2021 RG was the greatest tournament win in tennis history

NoleFam

Bionic Poster
But you had no problem before the match to play down Djokovic and try to convince everyone he isn't as good as he has looked, especially on serve.

You too need to just admit you never saw this coming. You were totally expecting Nadal to emerge victorious and once he didn't you changed tune.

Not just victorious, but victorious in straight sets. ;)
 

beard

Legend
But you had no problem before the match to play down Djokovic and try to convince everyone he isn't as good as he has looked, especially on serve.

You too need to just admit you never saw this coming. You were totally expecting Nadal to emerge victorious and once he didn't you changed tune.
Off course they all expected 2020 again, and were glowing for months before and during FO... That was cold shower for them... Lol... But now, after Nadal lost, it was nad Nadal... Lololo... Trolololo...
 

Hamnavoe

Hall of Fame
Nadal clay game %:
2021 60.15%
2020 68.70%
2019 65.77%
2018 67.72%
2017 67.63%
2016 61.38%
2015 60.68%
2014 63.78%
2013 63.44%
2012 68.00%
2011 64.59%
2010 66.39%
2009 65.04%
2008 67.15%
2007 66.02%
2006 62.17%
2005 65.22%

Only worse year clay performance in the Roland Garros-winning era was 2015, below 2021 because Nadal's game % is lower in both Masters and Slams, being inflated to a higher level by success at minor tournaments in Rio, Buenos Aires and Hamburg.
 

RF-18

Talk Tennis Guru
Not just victorious, but victorious in straight sets. ;)

Off course they all expected 2020 again, and were glowing for months before and during FO... That was cold shower for them... Lol... But now, after Nadal lost, it was nad Nadal... Lololo... Trolololo...

Yea it's funny how the tune has changed. Literally I saw no signs from weakera about Nadal being at his worst version before the match or during the tournament at all. It was all about "Nadal going for 14th :love:" etc etc.
 

beard

Legend
Nadal clay game %:
2021 60.15%
2020 68.70%
2019 65.77%
2018 67.72%
2017 67.63%
2016 61.38%
2015 60.68%
2014 63.78%
2013 63.44%
2012 68.00%
2011 64.59%
2010 66.39%
2009 65.04%
2008 67.15%
2007 66.02%
2006 62.17%
2005 65.22%

Only worse year clay performance in the Roland Garros-winning era was 2015, below 2021 because Nadal's game % is lower in both Masters and Slams, being inflated to a higher level by success at minor tournaments in Rio, Buenos Aires and Hamburg.
So? Should only best Nadal play FO? Should we count only Novak's loses in 2011 because it's his best year?
I mean, Novak beat Nadal who was 4 last times champion of FO... He was unbeatable from 2017 to 2020, won 33 straight matches losing few sets...
 

GabeT

G.O.A.T.
It was literally the worst clay version of Nadal in his entire career by games and sets won percentage. By far.
No reason to focus on the clay season as a whole. We have seen over and over that Nadal winning more or less in pre RG clay tells us little about his FO level.

I haven’t checked the numbers but Nadal was playing well before meeting Novak obviously not his peak but then again Novak is also older. And he won the first 5 games, had set point on the third set and was a break up in the fourth. Plenty of opportunities.

What’s still perplexing is what happened in the last 6 games.
 

Madinolf

Rookie
Why do you have such a difficult time comprehending statistics and facts? Stop trying to inject subjectivity or opinion into this. It was Nadal's worst clay season ever by games and sets won percentage - by far. That is a fact. Clearly worse than even 2015. Djokovic's form was far from impressive, he merely put a terrible Nadal out of his misery. My believing Nadal had or would flip the switch has no bearing on facts.
In the last 12 years Nadal lost only to Djokovic at RG, not once but twice.. and you think it is a coincidence and Nadal was in terrible form both times? :-D
 

NoleFam

Bionic Poster
Yea it's funny how the tune has changed. Literally I saw no signs from weakera about Nadal being at his worst version before the match or during the tournament at all. It was all about "Nadal going for 14th :love:" etc etc.

He predicted Nadal to win in straight sets. So this data about him being at his worst didn't matter before that prediction did it? Djokovic just shocked the heck of them, and us for that matter, and now the tune has changed. They gloated for a good 4 months after RG 2020 so it makes this victory that much sweeter. :p
 

beard

Legend
He predicted Nadal to win in straight sets. So this data about him being at his worst didn't matter before that prediction did it? Djokovic just shocked the heck of them, and us for that matter, and now the tune has changed. They gloated for a good 4 months after RG 2020 so it makes this victory that much sweeter. :p
Weakera? Just put him on ignore, best ignore ever, believe me... ;)
 

RF-18

Talk Tennis Guru
When it suits them they count whole clay seasons, when it doesn't they say "Only FO counts, everything else is just his preparation for FO".... Lol...

Yea, last year we didn't hear much about the Schwartzman straight sets loss :D but if he had lost the RG final, oh boy
 

RF-18

Talk Tennis Guru
He predicted Nadal to win in straight sets. So this data about him being at his worst didn't matter before that prediction did it? Djokovic just shocked the heck of them, and us for that matter, and now the tune has changed. They gloated for a good 4 months after RG 2020 so it makes this victory that much sweeter. :p

He predicted in straights? Roflmao. Didn't actually know he was THAT optimistic.
 

weakera

Talk Tennis Guru
He predicted Nadal to win in straight sets. So this data about him being at his worst didn't matter before that prediction did it? Djokovic just shocked the heck of them, and us for that matter, and now the tune has changed. They gloated for a good 4 months after RG 2020 so it makes this victory that much sweeter. :p

I didn't see any data before the prediction. It was only posted on this forum via Twitter afterwards. Are you actually suggesting it isn't relevant lol? Why do you think my being wrong about the match has anything to do with Nadal's form? If I had said "in spite of his career worst clay season he will win in straights" would you actually feel better? Ask yourself that lol

It just amazes me how many people have a hard time accepting what the numbers tell us about Nadal's form. It's like trying to fit a crying toddler into a car seat. You have to accept the numbers for your own good and for the good of the child you're educating.
 

weakera

Talk Tennis Guru
No reason to focus on the clay season as a whole. We have seen over and over that Nadal winning more or less in pre RG clay tells us little about his FO level.

Actually the only time Nadal played anywhere near as poorly in the pre RG tourneys was 2015 when he lost, again, to Novak the opportunist. Despite the trophy count, his numbers were better in 2015 and against stronger competition.

So you are right in the sense that what we saw in the past was a clear indicator of what was to come.
 

NoleFam

Bionic Poster
I didn't see any data before the prediction. It was only posted on this forum via Twitter afterwards. Are you actually suggesting it isn't relevant lol? Why do you think my being wrong about the match has anything to do with Nadal's form? If I had said "in spite of his career worst clay season he will win in straights" would you actually feel better? Ask yourself that lol

It just amazes me how many people have a hard time accepting what the numbers tell us about Nadal's form. It's like trying to fit a crying toddler into a car seat. You have to accept the numbers for your own good and for the good of the child you're educating.

No, you're looking for excuses now that it didn't turn out the way you were sure it would have and it isn't relevant. We all knew Nadal sucked this clay season before Rome. He played terrible in Barcelona especially. That didn't stop basically everyone from saying he was a sure lock to win RG again, especially after his great tournament in Rome.
 

weakera

Talk Tennis Guru
No, you're looking for excuses now that it didn't turn out the way you were sure it would have and it isn't relevant. We all knew Nadal sucked this clay season before Rome. He played terrible in Barcelona especially. That didn't stop basically everyone from saying he was a sure lock to win RG again, especially after his great tournament in Rome.

He was bad in Rome, too. NADAL on clay needing to save match points against Shapovalov? That was when he righted the ship to you lol? He looked awful for stretches against Gasquet and even Popyrin, and obviously Schwartman.

Djokovic won nearly 40% of the pre match poll. I'm sorry but I have to expose your revisionist history. And this after Djokovic won 45% of the pre match 2020 poll, and that was without people knowing it would be played indoors.

Djokovic simply did not score the monumental win you tell yourself he did. None of the facts support that idea. It doesn't take anything away from Djokovic's title, he won it fair and square, but you need to be honest with yourself. He simply took an old war horse down to the glue factory and didn't do it in impressive fashion.
 

GabeT

G.O.A.T.
Actually the only time Nadal played anywhere near as poorly in the pre RG tourneys was 2015 when he lost, again, to Novak the opportunist. Despite the trophy count, his numbers were better in 2015 and against stronger competition.

So you are right in the sense that what we saw in the past was a clear indicator of what was to come.
In 2015 he didn’t win a single pre RG clay tournament. In 2021 he won the most prestigious clay masters beating Novak in the process.
in 2014 he lost Rome to Novak and won only one clay masters, beating Nishi in Madrid. Still won the FO comfortably.
 

Hamnavoe

Hall of Fame
So? Should only best Nadal play FO? Should we count only Novak's loses in 2011 because it's his best year?
I mean, Novak beat Nadal who was 4 last times champion of FO... He was unbeatable from 2017 to 2020, won 33 straight matches losing few sets...
Those are the numbers. You can read into them what you want.
 

mwym

Professional
One man's comeback is another man's capitulation/injury/wilt.
Indeed. only the wise could possibly surmise that comebacks are exhaustively determined by the efforts of one player.
OK, we all saw the match, we all saw and we all know what happened at that match. And we all. have all the stats. WHAT happened is not the issue.

The question is: HOW? What caused it? WHY it happened the way it did, against all the predictions? Any tactical insight both on physical and mental part, any correlation to Rome final match ...

I am sure many would like to understand. And your response imply you understand. So, why not share your insight?
 

NoleFam

Bionic Poster
He was bad in Rome, too. NADAL on clay needing to save match points against Shapovalov? That was when he righted the ship to you lol? He looked awful for stretches against Gasquet and even Popyrin, and obviously Schwartman.

Djokovic won nearly 40% of the pre match poll. I'm sorry but I have to expose your revisionist history. And this after Djokovic won 45% of the pre match 2020 poll, and that was without people knowing it would be played indoors.

Djokovic simply did not score the monumental win you tell yourself he did. None of the facts support that idea. It doesn't take anything away from Djokovic's title, he won it fair and square, but you need to be honest with yourself. He simply took an old war horse down to the glue factory and didn't do it in impressive fashion.

So now he looked awful against Popyrin, Gasquet, and Diego? LOL. Well where was all this talk before the SF match when you didn't even think Djokovic would win a set? Yea now after the fact, he was so terrible at RG.

What does this have to do with anything? The poll is still open anyway and people can go back and still vote or change their vote, like they often do after the match is over.

LOL. No we will take this monumental win, because that's what it was especially after his drubbing 8 months prior, and you can continue to whine about it after you gave him no chance to win the match.
 

weakera

Talk Tennis Guru
In 2015 he didn’t win a single pre RG clay tournament. In 2021 he won the most prestigious clay masters beating Novak in the process.
in 2014 he lost Rome to Novak and won only one clay masters, beating Nishi in Madrid. Still won the FO comfortably.

The numbers are the numbers. Muh titles holds no water when we know Nadal would be clay titleless this season were 2015 Djokovic around.

So now he looked awful against Popyrin, Gasquet, and Diego? LOL. Well where was all this talk before the SF match when you didn't even think Djokovic would win a set? Yea now after the fact, he was so terrible at RG.

What does this have to do with anything? The poll is still open anyway and people can go back and still vote or change their vote, like they often do after the match is over.

LOL. No we will take this monumental win, because that's what it was especially after his drubbing 8 months prior, and you can continue to whine about it after you gave him no chance to win the match.

What do you mean where was this talk? There was plenty of talk rampant in the forum about Nadal's questionable form. Other Nadal fans were giving me and beckerserve a hard time throughout the entire tournament in a private chat because we were worrying about his form and the Sinner match specifically. You can ask TripleATeam, BlondBlur, LleytonStation or plenty of other users who witnessed it.

Again, it was a clean title for Djokovic but I won't let you get away with the revisionist history. And pretending that the poll wasn't over 40% for Djokovic BEFORE the match just represents another lie.
 

weakera

Talk Tennis Guru
Nadal clay game %:
2021 60.15%
2020 68.70%
2019 65.77%
2018 67.72%
2017 67.63%
2016 61.38%
2015 60.68%
2014 63.78%
2013 63.44%
2012 68.00%
2011 64.59%
2010 66.39%
2009 65.04%
2008 67.15%
2007 66.02%
2006 62.17%
2005 65.22%

Only worse year clay performance in the Roland Garros-winning era was 2015, below 2021 because Nadal's game % is lower in both Masters and Slams, being inflated to a higher level by success at minor tournaments in Rio, Buenos Aires and Hamburg.


This is a VERY painful post for Djokovic fans in this thread :laughing:
 
I didn't see any data before the prediction. It was only posted on this forum via Twitter afterwards. Are you actually suggesting it isn't relevant lol? Why do you think my being wrong about the match has anything to do with Nadal's form? If I had said "in spite of his career worst clay season he will win in straights" would you actually feel better? Ask yourself that lol

It just amazes me how many people have a hard time accepting what the numbers tell us about Nadal's form. It's like trying to fit a crying toddler into a car seat. You have to accept the numbers for your own good and for the good of the child you're educating.

5hk8c0.jpg


:giggle:
 

GabeT

G.O.A.T.
What do you mean where was this talk? There was plenty of talk rampant in the forum about Nadal's questionable form. Other Nadal fans were giving me and beckerserve a hard time throughout the entire tournament in a private chat because we were worrying about his form and the Sinner match specifically. You can ask TripleATeam, BlondBlur, LleytonStation or plenty of other users who witnessed it.

Again, it was a clean title for Djokovic but I won't let you get away with the revisionist history. And pretending that the poll wasn't over 40% for Djokovic BEFORE the match just represents another lie.
just read the first few pages of the 2021 match thread and compare with similar to the 2015 match thread. In 2015 Novak was the favorite. This year only Strongrule argued Novak was the clear favorite.
 

Noleberic123

G.O.A.T.
Actually the only time Nadal played anywhere near as poorly in the pre RG tourneys was 2015 when he lost, again, to Novak the opportunist. Despite the trophy count, his numbers were better in 2015 and against stronger competition.

So you are right in the sense that what we saw in the past was a clear indicator of what was to come.
Nadal beat a good version of Djokovic in Rome this year
 

Djokodal Fan

Hall of Fame
Nobody beats a healthy nadal. He was injured. That’s why he didn’t participate in Wimbledon. Injury happened when he was leading 5-0 in first set. Other wise he would have proceeded to bagel or breadstick Novak and proceeded to win.

I repeat again: Nobody beats a healthy Nadal
 

NoleIsBoat

Hall of Fame
Yea it's funny how the tune has changed. Literally I saw no signs from weakera about Nadal being at his worst version before the match or during the tournament at all. It was all about "Nadal going for 14th :love:" etc etc.
He even said 2021 Nadal would defeat 2008 version. That soon changed once 5-0 changed to a 4 set loss :whistle:
 

abmk

Bionic Poster
Reasons:

1) decisive for the Slam title race. Should've been 21-18 Nadal.
2) no one had ever won the RG by beating Nadal
3) came back from 0-2 twice (vs Tsitsipas and Musetti)
4) Tsitsipas had a wonderful clay season and was #1 in the Race
5) Berrettini from the Roland Garros to Wimbledon lost only to Djokovic


tenor.gif
 

killerboss

Professional
The greatest win in terms of the numbers in GOAT discussion maybe. The greatest matches happened when they were younger and in their primes instead of matches where they are old men and where it could all go kaput for either one any time soon lmao.
 
When Nadl loses at RG it means only one thing - he wasn't at his best even more severely injured than usual. :( [Corrected the emoji, too, because the moral truth is not amusing but is, rather, austere].

You are on the right lines here, but you ultimately miss the mark. I fixed it for you.
 

Tennisfan339

Professional
Krejcikova winning the tournament was great too. Wasn't even seeded. Saved 2 match points in Semis. Something tells me it won't be her last slam. No one seems to take her seriously... I hope she will earn more popularity in the coming slams/years.
 

duaneeo

Legend
1) decisive for the Slam title race. Should've been 21-18 Nadal.
2) no one had ever won the RG by beating Nadal
3) came back from 0-2 twice (vs Tsitsipas and Musetti)
4) Tsitsipas had a wonderful clay season and was #1 in the Race
5) Berrettini from the Roland Garros to Wimbledon lost only to Djokovic

The likes of Tsitsipas, Musetti, and Berrettini are three of the five reasons why 2021 Roland Garros is the "greatest tournament win in tennis history".

:-D:-D
 
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