All 11 Five-Set Thrillers Among Nole, Fed, and Rafa at Grand Slams

[Neptune]

Is there another one on the horizon?

WI07​	F​	Federer (1) d. Nadal (2)​	7-6(7) 4-6 7-6(3) 2-6 6-2​
WI08​	F​	Nadal (2) d. Federer (1)​	6-4 6-4 6-7(5) 6-7(8) 9-7​
AO09​	F​	Nadal (1) d. Federer (2)​	7-5 3-6 7-6(3) 3-6 6-2​
UO10​	SF​	Djokovic (3) d. Federer (2)​	5-7 6-1 5-7 6-2 7-5​
UO11​	SF​	Djokovic (1) d. Federer (3)​	6-7(7) 4-6 6-3 6-2 7-5​
AO12​	F​	Djokovic (1) d. Nadal (2)​	5-7 6-4 6-2 6-7(5) 7-5​
RG13​	SF​	Nadal (3) d. Djokovic (1)​	6-4 3-6 6-1 6-7(3) 9-7​
WI14​	F​	Djokovic (1) d. Federer (4)​	6-7(7) 6-4 7-6(4) 5-7 6-4​
AO17​	F​	Federer (17) d. Nadal (9)​	6-4 3-6 6-1 3-6 6-3​
WI18​	SF​	Djokovic (12) d. Nadal (2)​	6-4 3-6 7-6(9) 3-6 10-8​
WI19​	F​	Djokovic (1) d. Federer (2)​	7-6(5) 1-6 7-6(4) 4-6 13-12​

Career 5-Setters // at Slams
Nole 38-11 (78%), 36-10 (78%)
Fred 33-23 (59%), 31-17 (65%)
Rafa 26-13 (67%), 23-12 (66%)

 

[Deleted member 758560]

another reason why it should be two grass slams instead of two clay (ofc if we need to do it somehow)

 

[bluetrain4]

Why were Fed and Nadal seeded so low at AO 2017? I don't remember that.

 

[RS]

Why were Fed and Nadal seeded so low at AO 2017? I don't remember that.

They were absent and slumping months before hand.

 

[nolefam_2024]

Why were Fed and Nadal seeded so low at AO 2017? I don't remember that.

The great Roger Federer had surgery in Feb. He ended season post Wimbledon.

 

[bluetrain4]

6-3-2 essentially explains where they all ended up overall.

 

[nolefam_2024]

6-3-2 essentially explains where they all ended up overall.

Of the three djokovic is the best returner and by far. Which is why he won 6 out of his 7 bo5 matches here.

When other things are roughly even, djokovic just had better chin to take on the damage and then outlast.

 

[NoleFam]

another reason why it should be two grass slams instead of two clay (ofc if we need to do it somehow)

Wimbledon is on here 5 times. RG, just once. We see where most of the important battles really happened.

 

[Hitman]

Wimbledon is on here 5 times. RG, just once. We see where most of the important battles really happened.

And some want grass removed from the tour....

 

[NoleFam]

And some want grass removed from the tour....

Never. Wimbledon must always remain on grass. They will just have to deal.

 

[Hitman]

Never. Wimbledon must always remain on grass. They will just have to deal.

Grass season is always epic.

 

[NoleFam]

Grass season is always epic.

Always.

 

[Mustard]

Why were Fed and Nadal seeded so low at AO 2017? I don't remember that.

Federer didn't play in 2016 after Wimbledon, as he had another knee surgery later in July, after previously having knee surgery after the 2016 Australian Open (allegedly after slipping in a bath soon after losing to Djokovic in the 2016 Australian Open semi finals).

Nadal's 2015 and 2016 were considerably worse years by his standards, although he stayed in the top 10 at all times.

 

[GoatNo1]

6-3-2 essentially explains where they all ended up overall.

nole 6-1 (7 matches, 86% W)
rafa 3-4 (7 matches, 43% W)
fed 2-6 (8 matches, 25% W)

 

[GoatNo1]

Of the three djokovic is the best returner and by far. Which is why he won 6 out of his 7 bo5 matches here.

When other things are roughly even, djokovic just had better chin to take on the damage and then outlast.

rather it is the proof that it is the mental thing that made the difference between them 3. the more even the match is, the more important is the mental toughness. and nole has a mental edge over the other 2 everywhere except over rafa at RG, which is reflected perfectly in given results!

 

[nolefam_2024]

rather it is the proof that it is the mental thing that made the difference between them 3. the more even the match is, the more important is the mental toughness. and nole has a mental edge over the other 2 everywhere except over rafa at RG, which is reflected perfectly in given results!

And that would also explain why he couldn't toughen it out in RG.

The technical difference between Djokovic and Nadal on clay is vast. Djokovic stretched Nadal to 7-7 in the fifth but in the end Nadal was just superior.

 

[zakopinjo]

And that would also explain why he couldn't toughen it out in RG.

The technical difference between Djokovic and Nadal on clay is vast. Djokovic stretched Nadal to 7-7 in the fifth but in the end Nadal was just superior.

Nadal would have fallen in 2011 in the final of RG, it's a pity that that duel didn't happen.

 

[nolefam_2024]

Nadal would have fallen in 2011 in the final of RG, it's a pity that that duel didn't happen.

Would have could have should have

Let's talk in realities.

 

[zakopinjo]

Would have could have should have

Let's talk in realities.

Reality says that in 2011 he lost 6 finals against Novak on all three surfaces. Based on that, it can be assumed that he would have a great chance of losing the RG final as well.

 

[nolefam_2024]

Reality says that in 2011 he lost 6 finals against Novak on all three surfaces. Based on that, it can be assumed that he would have a great chance of losing the RG final as well.

That would be assumption and would be wrong.

Between 2013 and 2016 Djokovic won 11 out of 12 matches vs Nadal.

But Nadal won Roland Garros 2014. Crushing Djokovic.

Proof :

I like to stay in reality. Not in assumptions.

 

[zakopinjo]

That would be assumption and would be wrong.

Between 2013 and 2016 Djokovic won 11 out of 12 matches vs Nadal.

But Nadal won Roland Garros 2014. Crushing Djokovic.

Proof :

I like to stay in reality. Not in assumptions.

There is no need to go into the future compared to 2011. All we have to do is stay in that year and look at the ones that preceded it.

Nadal is the owner of 5 RG at that moment, he lost the match in 2009 against Soderling (so he is not invincible in that tournament). At that moment, Novak simply destroys Nadal in all 4 finals. Nadal was simply an inferior tennis player compared to Novak, as was seen a few months later in the Wimbledon and US Open finals.

 

[nolefam_2024]

There is no need to go into the future compared to 2011. All we have to do is stay in that year and look at the ones that preceded it.

Nadal is the owner of 5 RG at that moment, he lost the match in 2009 against Soderling (so he is not invincible in that tournament). At that moment, Novak simply destroys Nadal in all 4 finals. Nadal was simply an inferior tennis player compared to Novak, as was seen a few months later in the Wimbledon and US Open finals.

Ok I am not a stupid person to be bound by YOUR rules sir.

Let's not stay in one year and make up stuff as we want. Let's look at the whole history.

 

[zakopinjo]

Ok I am not a stupid person to be bound by YOUR rules sir.

Let's not stay in one year and make up stuff as we want. Let's look at the whole history.

That's the wrong approach. Almost someone made an excuse here that it is normal that Federer could not beat Nadal on clay in 2005 and 2006 because Nadal had a record of 81 wins in a row (suddenly jumped to 2007 as a justification). Everything was on Novak's side in 2011 and Nadal would enter the final as a man who lost 4 important finals that year to Novak. The magic ring was broken in 2012 in Monte Carlo, all other duels at RG no longer had ideal conditions for Novak as a potential duel in 2011.

 

[nolefam_2024]

That's the wrong approach. Almost someone made an excuse here that it is normal that Federer could not beat Nadal on clay in 2005 and 2006 because Nadal had a record of 81 wins in a row (suddenly jumped to 2007 as a justification). Everything was on Novak's side in 2011 and Nadal would enter the final as a man who lost 4 important finals that year to Novak. The magic ring was broken in 2012 in Monte Carlo, all other duels at RG no longer had ideal conditions for Novak as a potential duel in 2011.

Sounds like gibberish

 

[zakopinjo]

Sounds like gibberish

It seems that you do not know how to put the duels in a certain context and that you are wrong by reflecting the matches from 2012-14 on possible ones from 2011.

 

[Pheasant]

Man, what a bummer that Fed is rather pedestrian in 5-setters with a 33-23 record. And his 6 match winning streak in 2017-2018 is what mostly got him above .500.

Some of the tough 5-set losses off the top of my head that weren't mentioned in this thread were:
2005 AO semi
2005 WTF final
2006 Rome final
2009 USO final

I'm sure that I'm missing a bunch. But these definitely stung and most likely costed him the title(Hewitt wasn't beating Fed in the 2005 AO final).

 

[socallefty]

Is there another one on the horizon?

WI07​	F​	Federer (1) d. Nadal (2)​	7-6(7) 4-6 7-6(3) 2-6 6-2​
WI08​	F​	Nadal (2) d. Federer (1)​	6-4 6-4 6-7(5) 6-7(8) 9-7​
AO09​	F​	Nadal (1) d. Federer (2)​	7-5 3-6 7-6(3) 3-6 6-2​
UO10​	SF​	Djokovic (3) d. Federer (2)​	5-7 6-1 5-7 6-2 7-5​
UO11​	SF​	Djokovic (1) d. Federer (3)​	6-7(7) 4-6 6-3 6-2 7-5​
AO12​	F​	Djokovic (1) d. Nadal (2)​	5-7 6-4 6-2 6-7(5) 7-5​
RG13​	SF​	Nadal (3) d. Djokovic (1)​	6-4 3-6 6-1 6-7(3) 9-7​
WI14​	F​	Djokovic (1) d. Federer (4)​	6-7(7) 6-4 7-6(4) 5-7 6-4​
AO17​	F​	Federer (17) d. Nadal (9)​	6-4 3-6 6-1 3-6 6-3​
WI18​	SF​	Djokovic (12) d. Nadal (2)​	6-4 3-6 7-6(9) 3-6 10-8​
WI19​	F​	Djokovic (1) d. Federer (2)​	7-6(5) 1-6 7-6(4) 4-6 13-12​

Career 5-Setters // at Slams
Nole 38-11 (78%), 36-10 (78%)
Fred 33-23 (59%), 31-17 (65%)
Rafa 26-13 (67%), 23-12 (66%)

This is almost like a list of the best matches of the last 20 years.

 

[Neptune]

Man, what a bummer that Fed is rather pedestrian in 5-setters with a 33-23 record. And his 6 match winning streak in 2017-2018 is what mostly got him above .500.

Some of the tough 5-set losses off the top of my head that weren't mentioned in this thread were:
2005 AO semi
2005 WTF final
2006 Rome final
2009 USO final

I'm sure that I'm missing a bunch. But these definitely stung and most likely costed him the title(Hewitt wasn't beating Fed in the 2005 AO final).

Yeah, it's crazy that Fed went 12-13 in 5-setters for the entire ten years from 2002-11, unbelievable.

 

[FlyingSaucer]

Man, what a bummer that Fed is rather pedestrian in 5-setters with a 33-23 record. And his 6 match winning streak in 2017-2018 is what mostly got him above .500.

Some of the tough 5-set losses off the top of my head that weren't mentioned in this thread were:
2005 AO semi
2005 WTF final
2006 Rome final
2009 USO final

I'm sure that I'm missing a bunch. But these definitely stung and most likely costed him the title(Hewitt wasn't beating Fed in the 2005 AO final).

Context, though. If Fed wins 05 semi (then final) and WTF final then he loses only two matches that year. Is losing four matches rather than two some giant failure? Some of the these are just losses where his opponent had to come back from the brink of losing.

Rome is gutting, though. No doubt. And there's no excuse for walking away from Djo rivalry with no 5th set wins despite holding MPs in three out of four matches. Tut, tut.

Kinda interesting that he had the joint record for 0-2 down comebacks before Murray's exploits last year.

 

[MichaelNadal]

Dang I wish Rafa won that first set TB at Wimby 07. Didn't realize he lost it 7-6(7)

 

[Neptune]

Dang I wish Rafa won that first set TB at Wimby 07. Didn't realize he lost it 7-6(7)

Rafa lost all 4 TBs (2 each) in WI07 and WI08 against Fed. Had Wimbledon adopted the current tie-break format for the 5th set, what kind of mental state would Rafa be in?

 

[Pheasant]

Context, though. If Fed wins 05 semi (then final) and WTF final then he loses only two matches that year. Is losing four matches rather than two some giant failure? Some of the these are just losses where his opponent had to come back from the brink of losing.

Rome is gutting, though. No doubt. And there's no excuse for walking away from Djo rivalry with no 5th set wins despite holding MPs in three out of four matches. Tut, tut.

Kinda interesting that he had the joint record for 0-2 down comebacks before Murray's exploits last year.

The 2005 AO and 2005 WTF would have been sweet wins for a few massive reasons:

1. Assuming that he goes on to beat Hewitt, a guy that he was beating rather convincing for a long time, then he goes 84-2 that year to set the new record for winning pct in a season. As of now, McEnroe owns that with a tidy 82-3 record in 1984.
2. Bagging the 2005 AO would have given him 4 consecutive 3-slam title seasons. That would have been solid.
3. Bagging the 2005 WTF would have given him 5 consecutive WTF titles.

The 2006 Rome title would have been nice to add that piece of hardware to his collection. But I don't think it was necessarily huge from a historical perspective. It just would have been nice.

The 2009 USO loss stung a lot. He would have become the sole owner of a couple of records. 1. Most USO titles in the Open Era. 2. The only man to win 6 straight slam titles in the Open Era

But, none of that happened. I give him a huge pass for the 2005 WTF tourney. He ran out of gas. 3 weeks prior to that tourney, he was still on crutches from his nasty ankle sprain. He originally didn't want to play, but was pressured to.

Oh well. The Maestro got passed by another ATG player. I've moved on. This stuff happens.

 

[ND-13]

And some want grass removed from the tour....

We said there should be equitable distribution of surface or equitable weightage of slam count .

This is twisting of facts . Just not right

 

[FlyingSaucer]

The 2005 AO and 2005 WTF would have been sweet wins for a few massive reasons:

1. Assuming that he goes on to beat Hewitt, a guy that he was beating rather convincing for a long time, then he goes 84-2 that year to set the new record for winning pct in a season. As of now, McEnroe owns that with a tidy 82-3 record in 1984.
2. Bagging the 2005 AO would have given him 4 consecutive 3-slam title seasons. That would have been solid.
3. Bagging the 2005 WTF would have given him 5 consecutive WTF titles.

The 2006 Rome title would have been nice to add that piece of hardware to his collection. But I don't think it was necessarily huge from a historical perspective. It just would have been nice.

The 2009 USO loss stung a lot. He would have become the sole owner of a couple of records. 1. Most USO titles in the Open Era. 2. The only man to win 6 straight slam titles in the Open Era

But, none of that happened. I give him a huge pass for the 2005 WTF tourney. He ran out of gas. 3 weeks prior to that tourney, he was still on crutches from his nasty ankle sprain. He originally didn't want to play, but was pressured to.

Oh well. The Maestro got passed by another ATG player. I've moved on. This stuff happens.

1-3: Not disputing that it wouldn't have been amazing to achieve all of that, but if that's what you're leaving on the table then you must be doing pretty bloody well already is my point.

Rome: Huge in the context of the rivalry and huge regarding Nadal's clay prowess. Has Nadal ever lost a BO5 final on clay? That would have been it.

2009: Gutted about that one but I like JMDP and am glad he won a slam. Fed came within two points of going six in a row at W AND the US Open and lost both, hah.

 

[Pheasant]

1-3: Not disputing that it wouldn't have been amazing to achieve all of that, but if that's what you're leaving on the table then you must be doing pretty bloody well already is my point.

Rome: Huge in the context of the rivalry and huge regarding Nadal's clay prowess. Has Nadal ever lost a BO5 final on clay? That would have been it.

2009: Gutted about that one but I like JMDP and am glad he won a slam. Fed came within two points of going six in a row at W AND the US Open and lost both, hah.

Yeah, it's a bummer. A few clutch points and he 6-peats at 2 slams and has a 4-peat at another slam. That would have been sweet.

But yeah, part of me is glad that Delpo has a slam title. He's a very likable player.

 

[Mustard]

Rome: Huge in the context of the rivalry and huge regarding Nadal's clay prowess. Has Nadal ever lost a BO5 final on clay? That would have been it.

No, he hasn't.

Nadal has only lost three best of 5 sets matches on clay in his career, i.e. his 3 French Open losses (Soderling 2009 R16, Djokovic 2015 QF, Djokovic 2021 SF).

 

[FlyingSaucer]

No, he hasn't.

Nadal has only lost three best of 5 sets matches on clay in his career, i.e. his 3 French Open losses (Soderling 2009 R16, Djokovic 2015 QF, Djokovic 2021 SF).

Exactly (I know).