2007 Nadal vs 2023 Alcaraz at Wimbledon - who wins?

[aman92]

I know 2006 Nadal is the apples to apples comparison, but Nadal's game was still a bit too raw on grass at that point, even though he reached the final. How about 2007 Nadal vs 2023 Alcaraz...

Both facing the 4 time defending champion and while Alcaraz was able to get over the line, Nadal played Peak Federer on his favourite surface and could easily have won the match in 4, where he lost two close tie breaks.
Who wins this hypothetical match?

 

[TheNachoMan]

07 Nadal in 4 or 5.

 

[Towny]

Nadal 2006 in 4 or 5. Nadal 2007 in 4

 

[Sampras-Bruguera 1993]

Nadal in 4.

 

[Third Serve]

Ned pretty decisively, maybe four sets.

 

[Deleted member 779124]

Nadal was unreal in the final that was were he pushed Fed hard. Before it perhaps beatable but they are not playing early rounds.

Based on what we have seen has to get the edge for me. I will say 4 sets.

 

[WeekendTennisHack]

Huh? According to Djokobic fans the level keeps getting better, ergo Carlos wins 6-0 6-0 6-1.

 

[RelentlessAttack]

07 Wimbledon was one of the peakiest matches of the strong era so I’m going to give it to Nadal

 

[Mike Sams]

I know 2006 Nadal is the apples to apples comparison, but Nadal's game was still a bit too raw on grass at that point, even though he reached the final. How about 2007 Nadal vs 2023 Alcaraz...

Both facing the 4 time defending champion and while Alcaraz was able to get over the line, Nadal played Peak Federer on his favourite surface and could easily have won the match in 4, where he lost two close tie breaks.
Who wins this hypothetical match?

Nadal had a stylistic matchup advantage against Federer. Alcaraz is a whole different style to Federer. Nadal would have a lot of trouble.

 

[abmk]

I know 2006 Nadal is the apples to apples comparison, but Nadal's game was still a bit too raw on grass at that point, even though he reached the final. How about 2007 Nadal vs 2023 Alcaraz...

Both facing the 4 time defending champion and while Alcaraz was able to get over the line, Nadal played Peak Federer on his favourite surface and could easily have won the match in 4, where he lost two close tie breaks.
Who wins this hypothetical match?

06 nadal takes it vs this Alcaraz in 4 competitive sets, maybe 5 at a stretch.
07 nadal in 2nd week would murder this Alcaraz, not even close.

Also zero chance 07 nadal wins vs 07 fed in 4 sets. you must be high.
fed was always ahead in the match till BP in 5th set for nadal.

 

[abmk]

Nadal had a stylistic matchup advantage against Federer. Alcaraz is a whole different style to Federer. Nadal would have a lot of trouble.

nadal also beat berdych easily in Wim 07 QF.
also baggy in Wim 06 SF.
not just playing well against fed.

 

[The Blond Blur]

Nadal 2006 in 4 or 5. Nadal 2007 in 4

How I wish RAFA had gotten to play Oldovic instead of Peakerer. Would have had 3 straight Wimbys. Still, I’m happy for Tiny Carl. Literally every other play on tour would have folded in that 5th set. Who am I kidding? No one else would have made it to a 5th set.

 

[Backspin1183]

How I wish RAFA had gotten to play Oldovic instead of Peakerer. Would have had 3 straight Wimbys. Still, I’m happy for Tiny Carl. Literally every other play on tour would have folded in that 5th set. Who am I kidding? No one else would have made it to a 5th set.

Yeah but Rafa wouldn't be the player he became if he had faced Oldovic instead of Peakerer.

 

[Towny]

How I wish RAFA had gotten to play Oldovic instead of Peakerer. Would have had 3 straight Wimbys. Still, I’m happy for Tiny Carl. Literally every other play on tour would have folded in that 5th set. Who am I kidding? No one else would have made it to a 5th set.

Yeah Rafa has definitely be unlucky at Wimbledon. Peak Federer,  then Djokovic? And 2007 and 2018 could have both gone the other way. Though I guess Djokovic and Federer have been very unlucky at RG too

Pleased that Carlos won for sure

 

[Djokovic_is_the_best#1]

2007 Nadal still I feel. Nadal was a beast that year but Alcaraz would run him close.

 

[Steve0904]

Nadal crushes him. No contest.

 

[Deleted member 758560]

lol ndal of course

 

[The Blond Blur]

Yeah but Rafa wouldn't be the player he became if he had faced Oldovic instead of Peakerer.

True, he’d have at least 24 schlems instead of 22

 

[abmk]

Yeah Rafa has definitely be unlucky at Wimbledon. Peak Federer,  then Djokovic? And 2007 and 2018 could have both gone the other way. Though I guess Djokovic and Federer have been very unlucky at RG too

Pleased that Carlos won for sure

Djokovic has got on the good side of luck at RG with his 3rd RG in 2023. that was gift wrapped.
He's not really better than a 2 slammer at RG.
I mean RG 21 is one of the rare decent competition ones in this inflation era, but not that tough either in general (even if it is for age 34 djokovic).

Federer is the only one unlucky at RG. should've gotten a 2nd one with his level of play in 05/06/07/11 ...

 

[Towny]

Djokovic has got on the good side of luck at RG with his 3rd RG in 2023. that was gift wrapped.
He's not really better than a 2 slammer at RG.

He's been lucky this year, but he's also faced Nadal 10 times. Many of those peak years for Rafa. I would say it balances. 2 or 3 titles seems about right to me

 

[Mike Sams]

nadal also beat berdych easily in Wim 07 QF.
also baggy in Wim 06 SF.
not just playing well against fed.

Nadal was having trouble with Soderling and Youzhny. Both were 5 setters. Nadal had to come back from 2 sets down against Youzhny who hurt his back during the match.

 

[abmk]

He's been lucky this year, but he's also faced Nadal 10 times. Many of those peak years for Rafa. I would say it balances. 2 or 3 titles seems about right to me

2 is perfectly fine. 3 is lucky.
I mean RG 21 is one of the rare decent competition ones in this inflation era, but not that tough either in general (even if it is for age 34 djokovic).

Federer is the only one unlucky at RG. should've gotten a 2nd one with his level of play in 05/06/07/11 ...

 

[abmk]

Nadal was having trouble with Soderling and Youzhny. Both were 5 setters. Nadal had to come back from 2 sets down against Youzhny who hurt his back during the match.

earlier round matches not the same as QF-F matches on slower/more consistent bouncing grass.
nadal raised his level tremendously from QF onwards in Wim 07.

 

[aman92]

Nadal was having trouble with Soderling and Youzhny. Both were 5 setters. Nadal had to come back from 2 sets down against Youzhny who hurt his back during the match.

Nadal also had to play 7 consecutive days leading up to the final while Federer had a 4th round bye

 

[DSH]

Nadal was unreal in the final that was were he pushed Fed hard. Before it perhaps beatable but they are not playing early rounds.

Based on what we have seen has to get the edge for me. I will say 4 sets.

It must be remembered that Nadal was the only one to lead Federer to five sets between 2003 and 2007.

 

[abmk]

Nadal also had to play 7 consecutive days leading up to the final while Federer had a 4th round bye

tough for Nadal, but he did get a break with Djoko retiring in the semi.
which is why he played one of his best GC matches vs fed in the Wim 07 final.

 

[Mike Sams]

Nadal also had to play 7 consecutive days leading up to the final while Federer had a 4th round bye

That's true. But the topic is Nadal 2007 vs Alcaraz 2023 in a Wimbledon match.
I can see Alcaraz beating Nadal on grass. What's funnier is Alcaraz has only played 4 grass events total. And he won Wimbledon in his 4th grass event. Queens in his 3rd. It's crazy!

 

[DSH]

True, he’d have at least 24 schlems instead of 22

Slay, bestie.

 

[ADuck]

I think 2006 Nadal could beat this Raz. He was unlucky to be up against 2006 Fed. Worst possible opponent.

 

[NatF]

2006 Nadal wins in 5 imo.

 

[Deleted member 758560]

I think 2006 Nadal could beat this Raz. He was unlucky to be up against 2006 Fed. Worst possible opponent.

yea ndal still better at this age overall than tiny regardless of today win

 

[TennisFan3]

The only people who say 2007 Nadal would easily beat "this" Alcaraz are Fed fans. They want to make peak mythical Fed look good.
The game has evolved. Alcaraz is a better all round player and he beat a Djokovic who was playing at a high level and mentally tough like irons.

2007 Nadal would go to 5 sets with this Alcaraz. The winner would be a flip of a coin.

 

[DSH]

That's true. But the topic is Nadal 2007 vs Alcaraz 2023 in a Wimbledon match.
I can see Alcaraz beating Nadal on grass. What's funnier is Alcaraz has only played 4 grass events total. And he won Wimbledon in his 4th grass event. Queens in his 3rd. It's crazy!

Nadal was close to winning the second set against peak Federer in the 2006 Wimbledon final and perhaps that match would have gone to five sets instead of the four it really was.

 

[Third Serve]

The only people who say 2007 Nadal would easily beat "this" Alcaraz are Fed fans. They want to make peak mythical Fed look good.
The game has evolved. Alcaraz is a better all round player and he beat a Djokovic who was playing at a super high level and mentally tough like irons.

2007 Nadal would go to 5 sets with this Alcaraz. The winner would be a flip of a coin.

Djokovic serving like Sampras huh?

 

[TennisFan3]

Djokovic serving like Sampras huh?

Not really. But Novak was playing at a high level and not missing much. His DTL shots were awesome and he was tough as chains.

 

[abmk]

Djokovic serving like Sampras huh?

There's a good reason I put him on ignore. He's worse than StrongRule in many aspects, maybe even overall.

 

[Third Serve]

Not really. But Novak was playing at a high level and not missing much. His DTL shots were awesome and he was tough as chains.

He had a negative winner-UFE differential… on grass, a winner-friendly surface.

A nice rule of thumb (with some exceptions) is that if your winner-UFE differential is getting even close to negative on grass of all places, that’s not a good sign.

Dude had 0 winners in the fifth set until about halfway through.

 

[Third Serve]

There's a good reason I put him on ignore. He's worse than StrongRule in many aspects, maybe even overall.

I disagree but I’m not going to discuss this.

 

[The Blond Blur]

The only people who say 2007 Nadal would easily beat "this" Alcaraz are Fed fans. They want to make peak mythical Fed look good.
The game has evolved. Alcaraz is a better all round player and he beat a Djokovic who was playing at a super high level and mentally tough like irons.

2007 Nadal would go to 5 sets with this Alcaraz. The winner would be a flip of a coin.

RAFAN here, I’d take both 06-07dal over this Tiny Carl everyday of the week and twice on Sunday. Peakerer > x ♾️ Oldovic. Especially the Joker who showed up today.

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

Ned wins

 

[abmk]

I disagree but I’m not going to discuss this.

fair enough, but

"and he beat a Djokovic who was playing at a super high level and mentally tough like irons."

LMAO..............

 

[Mike Sams]

yea ndal still better at this age overall than tiny regardless of today win

LOL stay stuck in the past. It's 2023 now. Not 2006. Nadal is finished. Alcaraz is king!

 

[TennisFan3]

He had a negative winner-UFE differential… on grass, a winner-friendly surface.

A nice rule of thumb (with some exceptions) is that if your winner-UFE differential is getting even close to negative on grass of all places, that’s not a good sign.

Dude had 0 winners in the fifth set until about halfway through.

True. That's a good point.
But I think Novak looked completely out of the match in the beginning of the 4th, but he won that set. He could also have won the match, had he broken Alcaraz in the 5th set at 2-1. He missed a sitter forehand drive volley which proved critical.
Nadal's ROS in Wimbledon 2007 and his serve wasn't as good as Carlos' is right now.
I honestly feel that Nadal of 2008 WImbledon would beat this Alcaraz because the Spaniard was more mature by then.
But yeah it's not like Novak gave Carlitos this match.

 

[Sampras-Bruguera 1993]

Nole looked like garbage, old, slow and worn out for 2 sets and he could hardly get a first serve in due to the wind and he still almost won. I don't see how 2007 Nadal loses to Carlos . LOL

 

[Mike Sams]

Nadal was close to winning the second set against peak Federer in the 2006 Wimbledon final and perhaps that match would have gone to five sets instead of the four it really was.

I don't get it. Why you folk talking about stuff from 17 years ago? It's 2023 now. A new era has begun. Let the past go. Nadal and Federer are gone. Move on.

 

[abmk]

RAFAN here, I’d take both 06-07dal over this Tiny Carl everyday of the week and twice on Sunday. Peakerer > x ♾️ Oldovic. Especially the Joker who showed up today.

06 Wim/07 Wim Fed > even Wim 15 djokovic, let alone Wim 11/14 Djoko, let alone Wim 12/18 djoko, let alone AncientOvic.

 

[Mike Sams]

Nole looked like garbage, old, slow and worn out for 2 sets and he could hardly get a first serve in due to the wind and he still almost won. I don't see how 2007 Nadal loses. LOL

LOL who cares? Alcaraz is the 2023 Wimbledon champ. Nadal is the 2008/2010 Wimbledon champ. Alcaraz is going to win many more Wimbledons. And he's only getting started.

 

[DSH]

I don't get it. Why you folk talking about stuff from 17 years ago? It's 2023 now. A new era has begun. Let the past go. Nadal and Federer are gone. Move on.

We only have the past.

 

[Sampras-Bruguera 1993]

LOL who cares? Alcaraz is the 2023 Wimbledon champ. Nadal is the 2008/2010 Wimbledon champ. Alcaraz is going to win many more Wimbledons. And he's only getting started.

Okkk.. Hes gonna vulture a terrible era full of bums and losers . Congrats. Big accomplishment

 

[Mike Sams]

We only have the past.

Talk about the here and now. Alcaraz winning today puts the Slam race back into contention. Nadal should be healthy for an AO and RG run in 2024.