Rafa & Nole, Miami 2007

Cup8489 · 03-01-2013, 05:56 PM

Back when Novak was just a baby still, and Rafa was at the physical peak of his defense. Sure he raised his game the following year, but honestly neither one of these guys plays like this anymore. Novak is more consistent now, but this incarnation is what I liked when I first saw him, a shotmaker with sick defense.

Rafa of course with all his swagger of his younger days (well both of them). It would be cool to see the Rivalry get back to this to an extent, just the insane shotmaking and ridiculous defense instead of just ridiculous defense.

Hope you enjoy the links:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCGNDMmxaX0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRX7fhH7d3k

second link is a bit longer, didn't watch it though

DragonBlaze · 03-01-2013, 06:23 PM

Thanks for posting this. Awesome highlights! Especially the last few points with both guys jumping around after winning intense points

MichaelNadal · 03-01-2013, 06:26 PM

I really love the way they played back then too. It's hard to explain the changes, their defense (well Djokovic's) is still just as good, they just seemed to hit harder and play faster. Nadal was much more of a fighter then too.

kishnabe · 03-01-2013, 06:43 PM

This is when Djokovic is enjoyable to watch. Playing real tennis.....not the crap that he wins with these days.

kishnabe · 03-01-2013, 06:53 PM

such a Drama Queen this Djokovic. 7.41 min. on first link.

Clarky21 · 03-01-2013, 06:55 PM

God I miss this version of Nadal. He is nothing like this anymore. He has declined so much it's shocking.

Towser83 · 03-01-2013, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clarky21

God I miss this version of Nadal. He is nothing like this anymore. He has declined so much it's shocking.

Yet all through 2011-12 he was far more competitive vs Djokovic on HC...

But I miss this version of Nole. He has becoming far too much of a grinder these days. Despite his increase in success.

MichaelNadal · 03-01-2013, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Towser83

Yet all through 2011-12 he was far more competitive vs Djokovic on HC...

But I miss this version of Nole. He has becoming far too much of a grinder these days. Despite his increase in success.

That's the exact answer to your first sentence here regarding Nadal. He gets too much credit for his "grinding/defense" in his early days but IMO he's less offensive now than ever.

Mike Sams · 03-01-2013, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clarky21

God I miss this version of Nadal. He is nothing like this anymore. He has declined so much it's shocking.

It's playing like this that's broken his body. Besides, he was only 20 here.

dudeski · 03-01-2013, 07:24 PM

I love that match. You can almost see Nadal's knees starting to crumble with every long point. Vamos Nole!

veroniquem · 03-01-2013, 07:38 PM

Miami 2007 was the 1st master where Novak beat Rafa. He hasn't lost to Rafa in a master off of clay since. The only hard court master where Rafa beat Novak was IW 2007. But of course Rafa beat Novak in other events on hard: Olympics, WTF and USO.

Ace of Aces · 03-01-2013, 07:39 PM

Djokovic's forehand looked loopier then.

Cup8489 · 03-01-2013, 07:40 PM

To me, I wish the rivalry had been closer to this. super shotmaking AND defense. This is the tennis I enjoy. I was getting pumped just watching the highlights.

DragonBlaze · 03-01-2013, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Towser83

Yet all through 2011-12 he was far more competitive vs Djokovic on HC...

But I miss this version of Nole. He has becoming far too much of a grinder these days. Despite his increase in success.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MichaelNadal

That's the exact answer to your first sentence here regarding Nadal. He gets too much credit for his "grinding/defense" in his early days but IMO he's less offensive now than ever.

I hate to continue the "back in those days" trend but Federer is not nearly as exciting to watch anymore either. He doesn't have that explosive power anymore so it just feels like he's playing the percentages (albeit pretty damn well considering his age). I used to love watching his forehand, can't say the same anymore.

It's a bit annoying I think for all fan camps that there at least appears to be less "shotmaking" these days between the top guys since there defensive capabilities outshine their offensive one. Sigh.

Carsomyr · 03-01-2013, 08:39 PM

This is akin to watching a sporting event of the 70s, I feel like one of them should be smoking. Thank God Nike doesn't dress Nadal like that anymore.

SassyRamirez · 03-01-2013, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DragonBlaze

I hate to continue the "back in those days" trend but Federer is not nearly as exciting to watch anymore either. He doesn't have that explosive power anymore so it just feels like he's playing the percentages (albeit pretty damn well considering his age). I used to love watching his forehand, can't say the same anymore.

It's a bit annoying I think for all fan camps that there at least appears to be less "shotmaking" these days between the top guys since there defensive capabilities outshine their offensive one. Sigh.

That's because the courts are even slower than they were in 2007 these days, so naturally the top players adapt and their games are even more defensive/grinder-based. Sigh.

Tony48 · 03-01-2013, 10:18 PM

Why is Novak playing a pirate?

But that was a great match. That was when I first took notice of Novak and became a fan.

Murrayfan31 · 03-01-2013, 11:09 PM

Djokovic cut Nadal's career short. In 2009 in Madrid and 2012 at the Australain Open. Both extremely long matches that had long term effects. Vamos Djokovic.

mattennis · 03-02-2013, 04:38 AM

Great highlights!!!

Unfortunately, tennis is not like that anymore.

Today almost all players seem too cautious, too control-defense oriented.

It may be the best strategy under current surfaces/balls/strings conditions, but for the spectators (at least for me) tennis was much more fun at any time in the past.

rdis10093 · 03-02-2013, 04:52 AM

and that is what killed nadals' knees

03-01-2013, 05:56 PM	#1
Cup8489 Legend Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Silvis, IL Posts: 8,089	Rafa & Nole, Miami 2007 Back when Novak was just a baby still, and Rafa was at the physical peak of his defense. Sure he raised his game the following year, but honestly neither one of these guys plays like this anymore. Novak is more consistent now, but this incarnation is what I liked when I first saw him, a shotmaker with sick defense. Rafa of course with all his swagger of his younger days (well both of them). It would be cool to see the Rivalry get back to this to an extent, just the insane shotmaking and ridiculous defense instead of just ridiculous defense. Hope you enjoy the links: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCGNDMmxaX0 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRX7fhH7d3k second link is a bit longer, didn't watch it though __________________ Allcourter. Tennis fan.

03-01-2013, 06:26 PM	#3
MichaelNadal G.O.A.T. Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Charlotte NC Posts: 14,137	I really love the way they played back then too. It's hard to explain the changes, their defense (well Djokovic's) is still just as good, they just seemed to hit harder and play faster. Nadal was much more of a fighter then too. __________________ "Of course it's happening inside your head Harry... why should that mean that it's not real?"

03-01-2013, 06:43 PM	#4
kishnabe G.O.A.T. Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Toronto Posts: 14,289	This is when Djokovic is enjoyable to watch. Playing real tennis.....not the crap that he wins with these days. __________________ Why fight over who is G.O.A.T., when the world is just an abstract of reality~ http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/525347

03-01-2013, 06:53 PM	#5
kishnabe G.O.A.T. Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Toronto Posts: 14,289	such a Drama Queen this Djokovic. 7.41 min. on first link. __________________ Why fight over who is G.O.A.T., when the world is just an abstract of reality~ http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/525347

03-01-2013, 06:55 PM	#6
Clarky21 G.O.A.T. Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 10,498	God I miss this version of Nadal. He is nothing like this anymore. He has declined so much it's shocking. __________________ "Hopefully the Church of Fed will have mercy on my soul". - Namelessone "We are in the Fed warehouse(known as Nadal haters united)". - Namelessone