Lol, stop it. He was missing easy shots all the time but somehow got away with it. There is no way he would have won more than 1 set if that was a final against Djokovic, just no way. IMO 2011 was his second weakest RG win after 2014.
I watched it enough times. Nadal had a mental block against Djokovic in 2011 and because of that he played very bad (by his standards) in RG 2011 in general. Djokovic would have won the final in 3-4 sets, I don't see even one reason to think otherwise. Djokovic was at his absolute best and Nadal was with a mental block. Saying Nadal would have beaten him is just the same thing as saying Federer would have beaten Nadal in RG 2009 final. Federer saved Nadal in RG 2011.
Nadal being far from his best is actually the reason why it was so competitive. Federer fans like to talk about that first set where Federer was 5-2 up, but they never mention Nadal getting tight while being up a break (twice) in the second set and Nadal losing the third set from a break up. Federer was ready to give up after the first set, but Nadal let him back into the match.
Not silly at all. Nadal was totally destroyed when he met Djokovic in Madrid and Rome, their hardcourt matches were actually closer. A big reason (not the only one, but a VERY big one) why Federer won that RG semifinal is thanks to his big serve which saved him so many times in tight moments, especially on break points. Without that serve Djokovic would have destroyed him, because he obviously had the advantage in long rallies over a 30 years old Federer. Nadal's weak serve would be much easier to return. Nadal in 2011 had no weapons and no mentality to beat Djokovic anywhere. I don't understand how can you say that Nadal who lost a set to Federer from a break up and was close to losing another set from 2 breaks up would have won against the best ever version of Djokovic who already destroyed his mentality. Yes, Nadal in general is a better player than Federer on clay, but tennis doesn't work that way. Soderling beat Nadal in RG 2009, it doesn't mean Federer (who is a better player than Soderling) would do the same thing.
Nah, for me USO 2013 was one of his best ever wins. With that win he:
Well said.
How was Nadal average in RG 2011 final? After going 5-2 his retrievals were unbelievable.
He is just so negative about Nadal and he is meant to be a fan....
He lost the third set from a break up and almost lost the second set from 2 breaks up. Just watch what errors Nadal made while serving for the second set. He was clearly below his best.
Maybe I just can admit that Nadal didn't play great every time when he won? His level in RG 2009 (which he lost) was actually higher than in RG 2011 where he was pushed to 5 sets by Isner and had to save 8 setpoints against Andujar. Federer saved Nadal in this tournament by taking Djokovic out for him. Nadal was very average in the final, just watch what errors he was doing while serving for the second set. Federer just failed to take advantage of that, that's his problems.
Nobody said RG11 was Nadal at his best it was relatively weak for his winning RGs. He still showed good form in the late rounds even if he was worse early on.
True.
USO 2013 was still many times better. He won RG 2011 only thanks to Federer taking out Djokovic for him, he was lucky and still barely won. In USO 2013 he didn't need luck, he was ready to face any opponent in the draw. It's pretty funny that Federer fans bring his USO 2013 win down even more than Djokovic fans do. It's just a common idea on this forum that all Nadal's USO wins are due to luck, cakewalk draws and opponents playing terrible tennis. In RG they already accepted that he is the best, in USO they can't accept Nadal winning anything.
It is frustration because Federer never was able to defeat Djokovic at the US Open in the 2010s decade, despite having faced him 3 times. So if Federer wasn't able to do it, let us dismiss Nadal's achievements.
I didn’t mention if it was better or worse than USO 2013 in that bit. And why the rant below it? Federer fans have been known for lots sure I agree with that but here it’s not been the worse bashing.
To be honest it doesn't really matter what they think. For many Nadal fans USO 2013 will remain as one of his best wins, if not the best one.
Yes, it is my favorite victory in Nadal's career.
Why don't you get it?
Man, was really looking forward to opening this thread and reading 4 pages worth of opinions on what peoples favourite matches of the decade were.
Oh, no, of course it's just another thread devolved into a dick measuring contest.
Just like Wimb 2011 final was a garbage performance by Rafa.
Djokovic Del Potro 2013
Kyrgios Federer Miami 2017
Fognini Rafa USO 2015
All arguably MotY contenders when they were played yet somehow don't make the list of the decades greatest matches
Anyways 2013 Djokorinka is probably the best match of the decade in terms of pure insanity with the Wimbledon match a close #2
But Djokovic winning his sets 6-2 6-4 6-1 in USO 2011 final was totally fine.
Only set 2 & 3 were good ones.But Djokovic winning his sets 6-2 6-4 6-1 in USO 2011 final was totally fine.
I'm honestly tired that Djokovic gets full credit for beating any version of Nadal (including the worst ever Nadal in RG 2015), yet when Nadal beats Djokovic there are endless excuses from both Federer and Djokovic fans.
What I said had a meaning that nadal wasn't at his best in USO11...
Yeah, but nobody ever mentions that. On the other hand, it is often discussed that Djokovic was absolutely terrible in USO 2013 final, even though he was very good in the second and third sets.
The point is, Djokovic in the USO 2013 final wasn't better than other opponents from other USO editions. The only reason some claim he was is because his name is Novak Djokovic. That's it. But he wasn't better than, for example, Roddick in the USO 2006 final or Agassi in the USO 2005 final.
Well, this might be proof that there are more Fed fans than Nadal fans on this forum, otherwise RG 2013 would be the one catching up.2017 AO final catching up in the poll? LOL f off.
Federer clan in waking up to this thread.2017 AO final catching up in the poll? LOL f off.
I don't remember many Nadal fans ever saying RG 2013 semifinal was a great match. Only the fifth set was high quality because of Nadal's winners. However, if Nadal didn't have mental problems against Djokovic there would never be a fifth set in this match. I would never forgive Nadal if he lost this match after that fourth set. Never.
Well, that's exactly how I feel about Fed after Wimb 2019. I am never going to forgive him for this loss and I am not going to just obey to sayings like "sh*t happens" when this sh*t only happens to him.
Federer recovers from losses much better than Nadal does, so he might still have chances in the future.
