Would Nadal have won the FO 2009 if he passed Soderling ?

[RoS]

I still ask myself the question if Nadal would have been able to win the FO 2009 if he had crossed the Soderling trap.

The match against Soderling was very tight and Nadal was even two points from a 5th set (6-5, 40-40 on the Soderling serve). He was still fighting well with some good shots and if he take the set 7-5 or take the tie-break, I'am sure he wins.

Even a 60-70% Nadal has a huge margin on others on Philippe Chatrier. I really think that Soderling had the best tools to beat him this day. He was at the right place, at the right time. The clay was heavy, leaving Soderling time to arm his big shots (in 2010, it was another story)

Soderling eliminated. Who is left after ?

Gonzalez wouldn't have beaten Nadal. He couldn't even take a set from him in the USO (while Nadal was playing with a 7mm tear). No way he was beating him on PC.

Davydenko was a bad match-up for Nadal, but on clay it's another story, even though he gave Nadal a incredible opposition at Rome 2007. On Bo5, I don't believe he would have had the stamina and Soderling destroyed him 6-1, 6-3, 6-1

The big question remains... Federer.

His form was patchy yes (struggled against Acusaso, Haas, Del Potro) but because he was feeling the pressure. Had Nadal not being beaten, he would have played more freely.

But if Federer had a chance to beat Nadal at Roland Garros, it was in 2009, against a weaker Nadal. We must not forget that Federer always had chances against Nadal on Philippe Chatrier (was a break up in the fourth set in 2005, almost went to a fifth set in 2006 and had 17 breaks points in 2007). But would he have had the belief to do it ? He lost his last three GS finals against Nadal on all surfaces (clay, grass, hard) and before Madrid, Federer was losing everytime to Djokovic, Murray, Wawrinka (the Miami SF 2009 was maybe the lowest time of Federer with the racket smash )

Nadal would have withdrawn from Wimbledon, but it's possible he could have won TEN consécutive French Open (2005-2014, another crazy possible record). We probably wouldn't even notice his drop in level.

Soderling's performance remains a great achievement...

 

[Nostradamus]

when is the Olympics happening ? what date ?

 

[chjtennis]

Get over it. Nadal lost and that's a fact. Just like Federer lost at Wimby 2008 and AO 2009.

 

[2nd Serve Ace]

Soderling's serve was a disaster in the final. He was super nervy and not on his game at all against Fed.

 

[RoS]

Get over it. Nadal lost and that's a fact. Just like Federer lost at Wimby 2008 and AO 2009.

Agree with you, but it was just to pose a " IF " debate which seemed to me not uninteresting.

 

[Hitman]

As my good friend @Sport would say - Untestable.

 

[Deleted member 771911]

You bet and Federer would be RG less and no career slam. Talk of him being GOAT would have been over some time back.

 

[Sorry_to_tell_you_mate]

No, because he was injured.

He would have lost the following match.

 

[RoS]

No, because he was injured.

He would have lost the following match.

I think even a injured Nadal would have beaten Gonzalez. Nadal was playing with a 7mm tear at the USO and Gonzalez couldn't take a set from him (was even bagelled)

 

[MichaelNadal]

Idk tbh he was in the middle of peak defensive loopy FH days which didn't get fixed till 2010.

 

[ForehandCross]

Idk tbh he was in the middle of peak defensive loopy FH days which didn't get fixed till 2010.

Yep finally someone who actually watches Tennis matches.

In 2009 AO Nadal was a legendary counter puncher.

But in Clay season he was a legendary pusher. His match with Djokovic in Madrid is baffling for the kind of loopiness his FH has.


Does he win RG still? Yes definitely yes. Nadal being that loopy doesn't matter, his physicality on Phillip Chatrier is always gonna overwhelm anyone.

Soderling played 3+ hours Rosol level tennis to get it done. Federer won't be able to.

I don't believe that Djokovic would have 2016 RG if Rafael stayed in the draw. I don't believe Federer would have won 2009 if Nadal was in the finals.

That's how much of a Clay God he is.

 

[Third Serve]

If he plays like he did in the Soderling match and Fed plays like he did in the final, Nadal probably makes it to the final where Fed would probably win in 4. However, we can't guarantee that.

 

[I Am Finnish]

Of course

 

[ForehandCross]

Yep finally someone who actually watches Tennis matches.

In 2009 AO Nadal was a legendary counter puncher.

But in Clay season he was a legendary pusher. His match with Djokovic in Madrid is baffling for the kind of loopiness his FH has.


Does he win RG still? Yes definitely yes. Nadal being that loopy doesn't matter, his physicality on Phillip Chatrier is always gonna overwhelm anyone.

Soderling played 3+ hours Rosol level tennis to get it done. Federer won't be able to.

I don't believe that Djokovic would have 2016 RG if Rafael stayed in the draw. I don't believe Federer would have won 2009 if Nadal was in the finals.

That's how much of a Clay God he is.

Note I have considered Nadal not having a physical issue. If genuinely had one against Sod and would continue to have it till the final against Roger, then Fed might have some chances.

But even with that Nadal should win, As evidenced in AO 2009 Federer can't win against him when he is supposed to win.

 

[Sunny014]

Nadal was already too great on clay in 2005 itself.
Federer never had a chance vs Nadal.

Novak had a shot in 2011 and in 2013 because he is closer to Nadal in age unlike Federer, but in 2011 Federer took him out and 2013 well he lost, so even Novak is pretty lucky that Nadal was in bad form in 15-16 period, a fit Nadal would have ensured that he retired without the french open.

Both Federer and Djokovic are overrated on clay, there are not as great on clay as they getting the benefit of losing to Nadal makes it look for them.

 

[weakera]

Yes, and Fed would have tanked before the final.

 

[duaneeo]

But if Federer had a chance to beat Nadal at Roland Garros, it was in 2009, against a weaker Nadal.

A "weaker Nadal", who won the AO and Indian Wells during the early HC season, then won Monte Carlo, Barcelona, and Rome, made the Madrid final, and won his first 3 RG matches in straight sets?

 

[Mr.Lob]

when is the Olympics happening ? what date ?

July 23rd - August 8th. Will be a scorcher. Average temps expected to be 95 F. So dress cool and drink plenty of fluids if you're thinking about going.

 

[RoS]

A "weaker Nadal", who won the AO and Indian Wells during the early HC season, then won Monte Carlo, Barcelona, and Rome, made the Madrid final, and won his first 3 RG matches in straight sets?

Watch again his match against Soderling. Nadal forehand was loopy and his movement was hampered a bit. His 4h03 Madrid SF against Nole killed him after a long clay season.

AO 2009 Nadal of course is Peak Hardcourtdal, it cannot denied.

 

[duaneeo]

Watch again his match against Soderling. Nadal forehand was loopy and his movement was hampered a bit.

Rafa was fine. If anything, he was trying to change tactics because the slow/damp conditions made his high/lefty FHs perfect targets for Soderling. And remember, Rafa played an exhibition match against Hewitt after Roland Garros. Would an injured player do that?

 

[TMF]

After 12 years and his fans are still not over the disheartened defeat.

@octobrina10

 

[octobrina10]

After 12 years and his fans are still not over the disheartened defeat.

@octobrina10

After 12 years and you, Fed devotees, are still over the moon with Rafa's loss.

 

[TennisFan3]

when is the Olympics happening ? what date ?

How is that relevant to this thread?

 

[TennisFan3]

After 12 years and his fans are still not over the disheartened defeat.

@octobrina10

It was the biggest upset in tennis history of this era. That loss will not be forgotten for decades.
Soderling will be famous as the guy who did the impossible.

 

[Deleted member 781975]

If I had my player become world number 1, due to the swiss failure in the first part of the season because he was sick, injure or just had a bad couple of months, and he was lucky enough to win against him (had Nadal lost Wimb 2008 and Hamburg 2008, the two closest matches, he would still become world n 1 just add the points. It was a blessing that he did by beating Federer), so now he beat the 5 year emperor and he is ready to build hisempire (won in Au 2009 because he won in grass in 2008) and he loses in his best surface. Sortest empire ever. I would also tell him, skip the atp finals in 2008 (the best players beating you Novak, Murray, could cost you in 2009) and skip WB in 2009 keeping the aura on invincible is more important. And then there was that thing with Pierre and the new testing methods (never mind coincidence probably).