A match can be completely different with small changes.

[NLBwell]

I was thinking about the Federer Nadal match and how small differences can completely change a match. A lot of it is the scoring system in tennis with separate sets - one of the things that makes tennis so interesting.

If Federer's first serve doesn't desert him until one game later, he wins the first set 6-3. Of course his serve deserted him and he was broken 3 times and would have lost the next set 0-6. However, he wouldn't have started the 3rd set an early break down and would have won that set 6-4, and would have won the 4th set (which would be equivalent to the 3rd they did play) 6-4. So Federer wins 6-4, 0-6, 6-4, 6-4 (or something like that).

However, if Nadal manages to hold his serve in that long game early in the first set, he wins that set 6-4. Goes on a tear winning the next set 6-2 at worst, and is rolling over Federer and it is a completely different match.

Sometimes one ball being a millimeter in or out can change the match that much.

 

[Mick]

well. when it's the final at roland garros and you're playing nadal, i don't know if small changes would make any difference. every finalist tried to beat him but nobody could.

 

[NLBwell]

Could be that in crucial matches Nadal is just a tiny bit better on just a couple of points.
Enough to make a big difference in results.

 

[powerangle]

Could be that in crucial matches Nadal is just a tiny bit better on just a couple of points.
Enough to make a big difference in results.

What Nadal has over everybody else on tour, Fed included, is the mental superiority. Maybe somewhat different dynamics with regards to facing Djokovic now, though.