The_Order
G.O.A.T.
This is what really separates them imo... they have shown an uncanny ability to really dig themselves out of tight spots at the slams.
Here's some from each:
Nadal:
AO09 final -
4 all in the 3rd 0-40, then again at 5 all 15-40. Rafa just turned it up and really denied Roger with clutch play. He holds both games and takes the 3rd set in a TB. Had he lost either of those service games, very likely Rog gets the 3rd set and the title...
US13 final -
4 all in the 3rd 0-40... familiar territory this time against Djokovic. This game saw Nadal fall backwards while setting himself for a fh to give Djok 0-30 lead. The serve + 1, his first ace of the match and he clutches this game then goes on to break Djok at 5-4 to take the 3rd set. The implications of losing this game could very well have meant the title goes to Novak...
Federer:
RG09 4r -
3-4 30-40 down in the 3rd and down 2-0 sets. Fed his an unreal inside out fh v Tommy Haas that landed smack on the line... he misses that and Haas gets the break in the 3rd and probably wins the match in straights. Fed would likely not have an RG title if that ball doesn't go in. Super clutch.
WIM07 final -
1 all in the 5th 15-40 and again at 2 all 15-40. Nadal had the momentum of winning the 4th set behind him and started the 5th very well. Fed hangs on and then turns on his best tennis of the match to take the 5th set and the title. Who knows what would have happened had Nadal got one of those breaks...
Djokovic:
US11 sf -
Down 2-0 sets, Fed serving for the match at 5-4 in the 5th 40-15. Djok just rips that return which somehow lands in and the rest is history. Fed got rattled from that point on and Djok goes on to win the title. That return misses... no US 11 for Djok.
WIM19 f -
The infamous 40-15. One finger lady. One ace/unreturnable from Roger required. Djok pulls off the same shot that saved him the previous year to pass Fed and then goes on to win the title. What could have been...
Feel free to list some others... there are many more
Here's some from each:
Nadal:
AO09 final -
4 all in the 3rd 0-40, then again at 5 all 15-40. Rafa just turned it up and really denied Roger with clutch play. He holds both games and takes the 3rd set in a TB. Had he lost either of those service games, very likely Rog gets the 3rd set and the title...
US13 final -
4 all in the 3rd 0-40... familiar territory this time against Djokovic. This game saw Nadal fall backwards while setting himself for a fh to give Djok 0-30 lead. The serve + 1, his first ace of the match and he clutches this game then goes on to break Djok at 5-4 to take the 3rd set. The implications of losing this game could very well have meant the title goes to Novak...
Federer:
RG09 4r -
3-4 30-40 down in the 3rd and down 2-0 sets. Fed his an unreal inside out fh v Tommy Haas that landed smack on the line... he misses that and Haas gets the break in the 3rd and probably wins the match in straights. Fed would likely not have an RG title if that ball doesn't go in. Super clutch.
WIM07 final -
1 all in the 5th 15-40 and again at 2 all 15-40. Nadal had the momentum of winning the 4th set behind him and started the 5th very well. Fed hangs on and then turns on his best tennis of the match to take the 5th set and the title. Who knows what would have happened had Nadal got one of those breaks...
Djokovic:
US11 sf -
Down 2-0 sets, Fed serving for the match at 5-4 in the 5th 40-15. Djok just rips that return which somehow lands in and the rest is history. Fed got rattled from that point on and Djok goes on to win the title. That return misses... no US 11 for Djok.
WIM19 f -
The infamous 40-15. One finger lady. One ace/unreturnable from Roger required. Djok pulls off the same shot that saved him the previous year to pass Fed and then goes on to win the title. What could have been...
Feel free to list some others... there are many more
