AO 2009 Final - Rafa Nadal vs. Roger Federer

zagor said:

Gutting it out, really? In the final he faced a favourable match-up(whom he has already beaten very often in the big matches over the years)who was slowly exiting his peak and had one of his worst slam serving performances. Sure Fed did play great from the baseline, but he was never going to win an outright baseline war against Nadal(not at that point anyway).

Heck, we could then also claim Novak gutted it out against Nadal at USO this year, afterall he played a 5 setter in SF, was even carrying a shoulder injury(while Nadal for once had no injuries in 2009 AO) and he still somehow beat the defending champ Nadal. I mean what would you(along with another Nadal fans) say if Nadal beat 25 year old Fed in a slam final after playing a 5 setter in SF and carrying a shoulder injury? Somehow I have a feeling you'd be running out of superlatives to describe Nadal's warrior qualities.

You want to know what gutting it out really is? Try Edberg's 1992 USO run, now that's warrior like.

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Mustard said:

I got up to watch it, wiping the sleep from my eyes as I put the TV on. I was determined to cheer Rafa to victory, even though it didn't look good considering Federer's form in the previous 2 matches and the extra day's rest that Federer had.

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Crisstti said:

It was an awesome match. Funnily I don't remember staying up, though I must have had, since there is a 15 hour difference...

Anyway, hilarious that someone bumped this thread, lol.

I should watch that match again though.

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beast of mallorca said:

What I want to see is the semis b/w Rafa and Dasco. You know a good site to buy videos ? I erased my dvr accidentally last year.

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Mike Sams said:

Same thing happened to Nadal at the Indian Wells final this year.

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MichaelNadal said:

Lol if you don't think the AO-09 performance from Rafa was gutsy, I don't know what else to say. Go back and read this thread again. And yes, Novak's USO win this year was very gutsy as well.

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zagor said:

I don't need to read the thread, I watched the match and remember both the SF and F very well. Sure Nadal winning SF and F in 5 setters was gutsy but sure as heck not to the extent it was praised.

Honestly if you compare it to Novak's USO this year:

-AO is at the start of the season, USO is the last slam in the season so pulling off "heroic feats" is harder after a long season than at the very beginning(after a break).

-Both had one day off after their SF

-Novak "gutted" out a five setter against Federer(whom was never a favourable match-up for him)while Nadal did so against Verdasco, no matter how well Verdasco was playing(and it was the tourney of his life no doubt)there's no comparison.

-In the final Nadal faced a favourable match-up while Novak faced a defending champion and the very guy who beat him just last year in the final of the same tourney.

And even considering all that all we get after USO final this year on this forum was well...Nadal was tired in the 4th set, tired from freaking what? He literally cruised to the final. Of course in comparison Nadal was the greatest fighter of all time after 2009 AO.

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Mike Sams said:

Yep all things considered, Djokovic beat a 16 time Slam legend. Whereas Nadal beat a choking clown lapdog who was on a hot-run for a short period of time. :lol:

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MichaelNadal said:

Has nothing to do with who he played, it's what happened in the match. You can't say it wasn't gutsy just bc it was an easy match on paper.

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Hitman said:

Got your a mail. Looks like you had fun. Are you going to Miami in 2012 for the showdown?

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Rafa the King said:

We bringing this back too or nah?

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Krish872007 said:

Ah, the good old days. I like how respectful this thread was until it was revived again in 2011. Much less trolling, huge hype before the match - and those who did troll knew how to do it really well. Most of the old posters are banned or gone now though
Clarky's still around to act as the dismal voice of the Rafa camp

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boojay said:

Either Fed in 4 (maybe 3) or Nadal in 5. Either way, Fed will win more total points. The sets Fed wins will be thorough. The sets Nadal wins will be squeakers. It's the ultimate shotmaker versus the uber pusher.

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Rafa the King said:

I was reading it and it is incredible.

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8PAQ said:

I think Fed will win in 4 but I am afraid he might start chocking and have to win in 5. Something similar to 2007 Wimbledon final. He might even come back from a break down in the 5th. Then of course we will hear no end of excuses how Nadal would have won if he had more rest and blah blah blah.

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Krish872007 said:

Ah, the good old days. I like how respectful this thread was until it was revived again in 2011. Much less trolling, huge hype before the match - and those who did troll knew how to do it really well. Most of the old posters are banned or gone now though
Clarky's still around to act as the dismal voice of the Rafa camp

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ruerooo said:

'LOL. Where is clarky?

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Krish872007 said:

New account now - I'm quite sure the user "Moby Dick" is Clarky

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