ForehandRF
Legend
I'll go with 2006 Rome F.Let me know what you guys think 
2006 Rome F vs 2011 RG SF ? Which one is Federer's best match on clay ?
- Thread starter ForehandRF
- Start date
TheFifthSet
Legend
The serve + fh combo was so lethal in the 2011 semi but the 2006 Rome final was all-court play at its finest. I’ll go with 2006. Still feel like Fed should have won that match. Can’t say conclusively if either was his best match, but of the two I’ll take 2006 Rome.
Last edited:
Rago
Hall of Fame
French Open'07 final for me; Federer's backhand was rock solid but his forehand let him down in key moments. Going 1/10 on break points in the first set didn't help matters and he missed the chance to push a rapid Nadal who was hitting venomously off both wings to 5 in this one.
Otherwise, I'd go with the Rome'06 final.
Otherwise, I'd go with the Rome'06 final.
abmk
Bionic Poster
FH let Fed down in general in RG 07 final, not just key moments.
Tennis_Hands
Banned
Out of the two, Rome, hands down.
Im(moral) Winner
G.O.A.T.
Yet many call his fh the best ever...
abmk
Bionic Poster
probably the only match in slams from 04-07 where it let him down as much as it did that day.
best ever doesn't mean can't have a letdown at all .....far from it. Just means better than anyone else.
MichaelNadal
Bionic Poster
beltsman
G.O.A.T.
One of fed's FH weaknesses has always been consistent depth. He can hit powerful shots, of course, but he doesn't consistently mash the ball deep. His FH is creative, versatile, etc but not suited to push Nadal back on clay like, say, Soderling.
Backspin1183
Talk Tennis Guru
I'd have to go with Rome 2006 because he had almost put an end to Nadal's longest winning streak on clay. Nadal was pretty much unbeatable on clay those days and yet Federer would have won the epic 5 setter if a point or two went his way. The Nadal of today can only dream of being as strong as he was in 2006. Federer also had the belief that he was as good as Nadal on clay if not better. For the uninitiated, this was the year Federer had said something like "it is wrong (for the media) to say he (Nadal) is better than me on clay."
Backspin1183
Talk Tennis Guru
Oh please! Soderling had ONE great day. Federer beat Nadal on clay when no one else could.
ForehandRF
Legend
Raining hopes
Hall of Fame
Im(moral) Winner
G.O.A.T.
@Raining hopes are you making a joke because of the avatar?
Raining hopes
Hall of Fame
I honestly didn't notice , I thought Lew was being sarcastic
Krish0608
G.O.A.T.
Unpopular opinion. But yes, I agree. His level during FO '07 final was very high. Had he been a bit more clutch on those gazillion BPs that he had, who knows what could have happened. Right up there with Rome '06, which is the best Federer ever on clay.
beltsman
G.O.A.T.
Because Federer has a better total game. I'm just talking about a specific shot.
MarcusInKensington
Hall of Fame
Please. Make it stop.
OldschoolKIaus
Hall of Fame
Gstaad 2013.
Rago
Hall of Fame
Another match where Federer struggled to return Rafa's serves from the Ad court (what's new, eh) and he NEEDED to win the first two sets; Nadal of course stepped up and shifted to a higher gear in sets 3 and 4.
That logic is bizarre. Of course Soderling isnt better than Federer overall but Federer only beat Nadal twice on clay ever despite the kazillion or so matches they played on clay, and neither was at RG where they again played a whole bunch of times. Soderling is the only guy from 2005-2014 to beat Nadal at RG; that seems the far more "when no else could" feat compared to Federer.
Deon Sanders
Legend
What was his best table tennis match?
What was his best paddle tennis match?
What was his best beach tennis match?
All equally valid questions to what was his best clay tennis match. But not on a real tennis forum.
What was his best paddle tennis match?
What was his best beach tennis match?
All equally valid questions to what was his best clay tennis match. But not on a real tennis forum.
TennisPinkBabe
Rookie
Fed Rome 06 would have straight setted Djokovic 2011.
Overall probably, but on clay I am pretty sure Nadal has the best FH ever.
D
Deleted member 743545
Guest
Roland Garros 2009 Final could be up there.
ForehandRF
Legend
Well at least he gave a 6-1 to Nadal in the first set.IIRC Nadal has never lost a set with such a score at RG.
Im(moral) Winner
G.O.A.T.
Djokovic 2015
HetTheGreaterer
Banned
2006 Rome Final...
Along with fed's highest level, there came his biggest choke imho... In terms of historical importance...
Those 2 match points for fed, were truly the points who had the potential of changing the tennis history for following decade
Along with fed's highest level, there came his biggest choke imho... In terms of historical importance...
Those 2 match points for fed, were truly the points who had the potential of changing the tennis history for following decade
abmk
Bionic Poster
Just out of curiosity, have you actually watched Hamburg 02 final ?
Rome 06 final was obviously very high level (and the 2nd best match that Fed's played& lost - after AO 05 semi).
But Hamburg 02 final was as well (marginally better IMO). Everything was clicking. Fed made a decent Safin look near helpless.
augustobt
Legend
Dude, no disrepsect to Djokovic, but the only guy to stop Federer '06 on clay was Nadal at his clay peak, when he was nearly unbeatable. This 2006 Rome Final played a huge mental part on their rivalry, I still feel that if Fed had converted that Match Point he would've won the 2006 RG Final as well.
hoodjem
G.O.A.T.
Italian Open 2006 final. Lost to Nadal: 6–7(0–7), 7–6(7–5), 6–4, 2–6, 7–6(7–5). Three tie-breakers, five sets.
French Open 2011 semi. Beats Djokovic: 7-6(7-5), 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(7-5). Four sets, two tie-breakers. (Fed loses to Nadal in the final: 7-5, 7-6(7-3), 5-7, 6-1).
I have to say that Fed's level of play was probably higher in 2006. But a victory over peak-Djokovic in 2011 is very sweet.
French Open 2011 semi. Beats Djokovic: 7-6(7-5), 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(7-5). Four sets, two tie-breakers. (Fed loses to Nadal in the final: 7-5, 7-6(7-3), 5-7, 6-1).
I have to say that Fed's level of play was probably higher in 2006. But a victory over peak-Djokovic in 2011 is very sweet.
Pheasant
Legend
2006 Rome final easily. This version of Nadal was nearly unplayable. Nadal’s level had slipped a little bit by 2011 and Fed still couldn’t push him to 5 sets. At the 2006 Rome final, Nadal was right in the middle of an insane 81 match winning streak on clay when Fed pushed him hard.
Fed and Djoker’s HTH on clay is pretty even, if I remember quickly. That semi felt great. But quite honestly, that match was where Djoker lost some clutch points in tiebreaks. This was a close match that had two tiebreaks go Fed’s way.
Fed and Djoker’s HTH on clay is pretty even, if I remember quickly. That semi felt great. But quite honestly, that match was where Djoker lost some clutch points in tiebreaks. This was a close match that had two tiebreaks go Fed’s way.
NatF
Bionic Poster
Have you actually watched that match mate?
justasport
Professional
2011 rg semifinal
Nadalgaenger
G.O.A.T.
I have wondered about this question as well.
I think the 2006 match for razzle dazzle. I think that fourth set in particular is the highest peak Fed ever reached on clay.
I think the 2006 match for razzle dazzle. I think that fourth set in particular is the highest peak Fed ever reached on clay.
ghostofMecir
Legend
He also had just finished a 2:40 hour war with Nalbandian in the SFs and a 2:30 hour battle with Almagro in the QFs.
In the Finals, he won more points overall, hit more winners, won only one fewer return points (but a slightly higher %), and slightly won the dominance ratio. He did everything other than win the match. Maybe he would have had he not had that match with Nalbandian.
Raining hopes
Hall of Fame
Federer in 2006 Rome had come to battle with Nadal. He believed he could beat him. He honestly believed he could. And it showed in the match.
At times Nadal played as well as he can and yet Federer's tactics that day were able to keep up with him.
It was an all court masterclass.
At times Nadal played as well as he can and yet Federer's tactics that day were able to keep up with him.
It was an all court masterclass.
Towser83
G.O.A.T.
Almost beating the king of clay vs beating Djokovic (close match, as well, could have easily been a 5 setter or a 4 set win for Nole)? Gotta go with Rome. Fed Outplayed Nadal for significant parts of the match, took a set off Nadal with a double break and though they both won tie breaks, Fed won his 7-0!! Had match points too.
Obviously Nole was on a roll (nice rhyme) in 2011 but he wasn't Fed's kryptonite like Nadal was, Fede strangely enough beat Djokovic on clay as recent as MC 2014 and their H2H on clay is even at 4-4
Obviously Nole was on a roll (nice rhyme) in 2011 but he wasn't Fed's kryptonite like Nadal was, Fede strangely enough beat Djokovic on clay as recent as MC 2014 and their H2H on clay is even at 4-4
MichaelNadal
Bionic Poster
Safin on clay? Hide ya kids hide ya wife!
D
Deleted member 716271
Guest
Hamburg 02 lol....you just gotta laugh man
MichaelNadal
Bionic Poster
AMBK is def the leader of the Maestronian army
Back before he got worn down it was TMF
-NN-
G.O.A.T.
AMBK is def the leader of the Maestronian army
Back before he got worn down it was TMF
Hot avatar.
MichaelNadal
Bionic Poster
Noleberic123
G.O.A.T.
Yeah right.
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