his fanboy idol's ass head-to-head, to the point where one time the "hated player" reduced the jock-sniffing fanboy's idol to tears at the Australian Open. So anyway, the hated player was losing his match and the happy little fanboy was beside himself with glee and he let the world know with his non-stop fanboy 'wooooing':
Wooooohoooooooooooo Delpo breaks back! Good job! :)
woooooooooo all even folks :)
Time for Delpo to BREAK now! :) Woooooohooooooo
WOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW 0-30!!!!!!! goooooooooooo
Wowooohooooooooooooo Delpo breaks PEAK well rested Rafa
Wooooowwwwwwww I love you Delpo.
Holy crappppppppppppppp, who is this guy?????????????
Delpo takes the first set!!!!!!!! :) All-courter??????????? Delpo!!!!!!!!!!
Woooooohooooooooooooooooo Delpo breaks Commentators are so sad LOLLLLLLLLLLLL



Then, a voice called the fedfanboys on their childish trolling.

Some of you should chill out. The match isn't over and you look like kids.


The suddenly, the match seemed to turn and the once happy, gleeful fanboys turned into petulent little brats with one petty complaint after another .... complaints that were never even mentioned when their hated player was losing, along with cynical assumptions. Again it wasn't about the tennis, it was about being derisive fanboys. The butthurt was starting to creep in...
Djokovic would have clapped for Delpo on making that. But surely not Nadal. Just a sneer
Nadal celebrated before the ball landed. Should be a code violation


And even more butthurt...
And another vamos from Nadal. Paethetic, stop vamosing after unforced errors!!!!!!!!!



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At least the trolls are quiet and mad for now lol. Rafa controls their emotions like an Xbox controller.
Quoted for truth-lol.
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I expect some of the Nadal fans to start posting now.
As surely as the fedfanboy trolls start to drop out-lol.
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The fanboys' butthurt reached the point where their hated player's big kicking groundstrokes were derisively described as pushing the ball--they were in full butthurt mode...
Nadal is just moonballing back Delpo's shots
This surface is a joke. Look what Del Potro had to go for to barely hit a winner.
Relative to Delpo, Nadal is moonballing



And yet some objective observers viewed these same 'moonballed' shots quite differently from the now petulent, angry little fanboys....
How can Nadal keep on hitting these incredible winners? Where does he even find the strength to keep on hitting them with this much spin AND speed? And they're all going in somehow




Then, starting to become totally unhinged, the angry little fanboys started to blame the tennis court itself. Again, it was never about the tennis...
Jesus, these courts are way to slow.


And on top of all the excuses, their hated player was "lucky" on top of everything else...
Nadal is way too lucky.


And the hated player was not only 'lucky' but also a doping cheater....the fanboys having inside information nobody else in tennis knew....
New and improved undetectable PEDsssssssss
If you don't think Ralph is juicing,then you have no idea!



And after having seen their 'hated player' win the match against his valiant, well-like opponent, there was nothing left for the sad and dejected little fanboys to hang their little caps on but to make 'sour grapes' assumptions....because they are NEVER about the tennis...
Well rested Delpo will defeat Nadal easily


~ The End ~
 

cucio

Legend
^^ Awesome work!

Yeah, who the heck cares about stupid ball hitting when you have gloating, beetching or fancy numbers like trophy counts, stats or streaks?
 

fps

Legend
Well played Rafa, wow, thought he was out of it at one point.

Del Potro looked exhausted, needs to work on his fitness.
 

Avles

Hall of Fame
great work dedans penthouse...

While watching Nadal absolutely teeing off on his groundstrokes last night, at one point I thought "even the TT forum denizens won't be able to accuse Nadal of 'pushing' or 'moonballing' this time."

Should have known better!
 
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