2014 French Open Final: Nadal (1) V Djokovic (2)

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^^^is that a cheesecake ? is Nadal strongest and fittest player on the tour at this point ?? Even Novak with Gluten free diet couldn't match his fitness today
 
Nostradamus said:
is Nadal strongest and fittest player on the tour at this point ?? Even Novak with Gluten free diet couldn't match his fitness today
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A few years ago, it could be argued that Nadal was the fittest but now I doubt it. Still it might be a moot point becuase, what good is fitness for a player that cannot reach the Quarter/Semi of a grand slam?

Who knows who the fittest player is right now? Verdasco? Dodig? Kohlschreiber? Klizan? We won't know what their maximum limit is unless they reach deep in 2nd week and play multiple marathon 5 set matches.

Like Nadal's effort in Aus Open 2009 and Nole's in Aus Open 2011 were the pinnacles of exhibitions of the highest levels of fitness in Men's Tennis. Ever.
 
Nostradamus said:
So Once again...... WHAT is the explanation that Novak can beat up on Nadal in Italian open but NOT at the French open....... Was Nadal just BETTER today,,, or is it the Clay,,,,,,or Is it the court or balls ? What is it ???????????????????????????????? very confused
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The most obvious explanation, which all the Djokovic fans conveniently ignore, is that the Rome final was Rafa's 10th match in twelve days, some of which were arduous three setters, while it was Novak's 5th in twenty-nine days. Rafa played really well and won the first set but his legs became leaden after that.

mightyrick said:
However, he does not yet have the ability to sustain that level for three, four, or five sets. And this is what you must do with Nadal. Only one man has done it -- Robin Soderling. Soderling was able to serve out of his mind and hit club-forehand winners for three sets. It was a once-in-a-lifetime performance against Nadal.
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Soderling played well but it shouldn't be forgotten that Rafa was suffering serious physical and emotional problems at the time. Their h2h is 6-2 in Rafa's favor so it isn't as if Soderling was normally able to beat Rafa.
 
vernonbc said:
The most obvious explanation, which all the Djokovic fans conveniently ignore, is that the Rome final was Rafa's 10th match in twelve days, some of which were arduous three setters, while it was Novak's 5th in twenty-nine days. Rafa played really well and won the first set but his legs became leaden after that.


.
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WOW, this is the smartest explanation to date in this entire thread
 
Congrats to rafa. Wanted to see Novak win the career slam, but nadal deserved it. Novak was thoroughly out played in all of the big moments.
 
Nostradamus said:
WOW, this is the smartest explanation to date in this entire thread
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Plus even last year when Djokovic/Nadal were both fresh at Monte Carlo, Djokovic won in straight sets. Slams separate the man from the boys, and that is why Djokovic will keep winning non-slams, while Nadal will keep winning slams.
 
This here 2014 Roland Garros Final was a great example.....of a BIG BOY final. Maximum test of mental toughness. Similar pressure-packed atmosphere to 2008 Wimbledon Final.
 
NADALRECORD said:
Plus even last year when Djokovic/Nadal were both fresh at Monte Carlo, Djokovic won in straight sets. Slams separate the man from the boys, and that is why Djokovic will keep winning non-slams, while Nadal will keep winning slams.
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Actually this is not accurate. It was clear and were reports that mentally Nadal was a bit rattled just before his game with Tsonga, he also had some bad lapse of concentration on the Tsonga game which were not normal. If I remember correctly he was not happy in his performance against Dimitrov.

You could say that Nadal was not mentally ready for that final.
At least that is my deduction considering all leading to that final

But I'm not taking anything away from Nole, he played great!
 
Well done, Rafa!

10388142_770786532942498_3295579845962820590_n.jpg
 
Sorry if this has been asked already, but does anyone have a link to full highlights? The official 3 minute one is a joke. Thanks.
 
gold soundz said:
Sorry if this has been asked already, but does anyone have a link to full highlights? The official 3 minute one is a joke. Thanks.
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Analysts are still reviewing the full tape for something that can qualify as a highlight. As of yet they have been unable to unearth any decent point.




Other than the racquet smash.



;)
 
NADALRECORD said:
Fair enough. Nobody looked good with that hat. Especially the people that have good hair, they hid their quality. Guga and Nadal's sister are both known for their hair.

But, this was my favorite crowd ever. Very animated and vocal crowd, hanging on every point. It felt like a nervous crowd too. Like when they make the trumpet sound, a couple of people did it in a rush, like they were nervous.

Definitely of the grand slam finals I haven't attended, this is the one I would have enjoyed to be in the crowd of most.
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I was in the stadium yesterday and I really enjoyed it. Yes maybe not the very best from either player in terms of quality, but lots of drama, atmosphere and emotion.

I've attended the last five RG finals and I preferred this year's edition to the previous four. The 2011 and 2012 finals were also great of course, but back then I remember being more relieved that respectively Fed and Djokovic managed to pull a set back (and avoid losing in straights) rather than really believing they might go on and win it. And the less said about the 2013 final the better! :???:
 
TiradPass said:
I was in the stadium yesterday and I really enjoyed it. Yes maybe not the very best from either player in terms of quality, but lots of drama, atmosphere and emotion.

I've attended the last five RG finals and I preferred this year's edition to the previous four. The 2011 and 2012 finals were also great of course, but back then I remember being more relieved that respectively Fed and Djokovic managed to pull a set back (and avoid losing in straights) rather than really believing they might go on and win it. And the less said about the 2013 final the better! :???:
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Funny how you are still labeled a "new user" when you joined the forum almost 5 years ago.

Thanks for the relevant post. More informative than certaim people's 1000s of posts put together.
 
Nostradamus said:
Is Nadal strongest and fittest player on the tour at this point ?? Even Novak with Gluten free diet couldn't match his fitness today
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Nadal has without doubt the most efficient thermo-regulation on tour, due to his extreme sweating capacity. Djokovic is not so efficient in dissipating body heat and is prone to overheating in intenese matches. Low tolerance to hot and humid weather is his Achiles heel.
 
Had it gone to a fifth set, Djoko would have given Nadal a baguette, or maybe even a bagel I think. Nadal just looked completely depleted.
 
radtennisfan said:
I think we should also give credit to Fed for taking that rare 2009 opportunity and making the most of it. Otherwise his legacy would be totally different.
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Sure, but Soderling deserved the title more than Federer. Federer still hasn't defeated the Champion at FO.
 
m2nk2 said:
Sure, but Soderling deserved the title more than Federer. Federer still hasn't defeated the Champion at FO.
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How is that? He got creamed by Federer in the final. I understand Soderling beat Nadal, but that does not automatically mean he deserves it more than Federer especially as I said, after he got pretty much destroyed. The winner of a tournament will always deserve it more than the loser no matter the circumstances, maybe unless the winner blatantly cheats at a very crucial point in the match, and even then it would depend on the instance.

I also understand you're Swedish, but come on... :)
 
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Steve0904 said:
How is that? He got creamed by Federer in the final. I understand Soderling beat Nadal, but that does not automatically mean he deserves it more than Federer especially as I said, after he got pretty much destroyed.

I also understand you're Swedish, but come on...
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Cause he played much better than Federer those two weeks, including beating Nadal, apart from that last Sunday. So I think that year he deserved it more.

I'm not saying Federer didn't deserve to win at some point, just not that year I think.
 
Dragan said:
Nadal has without doubt the most efficient thermo-regulation on tour, due to his extreme sweating capacity. Djokovic is not so efficient in dissipating body heat and is prone to overheating in intenese matches. Low tolerance to hot and humid weather is his Achiles heel.
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But Nadal is more prone to cramp due to this as well. Nadal I would think would prefer less humidity in the air while keeping it at the same temperature. Preferably around 30-40% humidity. The ball kicks up higher with less humidity in the air as well. The clay gets dryer.
 
Nadal is much tougher to beat when it's hot at the French Open. It's physically much more taxing and the conditions tend to be faster. Many try and paint Nadal as only a counterpuncher, yet with hot conditions, his forehand becomes an even bigger offensive weapon with the angles, spin, and pace he can produce from that wing. He also served better in the final and his backhand is quite underrated. He hit so many good backhands in the final, yet he can't flatten it out and go on offense quite as well as Djokovic. Nadal was also moving very well. Nadal is a much more dangerous five set player.
 
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borg number one said:
Nadal is much tougher to beat when it's hot at the French Open. It's physically much more taxing and the conditions tend to be faster. Many try and paint Nadal as only a counterpuncher, yet with hot conditions, his forehand becomes an even bigger offensive weapon with the angles, spin, and pace he can produce from the wing. He also served better in the final and his backhand is quite underrated. He hit so many good backhands in the final, yet he can't flatten it out and go on offense quite as well as Djokovic. Nadal was also moving very well. Nadal is a much more dangerous five set player.
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Nadal likes dry heat the most. Thus why he does so much better in Indian Wells compared to Miami. I agree though that he likes faster conditions. Especially on clay when the court dries up and the balls kick up high. Which actually gives Nadal more time as it takes more time to get to 2 bounces. From my visual inspection, the ball was kicking up higher in the 2013 Semifinal match with Djokovic compared to this year. But I guess Djokovic physically was worse this year.
 
Murrayfan31 said:
Yeah it got in the 80's with 60% humidity I believe. Not ideal conditions. Could be worse though. These 2 play very long points. Which escalated the weather conditions factor.
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Could definitely have been worse. I'm ... kind of amazed at so many people seemingly having forgotten how ridiculous the heat was at the AO, so much so that people were passing out and breaks had to be mandated.

Why are people talking like 80 degrees was death and doom?

Rafa and Nole were tired. Between them they had ... how many finals during clay season? And how many before that this whole season?
 
borg number one said:
Nadal is much tougher to beat when it's hot at the French Open. It's physically much more taxing and the conditions tend to be faster. Many try and paint Nadal as only a counterpuncher, yet with hot conditions, his forehand becomes an even bigger offensive weapon with the angles, spin, and pace he can produce from that wing. He also served better in the final and his backhand is quite underrated. He hit so many good backhands in the final, yet he can't flatten it out and go on offense quite as well as Djokovic. Nadal was also moving very well. Nadal is a much more dangerous five set player.
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Exactly. Nadal hit more winners than Djokovic at 2013 RG semi and 2014 RG final.
 
Bud said:
Won more matches there than Fred at 5 years younger... and Federer has won it and been in 4 other finals over the past 16 years!

Just realized this was Federer's 16th FO
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Who cares? A lot of players have won more matches than Sampras at the French Open too. Everyone knows that Roland Garros is Nadal's turf so it really doesn't matter. Talk to me when he's won more matches than Federer at the other 3 Slams.
 
Down_the_line said:
Who cares? A lot of players have won more matches than Sampras at the French Open too. Everyone knows that Roland Garros is Nadal's turf so it really doesn't matter. Talk to me when he's won more matches than Federer at the other 3 Slams.
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Did Sampras play RG 16 times and make 5 finals - winning the title one time?

Someone remind me to bump this thread in 2019 :p
 
Down_the_line said:
Who cares? A lot of players have won more matches than Sampras at the French Open too. Everyone knows that Roland Garros is Nadal's turf so it really doesn't matter. Talk to me when he's won more matches than Federer at the other 3 Slams.
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I just don't get why so many people have to be so dismissive about Rafa's achievements on clay and French open. It's not like they are all freebies. He has to earn every point and win every match. Nothing is free.

So when somebody remarks about his clay achievement why should you look down in contempt? Nobody does the same with federer and Wimbledon.

Why this disdain for clay as if it is second rate tennis? Because federer and Sampras did not match their clay performance with those on other surfaces?
 
EpitomeOfAwesome said:
I just don't get why so many people have to be so dismissive about Rafa's achievements on clay and French open. It's not like they are all freebies. He has to earn every point and win every match. Nothing is free.

So when somebody remarks about his clay achievement why should you look down in contempt? Nobody does the same with federer and Wimbledon.

Why this disdain for clay as if it is second rate tennis? Because federer and Sampras did not match their clay performance with those on other surfaces?
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It's simple.

23-10 h2h overall, and 9-2 in slams. That's just complete domination. It's unheard of for someone supposedly the greatest of all time to have such a lopsided h2h with someone playing in his own era.

But I hope it doesn't stop there- oh no. Time for Nadal to REALLY milk Federer for that h2h. I want to see him get to at least 30-10 before Federer retires, and obviously 10-2 in slams. I want him to pass Federer while he's still on tour, for maximum pain. Heck, why not 40-10? Sounds delicious to me.
 
Some insights from Nadal from this interview:

"In the final, before Djokovic double faulted on MP, I had already decided that I would go for a hard, heavy crosscourt return and then, on the next stroke, a down the line forehand. I had already made my mind before the first serve fault. I told myself: 'It's now or never, I'm very tired, I have to take risks'. The deeper reason was: 'If I make an error, it will be my error. I can't wait. If I don't win this match, I don't want to think it was because I lacked courage. I'd rather go down swinging.'"
 
aldeayeah said:
Some insights from Nadal from this interview:

"In the final, before Djokovic double faulted on MP, I had already decided that I would go for a hard, heavy crosscourt return and then, on the next stroke, a down the line forehand. I had already made my mind before the first serve fault. I told myself: 'It's now or never, I'm very tired, I have to take risks'. The deeper reason was: 'If I make an error, it will be my error. I can't wait. If I don't win this match, I don't want to think it was because I lacked courage. I'd rather go down swinging.'"
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That's crazy!
 
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