Rafael Nadal : 'It would have been tough to defeat Novak Djokovic had he beat Federer'
- Thread starter Sunny014
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D
Deleted member 743561
Guest
A winning streak?
Djokovic had won their previous three matches...
In their first match against each other at Roland Garros, 30-year-old Federer showed Djokovic the door.
Pheasant
Legend
Well that kind of goes for all of them doesn’t it. Djokovic 11/15, Fed 04-06 and Nadal 10 would mincemeat this whole tour. Sure Nadal 15 on Clay which was probably one of his worst would of won RG21 if Djokovoic wasn’t around
RF-18
Talk Tennis Guru
And then in the 2nd match, Djoko did the same. Then Federer won Wimbledon. Lets not put weight into 1 match more than the other.
MichaelNadal
Bionic Poster
A great post. My main issue is people just giving it to Novak. Its crazy he hadent lost a final to Novak till 2011. I remember on the boards we all still thought he'd beat Novak at Wimbledon. Hadent learned yet lol
RF-18
Talk Tennis Guru
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Deleted member 743561
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MichaelNadal
Bionic Poster
Him beating Federer 3 straight times in 2011 before the FO is a winning streak, yes.
weakera
Talk Tennis Guru
D
Deleted member 743561
Guest
Guess who won the previous three matches?
It took the GOAT to end Djokovic's 43-match winning streak.
Hitman
Bionic Poster
I wouldn't give it to Novak or Rafa, it would really have been one of those matches that had to have happened for us to really know.
MichaelNadal
Bionic Poster
All I know is that Fedovic semi was crispy af. An amazing match.
Sunny014
Legend
Djokovic has more power on his return, has been the case for many years, Federer's same aged Feliciano Lopez hits brutal forehand winners, why can't Roger have such power on his forehand ?
NoleIsBoat
Hall of Fame
So only 2011 counts, 2012 is irrelevant?2011 Deflection and Federer permanent clay trump card over Djokovic noted
Djokoerer always had close matches from when Djokovic was a baby and then when Fed was old both could always beat each other. Fed deserved to win in RG11 but I feel you are using the 43 match wins in a row against Djokovic.Guess who won the previous three matches?
It took the GOAT to end Djokovic's 43-match winning streak.
See Fed fans always used that match as why they felt Fed was better on Clay yet forget Djokovic straight setting him there next year. It was such a big win due to Djokovic being on a run.
As I said I always liked the Djokoerer rivalry as it could go either way.
RF-18
Talk Tennis Guru
2011 Deflection and Federer permanent clay trump card over Djokovic noted
Cope
weakera
Talk Tennis Guru
Both are relevant and Djokovic got his rear end handed to him both times. There you go kiddo
ChaelAZ
G.O.A.T.
MichaelNadal
Bionic Poster
Oh no sir lol. I ate at 8 this am and not eating till about 1030 tonight though
The Fedfather
Legend
In 2011 Djokovic's rise came out of the blue and he just started literally sweeping all in his path. That's intimidating as it is, considering Nadal was the best player in the world and then so suddenly he wasn't. But losing to Novak on clay, in straight sets, that was the hit that could put serious doubts in Nadal's mind to come up short, even in a RG final. Djokovic, on the other hand, would be feeling like Thanos with Infinity stones had he beat that Federer.
Nothing definite can be concluded, of course, but Rafa voicing his doubts speaks volumes. That match could be such a thriller.
Nothing definite can be concluded, of course, but Rafa voicing his doubts speaks volumes. That match could be such a thriller.
Sunny014
Legend
Yes 2012 onwards Federer was quite old, such things don't count much.
A young ATG at his peak is not supposed to lose to an old AGE who is 29-30 or more
Had Fed lost to Agassi at 2004 AO then even if he got revenge in 2005 it would have been useless, thats how this theory works, so 2012 does not count....Novak in his best year at his highest peak lost to old Federer who was in his 30th year, that itself is a deal breaker
NoleIsBoat
Hall of Fame
I mean specifically at RG. They are 1-1 there , the 2012 match is often overlooked.
Djokovic also defeated 2009 and 2012 Federer at Rome. their clay level is close but Djokovic has come ahead in overall career
Sunny014
Legend
Slightly ahead... but it can be considered a tie.
NoleIsBoat
Hall of Fame
Do you think Djokovic won all the clay masters and defeated Nadal twice because he faced an inferior version?
I will admit Federer was unfortunate never to face 2015 Nadal during his peak clay years 05-09.,
NoleIsBoat
Hall of Fame
Strange Federer never played that way again. 2007-2009 he could’ve won a title there but had some weird early losses then lost to Djokovic in 2009 having led.
but he sure can take a set 6-2 as an 18 year old
Sunny014
Legend
Federer has been constantly on a decline physically after 07.
08 - Mono weakened him and his level was never the same after this, Nadal exploited this to deliver psychological blow to Federer in his weak state.
09 - level was slightly higher than 08 but lower than 07
10 - again he started to dip physically and was below many young players in physique
11-12 - He came back stronger but competition further strengthened as novak and murray reached their peak and physically they were now faster...
13 onwards new decline .. back injury ... murray vultured a win at AO over fed in this period
14 onwards Fed arrived with new racquet... version 2.0
IMO this new version 2.0 should have arrived in 2009-2010 period itself, he had not been arrogant and hired a coach like edberg/lendl back in 2009-2010 then they would have made him shift racquet .....Federer could have won 2011 wimbledon, USO and some other slams after that till 2015, he would have been better prepared to face djokvoic in 2015 in that big year after having played with the new racquet for 4-5 years now..... his 2017 resurgence could have come a lot earlier ..... wasted so many good years and today he is a loser because of that.
But the same fans will turn around and say that was Fed at his best since he won W and made it back to #1. As I said before his win was so big not because of Fed but because Djokovic was on a 43 match unbeaten streak.
martinezownsclay
Hall of Fame
Considering it was in the midst of a 7 match win streak for Djokovic, including 2 straight sets wins on clay, I have to believe Djokovic would have somehow won. Despite this being Nadal at RG.
gjm127
Hall of Fame
5:03
Ah the infamous 1st set 5-2 setpoint dropshot. Keep telling myself that point could have changed the match.
Then again, I look at AO12 where Federer came out flying against Nadal in the 1st set and Nadal still steamrolled him in sets 2, 3 and 4.
martinezownsclay
Hall of Fame
It is one of the last matches I would want to bet my life on either way, i will leave it at that. Usually I am pretty confident in predicting outcomes of singular what if matches, but not this one.
This is the guy that in his prime on Clay called his opponent’s favourite all the time, he obviously never believed it. Djokovic at that level with the confidence and mental edge would of had a chance but I feel Nadal would of done it in 4 max
Sunny014
Legend
Yeah, Nadal is like @MichaelNadal 's fav superstar THE ROCK from wwe who oversells those stunners vs Austin
Nadal often praised his opponents and called them favorites, tough opponents and what not, he even called Jannik Sinner as a tough opponent when deep in his mind he knows he can deliver bagels and breaksticks to that young punk if he put his mind to it
.... Nadal truly oversells his rivals.....
MichaelNadal
Bionic Poster
Yeah, Nadal is like @MichaelNadal 's fav superstar THE ROCK from wwe who oversells those stunners vs Austin
Nadal often praised his opponents and called them favorites, tough opponents and what not, he even called Jannik Sinner as a tough opponent when deep in his mind he knows he can deliver bagels and breaksticks to that young punk if he put his mind to it
Nadal truly oversells his rivals.....
The Rock is great on the mic but never one of my fav wrestlers
Sunny014
Legend
The Rock is great on the mic but never one of my fav wrestlers
Ohh I thought he was
MichaelNadal
Bionic Poster
Ohh I thought he was
Matches are a big thing for me, he does have some classics but just not enough great matches for me
I love him vs Cena at Mania, and him vs Hogan at Mania 18 and some others, but overall I rarely watch Rock matches. Greaaaat promos though. And I liked him in the Nation of Domination.Ooh and Royal Rumble 99 vs Mankind is sick.
Maybe I like him more than I realize lol but just wouldn't say im a fan persay
Tennisfan339
Professional
Ironically Djokovic's wins were easier on clay that year. 64 64 in Madrid, 75 64 in Rome, also 62 76 in Monte Carlo in 2013. In IW and Miami he needed 3 sets and he barely won in Miami. 5 sets in AO, 4 sets in Wimbledon and USO.
No doubt Nadal prefered playing Federer that year although nothing guarantees Djokovic would'vr done better.
RG 2011 still has one of the best final, imo. Since the. beatdown in 2008, In terms of quality of tennis, I think only 2015 (Djokovic Wawrinka) tops 2011.
What Nadal says could be said for most slams, though. If Djokovic played Zverev instead of Tsitsipas this year, maybe he would have lost. And if he played Tsonga instead of Wawrinka in 2015 maybe he would have lost. And if Berrettini played Shapopalov in Wimbledon final, he would have had better chances. We can say this for nearly every tournaments.
No doubt Nadal prefered playing Federer that year although nothing guarantees Djokovic would'vr done better.
RG 2011 still has one of the best final, imo. Since the. beatdown in 2008, In terms of quality of tennis, I think only 2015 (Djokovic Wawrinka) tops 2011.
What Nadal says could be said for most slams, though. If Djokovic played Zverev instead of Tsitsipas this year, maybe he would have lost. And if he played Tsonga instead of Wawrinka in 2015 maybe he would have lost. And if Berrettini played Shapopalov in Wimbledon final, he would have had better chances. We can say this for nearly every tournaments.
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Hahaha on the wwe comparisonYeah, Nadal is like @MichaelNadal 's fav superstar THE ROCK from wwe who oversells those stunners vs Austin
Nadal often praised his opponents and called them favorites, tough opponents and what not, he even called Jannik Sinner as a tough opponent when deep in his mind he knows he can deliver bagels and breaksticks to that young punk if he put his mind to it
Nadal truly oversells his rivals.....
that is why you never trust Nadal he would never be the champion he is if he actually believed that .Also Fed was 29. I always liked Fed but couldn’t deal with his hardcore fans. I know all big 3 have them but I feel they are the worst. Fed is the only player that has always a year added onto his age during comparisons
MeatTornado
Talk Tennis Guru
Nadal would say he needs to fight his hardest to compete with (Dennis) Novak in a 1st round match.
Of course he's going to talk like this about peak Djokovic.
Of course he's going to talk like this about peak Djokovic.
MichaelNadal
Bionic Poster
And 2012 and 2014.....
BGod
G.O.A.T.
Yeah but 2012 was a down to earth season for Djokovic so to be expected. And going into 2014 Nadal had the mental edge with his fury to end the year. French Open 2013 should have been Novak but he blew it big time.
Sampras-Bruguera 1993
Legend
Djokovic was in Nadal's head all year that year. Nadal probably would have lost yes. Nadal didn't play that good in the final
MichaelNadal
Bionic Poster
Nadal played great in the final lol. He didn't play well in the early rounds.
D
Deleted member 762343
Guest
Classy from Nadal but I still think he would have taken it, maybe in 5 in the worst case scenario. Beating Nadal at Madrid or Rome is nothing like beating him at RG, especially in the final.
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