‘I Saw the Real Rafa in Australia’ – Bjorn Borg Compares Rafael Nadal’s Australian Open Victory to 2021 French Open Loss

[weakera]

In a recent interview, 11-time Grand Slam champion, Bjorn Borg talked about Rafael Nadal’s impressive showing at the Australian Open. However, he also pointed out the fact that Rafa didn’t look at his best at the Roland Garros last year. According to him, Rafa didn’t move the way he usually moves.

“I watched most of the matches from Australia at home in Stockholm. The best news for Nadal is that he has regained his mobility from before. When I watched him last year at Roland Garros, he didn’t move like that and that could be one of the reasons why he lost to Djokovic. What I don’t know is whether he was injured. I saw the real Rafa in Australia,” Borg said (Google Translate).

‘I Saw the Real Rafa in Australia’ - Bjorn Borg Compares Rafael Nadal’s Australian Open Victory to 2021 French Open Loss

11-time Grand Slam winner Bjorn Borg talked about the Australian Open performance of Rafael Nadal, as he picked him to win the French Open as well.

www.essentiallysports.com

...



Ahh. But I'm sure the armchair experts on TTW see the sport better than Bjorn. Right?

 

[The_Order]

Another vb fan boi make excuses for Rafa..

Oh wait, it's actually the legendary Bjorn Borg who made this observation...

Where to run now Djesus fans??

 

[Deleted member 748597]

I actually want Djokovic to face Nadal again at the FO. Bring it on babyyy.

 

[weakera]

Another vb fan boi make excuses for Rafa..

Oh wait, it's actually the legendary Bjorn Borg who made this observation...

Where to run now Djesus fans??

Nahhh. @Djokovic2011 and his pals saw something different out there at RG 2021. Maybe one day they'll get the chance to sit down with Bjorn and teach him about the sport. I'm sure he'd appreciate it

 

[weakera]

I actually want Djokovic to face Nadal again at the FO. Bring it on babyyy.

Yet why wouldn't you? Djokovic has nothing to lose. That's the best time to face Nadal for Novak.

 

[The_Order]

I actually want Djokovic to face Nadal again at the FO. Bring it on babyyy.

So do I.

 

[borg number one]

Listen to him. He knows what he’s talking about!

 

[Deleted member 748597]

Yet why wouldn't you? Djokovic has nothing to lose. That's the best time to face Nadal for Novak.

If however the miracle happens again, no excuses this time.

 

[Djokovic2011]

If however the miracle happens again, no excuses this time.

There should never have been any excuses to begin with.

 

[Azure]

There should never have been any excuses to begin with.

There never are. Anyone who looks for excuses are doing so just to keep these debates active. Rafa was beaten by a better player on that day. Thats all.

 

[Mivic]

Funny how the 'real Rafa' only seems to appear when Djokovic is absent these days.

 

[StrongRule]

There should never have been any excuses to begin with.

This is an interesting claim from a Djokovic fan. According to this forum, Djokovic has never lost a match in his career when he was at least half decent. Actually, 99% of the time we hear he lost because he just didn't care.

 

[weakera]

If however the miracle happens again, no excuses this time.

You got it bud when Djokovic beats a fit Nadal at RG, I'll be the first one to give him a big pat on the back!

Make sure you send your notes along to Bjorn after the match as well. He missed your 2021 feedback

 

[Kralingen]

Usually when a player is so successful as these guys are, they are a little off when they lose.

At least, a little off from their winning level. Doesn't mean it doesn't count. Don't see why this concept is so difficult for this forum.

 

[weakera]

This is an interesting claim from a Djokovic fan. According to this forum, Djokovic has never lost a match in his career when he was at least half decent. Actually, 99% of the time we hear he lost because he just didn't care.

Didn't you hear? He got smoked by Medvedev in a US Open final because the pressure was too much to bear. Nevermind that we've been hearing he's the toughest mentally for 10 years. Excuses used to devalue Djokovic's opponents victories are okay, even when fictional. But when a Djokovic opponent loses and then leaves the tour for six months with injury, that's no excuse.

Are you following?

 

[StrongRule]

There never are. Anyone who looks for excuses are doing so just to keep these debates active. Rafa was beaten by a better player on that day. Thats all.

These are not excuses. You can't deny that Nadal is being robbed. He dominated RG for years, and suddenly the organizers decided to change the conditions completely. Now it's a totally different tournament, the conditions are bad for Nadal and almost perfect for Djokovic. I think Nadal feels more comfortable on hardcourt right now than on this "clay". This is annoying that Nadal was robbed at his favorite slam. He could win a few more of them before he retires, but thanks to the organizers he is done winning there.

 

[Azure]

You can't deny that Nadal is being robbed. He dominated RG for years, and suddenly the organizers decided to change the conditions completely. Now it's a totally different tournament, the conditions are bad for Nadal and almost perfect for Djokovic. I think Nadal feels more comfortable on hardcourt right now than on this "clay". This is annoying that Nadal was robbed at his favorite slam. He could win a few more of them before he retires, but thanks to the organizers he is done winning there.

I don’t see the need to dig so deep into what-ifs. It is just a tennis match that was pretty exciting to watch. The better player on the day won. Congratulate him and hope for another showdown. Thats it.

 

[StrongRule]

I don’t see the need to dig so deep into what-ifs. It is just a tennis match that was pretty exciting to watch. The better player on the day won. Congratulate him and hope for another showdown. Thats it.

Hope for another match on red hardcourt? No, thanks. I hope Nadal never plays this tournament again. Why would he play if the organizers hate him and want him to lose at all cost? Djokovic probably also shouldn't play in AO anymore after this year, but he cares too much about records for that.

 

[Azure]

Hope for another match on red hardcourt? No, thanks. I hope Nadal never plays this tournament again. Why would he play if the organizers hate him and want him to lose at all cost? Djokovic probably also shouldn't play in AO anymore after this year, but he cares too much about records for that.

That is their prerogative.

 

[MichaelNadal]

 

[StrongRule]

Didn't you hear? He got smoked by Medvedev in a US Open final because the pressure was too much to bear. Nevermind that we've been hearing he's the toughest mentally for 10 years. Excuses used to devalue Djokovic's opponents victories are okay, even when fictional. But when a Djokovic opponent loses and then leaves the tour for six months with injury, that's no excuse.

Are you following?

I don't watch tennis for a long time now, and barely write here. But yeah, I saw these comments. Nothing new. On this forum it was always the same thing. If Nadal loses, he was at his absolute best. If Djokovic loses he was terrible, even if he won 27 slam matches in a row.

 

[Beulah Jesus]

I actually want Djokovic to face Nadal again at the FO. Bring it on babyyy.

Me too...

 

[Mediterranean Might]

Funny how the 'real Rafa' only seems to appear when Djokovic is absent these days.

Nah he looked pretty real in RG2020

 

[Patriots]

It's all about the money. Night tennis at Roland Garros brings more revenue as they can split up the schedule, plus now they have renovated roofed Chatrier and done a lot of renovations anticipating the Olympics Tennis being played there in 2024. I read Suzanne Lenglen will be roofed by those Olympics.

This all generates buzz, and I think Rafa will be fine with the changes.

 

[Mustard]

There should never have been any excuses to begin with.

It doesn't matter. When you start a tennis match, battle commences. From that point on, you either find a way to win, fail in the attempt, or you or your opponent submits before the natural end. I don't understand those who think a win is "discredited" unless the illusion of 100% fitness is kept up. It's about on the day, and if you're not fit after the match has started, that's tough luck as far as the match result goes.

 

[The_Mental_Giant]

There should never have been any excuses to begin with.

There are no excuses, Djokovic won the match and Deserved the match, he was the better player that day for most of the match, but what Borg means that was by no means Peak Rafa, nowhere close to that.. and I am not comparing him to Rafa 2008 or 2012, but even 2017 Rafa would have destroyed his 2021 version..

 

[Djokovic2011]

You got it bud when Djokovic beats a fit Nadal at RG, I'll be the first one to give him a big pat on the back!

Nah, you really won't be. You know it, I know it, everyone on this forum knows it.

 

[Backspin1183]

I actually want Djokovic to face Nadal again at the FO. Bring it on babyyy.

Me too!

 

[Kralingen]

The world is healing. The fan wars are back on.

 

[Backspin1183]

Anyway, Nole fans shouldn't feel bad about it. Borg, like Federer, is a part of VB.

 

[BeatlesFan]

However, he also pointed out the fact that Rafa didn’t look at his best at the Roland Garros last year. According to him, Rafa didn’t move the way he usually moves.

Gee whiz, what insight! Jimmy Connors didn't move as well at the 1990 USO as he did in 1974. Fed didn't move as well at 2019 Wimbledon as he did in 2004. Rafa will never in his wildest dreams move as well as he did in 2008.

The hands of time stop for no one.

 

[Mustard]

There are no excuses, Djokovic won the match and Deserved the match, he was the better player that day for most of the match, but what Borg means that was by no means Peak Rafa, nowhere close to that.. and I am not comparing him to Rafa 2008 or 2012, but even 2017 Rafa would have destroyed his 2021 version..

2017 Nadal would even challenge 2008 Nadal, because of the serving. It would be a question of whether 2017 Nadal dictates with the serve or 2008 Nadal dictates off the ground. Nadal was serving phenomenal at the 2017 French Open as well as dominating the opposition off the ground, and he hasn't done that sort of serving in the years following.

 

[BeatlesFan]

The world is healing.

Really? Do tell.

 

[Kralingen]

Really? Do tell.

I am trying to distract myself from that, along with my job, my relationship, and my family, by sh-tposting on talk tennis warehouse.

 

[GabeT]

The Excuse Brigade strikes again!

 

[Mivic]

You got it bud when Djokovic beats a fit Nadal at RG, I'll be the first one to give him a big pat on the back!

Make sure you send your notes along to Bjorn after the match as well. He missed your 2021 feedback

Nadal is vaxxed (possibly boosted at this point) while Djokovic is not so as luck would have it you already have a ready made excuse for all future losses.

 

[Fiero425]

We saw what happened the last time Rafa won Aussie Open in '09; went down in flames at the French Open! IIRC, in the last few decades only Courier and Novak have managed to win both the same season; Djokovic completing his NOLE-Slam in 2016 in Paris!

 

[Backspin1183]

The Excuse Brigade strikes again!

Forgive him. Borg is old now.

 

[Mustard]

We saw what happened the last time Rafa won Aussie Open in '09; went down in flames at the French Open! IIRC, in the last few decades only Courier and Novak have managed to win both the same season; Djokovic completing his NOLE-Slam in 2016 in Paris!

That can easily change this year.

 

[NeutralFan]

There are no excuses, Djokovic won the match and Deserved the match, he was the better player that day for most of the match, but what Borg means that was by no means Peak Rafa, nowhere close to that.. and I am not comparing him to Rafa 2008 or 2012, but even 2017 Rafa would have destroyed his 2021 version..

I never saw Nadal missing that many easy BHS at RG before .

 

[AgassiSuperSlam11]

In a recent interview, 11-time Grand Slam champion, Bjorn Borg talked about Rafael Nadal’s impressive showing at the Australian Open. However, he also pointed out the fact that Rafa didn’t look at his best at the Roland Garros last year. According to him, Rafa didn’t move the way he usually moves.

“I watched most of the matches from Australia at home in Stockholm. The best news for Nadal is that he has regained his mobility from before. When I watched him last year at Roland Garros, he didn’t move like that and that could be one of the reasons why he lost to Djokovic. What I don’t know is whether he was injured. I saw the real Rafa in Australia,” Borg said (Google Translate).

‘I Saw the Real Rafa in Australia’ - Bjorn Borg Compares Rafael Nadal’s Australian Open Victory to 2021 French Open Loss

11-time Grand Slam winner Bjorn Borg talked about the Australian Open performance of Rafael Nadal, as he picked him to win the French Open as well.

www.essentiallysports.com

...



Ahh. But I'm sure the armchair experts on TTW see the sport better than Bjorn. Right?

He was moving like a Gazelle again in the AO. Reminiscent of his early years when he had long hair and could get to a drop shot and re-direct it cross-court with pace. In the RG SF loss, the set point he lost was a drop shot that took a bad bounce. It's 50-50 if he would've reached it if he had a better foot.

 

[TheNachoMan]

Bjorn is upset that Novak surpassed him at Wimbledon

 

[The_Order]

Bjorn is upset that Novak surpassed him at Wimbledon

Hahaha yeah but glad Nadal has won more than double his titles at RG?

What happened to numbers aren't everything?

 

[Username_]

even borg saying 2022 AO rafa is peak rafa

 

[nadalvamos]

In a recent interview, 11-time Grand Slam champion, Bjorn Borg talked about Rafael Nadal’s impressive showing at the Australian Open. However, he also pointed out the fact that Rafa didn’t look at his best at the Roland Garros last year. According to him, Rafa didn’t move the way he usually moves.

“I watched most of the matches from Australia at home in Stockholm. The best news for Nadal is that he has regained his mobility from before. When I watched him last year at Roland Garros, he didn’t move like that and that could be one of the reasons why he lost to Djokovic. What I don’t know is whether he was injured. I saw the real Rafa in Australia,” Borg said (Google Translate).

‘I Saw the Real Rafa in Australia’ - Bjorn Borg Compares Rafael Nadal’s Australian Open Victory to 2021 French Open Loss

11-time Grand Slam winner Bjorn Borg talked about the Australian Open performance of Rafael Nadal, as he picked him to win the French Open as well.

www.essentiallysports.com

...



Ahh. But I'm sure the armchair experts on TTW see the sport better than Bjorn. Right?

This is why Novak can't be the GOAT. Nadal, even injured , can reach Novak at a slam. While in 2017, Nadal made AUS open final and novak played so bad, he lost to a qualifier. NOVAK DODGED NADAL IN 2017 TO PROTECT HIS HC RECORD. NOVAK IS NO GOAT, HE IS JUST A GLOAT!

 

[Bartelby]

Players win and commentators feel the need to explain this when it really needs no explanation. Nadal was healed and rested and the competition was sub-par, so he is back to his winning-ways.

 

[Gt86]

Nahhh. @Djokovic2011 and his pals saw something different out there at RG 2021. Maybe one day they'll get the chance to sit down with Bjorn and teach him about the sport. I'm sure he'd appreciate it

The Nadal left foot was broken in the SF and Nadal the entire French Open last year hardly hit BH winners as he could not put much weight on his left foot which is crucial for his BH but in the semi final once that bone cracked he could not hit the BH properly and ended with 3 BH Winners and 27 BH UFEs. That is clear evidence how badly injured he was.
Djokovic deserves credit for being the only guy able to take advantage of an injured Nadal but there can be no doubt Nadal was injured. It also explains possibly why he kept double faulting so much all clay court season.
If Nadal is fit this clay court season there is every chance he goes undefeated the entire clay court season. Looks like he is skipping Monte Carlo. His clay court season is starting in Barcelona.

 

[Mustard]

In some ways, Borg is still the greatest. 11 majors at age 25, only playing 3 majors per year.

 

[DariaGT]

Due to Nole taking on the Legal and no legal world instead of focusing on tennis as he could before
Nadal can arguably be currently the world No1 player on hard courts, especially since Acapulco.

It would be interesting to see a peak Citybus vs Nadal on hard courts but for now Nadal has beaten
hard court only Meds 3-1 overall and 2-0 using his new style of serve bot tennis that also allowed
him to win his very first USO way back in 2010 when he beat Djokovic. Nadal was the ultimate HC
monster in that USO yet at the recent AO22 was only a shade of that level.

Many noticed Nadal stamina and mobility was not there at the AO just like in the last few years
but improved serving, forcing play and extra net finishes puts him as the best hard court player.
AO commentators put up numbers of the Nadal DTL FH versus previous AOs and was down in percentage.
Nadal AO22 higher service speeds helped him also rake up 52 aces albeit more double faults yet this approach
helped him to quicker free points, specially when facing break points. Second serve was even faster than Berretini.

This USO2010 style of play for Nadal could eventually lead him to win the only title he has never won,
the year end ATP finals.

Medvedev on the other had apart from his USO win is looking more like the hard court version of Andrei Medvedev
who exclusively won on clay except for 2 hard court tournaments. Will Meds ever win just 1 clay event?

 

[Fiero425]

Hahaha yeah but glad Nadal has won more than double his titles at RG?

What happened to numbers aren't everything?

Let's not even go there! Borg took on all comers with literally a stick & strings strung to the feel of a glass pane! Rafa has had the benefits of "the times" with superior training, tech improvements of rackets & strings, w/ homogenous courts! It'll continue to be with most people and a brain to know Borg is huge and will continue to be so because of his diverse winning from the slowest of clay in Paris to the slickness of choppy grass within a week at Wimbledon! That will set him apart from all players now and into the foreseeable future due to the greedy Big 3 who $ucked up most of the major events for the better part of 20 years! It'll be impossible for their feats to be surpassed in anyone's lifetime today! Nadal can vulture all the FO's he wants, having just 2 split Wimbledon Chps. on grass, even his Channel Slam of 2010 can't compare to Borg's who took FO & Wimbledon 3 straight years alone surpassing Rafa for the time! Some may consider that delusional, but I saw Borg thru that period where he became great by mastering all surfaces quickly while Nadal still needs warmups! Bjorn did so much in those 8 years while Nadal's still toiling the fields trying to catch up after 15+! Borg still has more YEC's and Wimbledons which would be a great career alone!