Nadal's last 4 major wins - all epic

R

Rafaforehand74

Rookie
Was just thinking that the last 4 major wins for different reasons have been pretty epic.

And thinking that very few of his previous wins match these.

US Open 19
- Felt at the time it was his last big stand on a non clay court
- So close to an agonising defeat
- Out on his feet
- Meddy's cool speech
- All the emotion afterwards

French Open 20
- It was October, it was cold
- It was under the roof
- Novak's team making all sorts of predictions
- 6-0 first set
- Equals grand slam record

Australian Open 22
- No words required

French Open 22
- The foot
- Rome withdrawal
- Horrible draw
- Beats 4 top 10 players
- Beats Novak late at night in conditions that Novak requested.
- 14 and 22

I think what out of the previous 18 were better.

- Wimbledon 2008
- Australia 2009
- US Open 2010
- French 2017

But not sure of many more?!

Just feels amazing that his last 4 have been so epic. Lots of "is this the last".
 
M

miko

Semi-Pro
Rafaforehand74 said:
- Beats Novak late at night in conditions that Novak requested.
Click to expand...

Novak did not request anything. In theory, the night conditions favored his game so he preferred them. It was actually Rafa who requested a day match but it was futile. The night slot was a foregone conclusion once it was another Djokovic : Nadal duel. Whoever had the broadcasting rights bought them exactly to have a match like this at prime time.
 
dr325i

dr325i

G.O.A.T.
miko said:
Novak did not request anything. In theory, the night conditions favored his game so he preferred them. It was actually Rafa who requested a day match but it was futile. The night slot was a foregone conclusion once it was another Djokovic : Nadal duel. Whoever had the broadcasting rights bought them exactly to have a match like this at prime time.
Click to expand...
Nadal fans translated official denial as NOVAK’s request.
 
King No1e

King No1e

G.O.A.T.
Rafaforehand74 said:
Was just thinking that the last 4 major wins for different reasons have been pretty epic.

And thinking that very few of his previous wins match these.

US Open 19
- Felt at the time it was his last big stand on a non clay court
- So close to an agonising defeat
- Out on his feet
- Meddy's cool speech
- All the emotion afterwards

French Open 20
- It was October, it was cold
- It was under the roof
- Novak's team making all sorts of predictions
- 6-0 first set
- Equals grand slam record

Australian Open 22
- No words required

French Open 22
- The foot
- Rome withdrawal
- Horrible draw
- Beats 4 top 10 players
- Beats Novak late at night in conditions that Novak requested.
- 14 and 22

I think what out of the previous 18 were better.

- Wimbledon 2008
- Australia 2009
- US Open 2010
- French 2017

But not sure of many more?!

Just feels amazing that his last 4 have been so epic. Lots of "is this the last".
Click to expand...
US Open 2013 as well, probably the most significant win of his huge 2013 comeback. You rarely see Nadal get that emotional, but that win was huge for him after having to sit out the previous year.
 
N

Nadal - GOAT

Hall of Fame
Rafaforehand74 said:
Was just thinking that the last 4 major wins for different reasons have been pretty epic.

And thinking that very few of his previous wins match these.

US Open 19
- Felt at the time it was his last big stand on a non clay court
- So close to an agonising defeat
- Out on his feet
- Meddy's cool speech
- All the emotion afterwards

French Open 20
- It was October, it was cold
- It was under the roof
- Novak's team making all sorts of predictions
- 6-0 first set
- Equals grand slam record

Australian Open 22
- No words required

French Open 22
- The foot
- Rome withdrawal
- Horrible draw
- Beats 4 top 10 players
- Beats Novak late at night in conditions that Novak requested.
- 14 and 22

I think what out of the previous 18 were better.

- Wimbledon 2008
- Australia 2009
- US Open 2010
- French 2017

But not sure of many more?!

Just feels amazing that his last 4 have been so epic. Lots of "is this the last".
Click to expand...
I would rate USO 2013 over 2010.. In 2010 he was playing amazing and was the favorite. 2013 was sweet revenge after the hard court loses to Novak in 2011-12.
 
roysid

roysid

Hall of Fame
Rafaforehand74 said:
Was just thinking that the last 4 major wins for different reasons have been pretty epic.

And thinking that very few of his previous wins match these.

US Open 19
- Felt at the time it was his last big stand on a non clay court
- So close to an agonising defeat
- Out on his feet
- Meddy's cool speech
- All the emotion afterwards

French Open 20
- It was October, it was cold
- It was under the roof
- Novak's team making all sorts of predictions
- 6-0 first set
- Equals grand slam record

Australian Open 22
- No words required

French Open 22
- The foot
- Rome withdrawal
- Horrible draw
- Beats 4 top 10 players
- Beats Novak late at night in conditions that Novak requested.
- 14 and 22

I think what out of the previous 18 were better.

- Wimbledon 2008
- Australia 2009
- US Open 2010
- French 2017

But not sure of many more?!

Just feels amazing that his last 4 have been so epic. Lots of "is this the last".
Click to expand...
Well written and agreed mostly.

Fo 2020, ao 2022 and fo 22 are classics, the whole tournament.
Uso 19 the final was superb, but otherwise it was a easy run to the final

As for the past,
Agree with w 2008 and ao 2009, who wont.

But uso 13 and fo 13 runs were better than uso 10 and fo 17 runs.

Even nadal rates his uso 13 win very highly, among his top 3. It was preceded by winning both canada and Cincinnati and dominant win over a very strong Djokovic
 
Rafa4LifeEver

Rafa4LifeEver

G.O.A.T.
Rafaforehand74 said:
Was just thinking that the last 4 major wins for different reasons have been pretty epic.

And thinking that very few of his previous wins match these.

US Open 19
- Felt at the time it was his last big stand on a non clay court
- So close to an agonising defeat
- Out on his feet
- Meddy's cool speech
- All the emotion afterwards

French Open 20
- It was October, it was cold
- It was under the roof
- Novak's team making all sorts of predictions
- 6-0 first set
- Equals grand slam record

Australian Open 22
- No words required

French Open 22
- The foot
- Rome withdrawal
- Horrible draw
- Beats 4 top 10 players
- Beats Novak late at night in conditions that Novak requested.
- 14 and 22

I think what out of the previous 18 were better.

- Wimbledon 2008
- Australia 2009
- US Open 2010
- French 2017

But not sure of many more?!

Just feels amazing that his last 4 have been so epic. Lots of "is this the last".
Click to expand...
Yes.
He keeps pulling the rabbit out of the hat.
 
R

Roubaixcomp

Rookie
miko said:
Novak did not request anything. In theory, the night conditions favored his game so he preferred them. It was actually Rafa who requested a day match but it was futile. The night slot was a foregone conclusion once it was another Djokovic : Nadal duel. Whoever had the broadcasting rights bought them exactly to have a match like this at prime time.
Click to expand...
Djokovic said he and Rafa had made different requests.
 
R

Roubaixcomp

Rookie
Rafaforehand74 said:
Was just thinking that the last 4 major wins for different reasons have been pretty epic.

And thinking that very few of his previous wins match these.

US Open 19
- Felt at the time it was his last big stand on a non clay court
- So close to an agonising defeat
- Out on his feet
- Meddy's cool speech
- All the emotion afterwards

French Open 20
- It was October, it was cold
- It was under the roof
- Novak's team making all sorts of predictions
- 6-0 first set
- Equals grand slam record

Australian Open 22
- No words required

French Open 22
- The foot
- Rome withdrawal
- Horrible draw
- Beats 4 top 10 players
- Beats Novak late at night in conditions that Novak requested.
- 14 and 22

I think what out of the previous 18 were better.

- Wimbledon 2008
- Australia 2009
- US Open 2010
- French 2017

But not sure of many more?!

Just feels amazing that his last 4 have been so epic. Lots of "is this the last".
Click to expand...
USO 2019 maybe the biggest match of his career as it gave him the Impetus to chase down Roger and surpass him. I am not sure he would have broke the Slam record had he not won USO 2019 . RG 2020 was memorable due to the awful conditions and turning back the clock to 2008 Nadal.
AO 2022 was the stuff of Hollywood stories and is incomparable. RG 2022 just confirmed Nadal is untouchable still on Chatrier and if fit he can win a few more there potentially
You are right they are all epic wins for one reason or another. It would be interesting to know what Nadal considers his most significant wins and why. Arguably his USO 2013 and 2010 wins were as he beat the guy many claim is HC GOAT both times in the final.
Recency bias though is always a risk factor. Nadal at RG2008 was also epic as he just took tennis to a new level never since matched. That was my favourite version of Nadal and the yardstick for players to get to level wide and certainly the yardstick I'll judge Alcaraz by moving forward.
 
abmk

abmk

Bionic Poster
Nadal wasn't close to losing in USO 19 final. Up a double break in the 5th set. Pre-final was meh.

RG 20 not epic at all.

RG 22 ended with Zverev injury and Ruud being Zverible in the final. 4R and QF were interesting for sure, though.
 
MichaelNadal

MichaelNadal

Bionic Poster
Rafaforehand74 said:
Was just thinking that the last 4 major wins for different reasons have been pretty epic.

And thinking that very few of his previous wins match these.

US Open 19
- Felt at the time it was his last big stand on a non clay court
- So close to an agonising defeat
- Out on his feet
- Meddy's cool speech
- All the emotion afterwards

French Open 20
- It was October, it was cold
- It was under the roof
- Novak's team making all sorts of predictions
- 6-0 first set
- Equals grand slam record

Australian Open 22
- No words required
E
French Open 22
- The foot
- Rome withdrawal
- Horrible draw
- Beats 4 top 10 players
- Beats Novak late at night in conditions that Novak requested.
- 14 and 22

I think what out of the previous 18 were better.

- Wimbledon 2008
- Australia 2009
- US Open 2010
- French 2017

But not sure of many more?!

Just feels amazing that his last 4 have been so epic. Lots of "is this the last".
Click to expand...

They really are lol he’s ridiculous :D
 
D

Deleted member 791948

Guest
RG 2020 is my favorite slam title EVER (y)
uhVbJug.gif
 
R

Roubaixcomp

Rookie
thepaint19 said:
Its very rare to see a player beat FOUR top-10 players at a slam - as Nadal did at 2022 RG - very rare indeed :cool: the total opposite of a vulture.
Click to expand...
Because its Roland Garros and Nadal already had the historic slam record RG2022 gets overlooked as to what a special win that was by Nadal as I doubt very few slam winners have ever beaten four top 10 players in a row to win a slam. Actually RG2022 was a more Impressive win than Melbourne overall.
 
ibbi

ibbi

G.O.A.T.
Hmm, RG20 and AO22 are in a different league to the others.

US19 did have the last stand, holding on by the skin of his teeth feeling that you mentioned, but considering three years later he went and won the Australian Open it has sort of been eclipsed.

RG22 had the gnarly 4R/QF/SF combo, but it's hard to consider it quite as epic when the final is such a sort of damp squib. I guess it's a lot closer to the other 2 than the US Open.
 
D

Deleted member 791948

Guest
Roubaixcomp said:
Because its Roland Garros and Nadal already had the historic slam record RG2022 gets overlooked as to what a special win that was by Nadal as I doubt very few slam winners have ever beaten four top 10 players in a row to win a slam. Actually RG2022 was a more Impressive win than Melbourne overall.
Click to expand...
I agree, and he had the foot treatment after Roland Garros, so the future looks incredible for him, as we can expect him to move better at 2023 RG, especially if he doesn't miss 6 weeks with a broken rib :eek:
 
C

Cheese&IPA

New User
Nadal very rarely gets an easy draw or a chance to vulture a slam, US open 2017 the only recent one I can think of, even at the French open he has to beat some excellent clay court players to win it still. Djokovic for example has a guaranteed Wimbledon slam win every year as the rest of the field are hopeless on grass barring Nadal who cant stay fit on it and grandad Federer who has now retired.
 
S

StrongRule

Talk Tennis Guru
abmk said:
Nadal wasn't close to losing in USO 19 final. Up a double break in the 5th set. Pre-final was meh.

RG 20 not epic at all.

RG 22 ended with Zverev injury and Ruud being Zverible in the final. 4R and QF were interesting for sure, though.
Click to expand...
Nadal had to save 3 break points at the beginning of the fifth set of USO 2019. If he failed to save them (and that was close, he barely touched the line on one of them), he might have lost the match. Probably would have lost, tough to see him coming back after missing a 2-0 set lead. Also had to save a break point in the last game. For Nadal fans it was definitely one of the most emotional wins ever.

DO 2020 was epic in the sense that he finally beat Djokovic in a slam after more than 6 years. He really needed that win. Djokovic also didn't lose in 40 matches before that, except for a DQ.
 
R

Roubaixcomp

Rookie
thepaint19 said:
I agree, and he had the foot treatment after Roland Garros, so the future looks incredible for him, as we can expect him to move better at 2023 RG, especially if he doesn't miss 6 weeks with a broken rib :eek:
Click to expand...
Funnily enough yesterday I watched the FO2022 final again. It was a hot sunny day. Ruud was playing well in my view. Very few UFEs. Rafa though was just unplayable. In those conditions nobody on tour can beat him if he is healthy as he has so many options. And the ball he hits just rears up like mad. If he remains motivated after the birth of his child no reason he cannot win 2 more French Opens.
 
D

Deleted member 791948

Guest
Roubaixcomp said:
Funnily enough yesterday I watched the FO2022 final again. It was a hot sunny day. Ruud was playing well in my view. Very few UFEs. Rafa though was just unplayable. In those conditions nobody on tour can beat him if he is healthy as he has so many options. And the ball he hits just rears up like mad. If he remains motivated after the birth of his child no reason he cannot win 2 more French Opens.
Click to expand...
And 2024 Olympics at Paris will keep him motivated, if the Slam Record isn't motivation enough..... Will be very interesting to see how many slams he has by the end of 2024, because he's clearly good enough to win 2 slams each year, as he just did that without even being healthy..... I think Wimbledon is the big chance for Nadal next year, if he can just stay healthy for that month, his game seems to suit grass now more than ever :p
 
R

Roubaixcomp

Rookie
thepaint19 said:
And 2024 Olympics at Paris will keep him motivated, if the Slam Record isn't motivation enough..... Will be very interesting to see how many slams he has by the end of 2024, because he's clearly good enough to win 2 slams each year, as he just did that without even being healthy..... I think Wimbledon is the big chance for Nadal next year, if he can just stay healthy for that month, his game seems to suit grass now more than ever :p
Click to expand...
Alot will depend how Rafa feels after the birth of his child. It will either inspire him to play a few more years or he may feel he is done with the grind of travelling.
 
abmk

abmk

Bionic Poster
StrongRule said:
Nadal had to save 3 break points at the beginning of the fifth set of USO 2019. If he failed to save them (and that was close, he barely touched the line on one of them), he might have lost the match. Probably would have lost, tough to see him coming back after missing a 2-0 set lead. Also had to save a break point in the last game. For Nadal fans it was definitely one of the most emotional wins ever.

DO 2020 was epic in the sense that he finally beat Djokovic in a slam after more than 6 years. He really needed that win. Djokovic also didn't lose in 40 matches before that, except for a DQ.
Click to expand...

Given its medvedev and nadal had broken him 4 times in first 3 sets, nadal definitely had a good chance to break back.
thread reads epic - not epic for Nadal fans. many Nadal fans will try to make everything he wins/does epic which is a load of baloney.
 
H

Humphrey20133

Semi-Pro
abmk said:
Given its medvedev and nadal had broken him 4 times in first 3 sets, nadal definitely had a good chance to break back.
thread reads epic - not epic for Nadal fans. many Nadal fans will try to make everything he wins/does epic which is a load of baloney.
Click to expand...
Need some cream for that butthurt? The sting must be awful.
 
mike danny

mike danny

Bionic Poster
roysid said:
Well written and agreed mostly.

Fo 2020, ao 2022 and fo 22 are classics, the whole tournament.
Uso 19 the final was superb, but otherwise it was a easy run to the final

As for the past,
Agree with w 2008 and ao 2009, who wont.

But uso 13 and fo 13 runs were better than uso 10 and fo 17 runs.

Even nadal rates his uso 13 win very highly, among his top 3. It was preceded by winning both canada and Cincinnati and dominant win over a very strong Djokovic
Click to expand...
:laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
 
S

StrongRule

Talk Tennis Guru
abmk said:
just giving a reality check to nadal fans living in their own world.
you hurt at being exposed to the reality, nadal land guy? :)

I mean what next? nadal hits a shank and that's epic?
nadal yawns and that's epic?
:-D
Click to expand...
You can laugh as much as you want, but USO 2019 final was a 5 hours battle, and the quality was pretty good for a big part of it. A better match by quality than the very much discussed Wimbledon 2019 final IMO. And clearly a better slam final than anything that followed.
 
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abmk

abmk

Bionic Poster
StrongRule said:
You can laugh as much as you want, but USO 2019 final was a 5 hours battle, and the quality was pretty good for a big part of it. A better match by quality than the very much discussed Wimbledon 2019 final IMO. And clearly a better slam final than anything that followed.
Click to expand...

I wasn't arguing about epicness USO 19 final per se in that post, but RG 20.
also pointing out nadal could've very well broken back in the 5th set. he had ample time/games.
Also USO 19 was meh before the final from Nadal.
 
abmk

abmk

Bionic Poster
mike danny said:
:laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
Click to expand...

such a stronk djokovic that he could afford to be UFE machine (incl in shorter rallies )for 2 whole sets and choke away another (4-5 UFEs in 2 games broken in 3rd set) and yet win. Oh wait, he lost in 4 sets including a breadstick to cap it off.
decent to good, nothing more. a strong djokovic that wasn't.
 
R

Rafaforehand74

Rookie
roysid said:
Well written and agreed mostly.

Fo 2020, ao 2022 and fo 22 are classics, the whole tournament.
Uso 19 the final was superb, but otherwise it was a easy run to the final

As for the past,
Agree with w 2008 and ao 2009, who wont.

But uso 13 and fo 13 runs were better than uso 10 and fo 17 runs.

Even nadal rates his uso 13 win very highly, among his top 3. It was preceded by winning both canada and Cincinnati and dominant win over a very strong Djokovic
Click to expand...
roysid said:
Well written and agreed mostly.

Fo 2020, ao 2022 and fo 22 are classics, the whole tournament.
Uso 19 the final was superb, but otherwise it was a easy run to the final

As for the past,
Agree with w 2008 and ao 2009, who wont.

But uso 13 and fo 13 runs were better than uso 10 and fo 17 runs.

Even nadal rates his uso 13 win very highly, among his top 3. It was preceded by winning both canada and Cincinnati and dominant win over a very strong Djokovic
Click to expand...
Yeah, I was torn between 13 and 10 US. Personally enjoyed 13 US more but 2010 was completion of career slam.

2017 French Open - yeah it was a straightforward run - it was more the fact it ended his biggest drought - fear that he was on 14 for good
 
DSH

DSH

Talk Tennis Guru
Cheese&IPA said:
Nadal very rarely gets an easy draw or a chance to vulture a slam, US open 2017 the only recent one I can think of, even at the French open he has to beat some excellent clay court players to win it still. Djokovic for example has a guaranteed Wimbledon slam win every year as the rest of the field are hopeless on grass barring Nadal who cant stay fit on it and grandad Federer who has now retired.
Click to expand...
********** have the audacity and chutzpah of mentioning the word "vulture" when his idol has won more Wimbledon titles in his 30s than in his prime.
What hypocrites!
:mad::censored:
 
dr325i

dr325i

G.O.A.T.
DSH said:
Ask Tsitsipas: he knows "something" about that subject.
:D
Click to expand...
What does Tsitsipas have to do with anything I said????
Don’t take it so personal, it is obvious that had your boy on the ropes and then he choked

with that logic, should we ping Shapo or Fognini while we are at it?
 
DSH

DSH

Talk Tennis Guru
dr325i said:
What does Tsitsipas have to do with anything I said????
Don’t take it so personal, it is obvious that had your boy on the ropes and then he choked

with that logic, should we ping Shapo or Fognini while we are at it?
Click to expand...
In your own words, Nadal "choked" the second set of the final, serving to win it and having a set point.
Due to this, the Spanish player greatly complicated his chances of victory but he knew how to rescue himself in time.

And it was evident that Tsitsipas had your "boy" on the ropes but his fear of victory prevented him from winning a match that should never have escaped him.
The Greek has not yet assimilated that defeat, which has deprived him of improvements in his game, making him very predictable for his opponents.
:D
 
CHillTennis

CHillTennis

Hall of Fame
Rafaforehand74 said:
Was just thinking that the last 4 major wins for different reasons have been pretty epic.

And thinking that very few of his previous wins match these.

US Open 19
- Felt at the time it was his last big stand on a non clay court
- So close to an agonising defeat
- Out on his feet
- Meddy's cool speech
- All the emotion afterwards

French Open 20
- It was October, it was cold
- It was under the roof
- Novak's team making all sorts of predictions
- 6-0 first set
- Equals grand slam record

Australian Open 22
- No words required

French Open 22
- The foot
- Rome withdrawal
- Horrible draw
- Beats 4 top 10 players
- Beats Novak late at night in conditions that Novak requested.
- 14 and 22

I think what out of the previous 18 were better.

- Wimbledon 2008
- Australia 2009
- US Open 2010
- French 2017

But not sure of many more?!

Just feels amazing that his last 4 have been so epic. Lots of "is this the last".
Click to expand...

The french toast that I ate this morning was epic.

The kleenex that I used to blow my nose with was epic.

My last visit to the grocery store was epic.

Bernard Tomic's 2022 tennis season was epic.
 
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