Could 2008 Nadal beat 2013 Ferrer, 2009 del Potro, 2019 Thiem, 2009 Soderling, 2015 Wawrinka, 2011 Novak, 2006 Roger in a row at RG to win the title?

2008 Nadal at RG


  • Total voters
    48

mehdimike

Hall of Fame
If you put in an actual opponent instead of Tim it may be tough but look for Ralph to use that match as a light hitting session and recharge for the later rounds.
There were no more decent opponents then these guys IMO. At least didn't come to mind.
 

King No1e

G.O.A.T.
2008 or 2012 Nadal could do it, I can't imagine any other version of him being able to pull it off though. 2011 Djokovic would push even a well-rested Nadal to the absolute limit.
 

The Blond Blur

G.O.A.T.
23ahfi.jpg
 

clout

Hall of Fame
Tbh this might be too much for even 08 Rafa

Ferrer, Delpo and Thiem get straight setted for sure

Soderling probably gets beat in 4 but it would’ve been a battle

Wawrinka is an easy matchup for Rafa (let alone peak Rafa) so I think he gets by in no more than 3/4 sets

2011 Djokovic is where s*** gets real. This version of Novak was a god in nearly every aspect so I wouldn’t be surprised if the slight toll of beating very good opponents in rounds prior might give Novak a slight edge here

If he does get by Novak though, Rafa beats Fed in the finals...this is something that’ll never change at RG

So the biggest obstacle for Rafa will be playing 2011 Djokovic while coming off of playing long battles to beat the guys in rounds prior
 

ChrisRF

Legend
I don’t see why not to be honest. He would still always have a free day after every match (and possibly never even play 5 sets anyway), so fatigue wouldn’t be a factor.

Not only 2008 Nadal would achieve that, but many versions of him. I mean, in which years did we seriously say "But if he had met X or Y this year, he would have lost"?
 

StrongRule

Talk Tennis Guru
I don’t see why not to be honest. He would still always have a free day after every match (and possibly never even play 5 sets anyway), so fatigue wouldn’t be a factor.

Not only 2008 Nadal would achieve that, but many versions of him. I mean, in which years did we seriously say "But if he had met X or Y this year, he would have lost"?
In 2011.
 

Rafa4LifeEver

G.O.A.T.
What are Nadal's chances in this hypothetical draw?
No.
Ferrer and Wawrinka are easy draws (due to matchup issues) but Delpo, Thiem & Soderling will wear him out enough and a 5 set grindfest with 2011 nole would mean that he'd have little energy left for the final.
 
D

Deleted member 777746

Guest
The real question is will he lose a set after doing so
 

Towny

Hall of Fame
The 2 places where he is at most risk of losing would be Soderling in R4 and Djokovic in the SF. Ferrer goes in straights, Delpo probably goes down in 4 or possibly close straights. Thiem probably goes down in straights, possibly 4 sets. No matter what Nadal's issues were in 2009, nothing can take away from Soderling playing absolutely monster tennis to beat him. But 2008 Nadal was a different beast. I think Nadal wins here, maybe in 4, but there's a genuine chance it could go to 5.

Wawrinka was playing at a very high level but Nadal matches favourably with him so he probably goes down in close straights or possibly 4 sets. Djokovic 2011 was taken out by Fed in 4 and we know that Nadal is above that level. However, the draw will be taking it's toll by this stage. Again, possibility of it going to 5 but I think Nadal comes out on top. If he gets through Novak, I really don't see Federer stopping him in the final. After all, this is the same Nadal that went to 5 against a GOATing Verdasco and then beat Federer in the final. Even if he is tired, he will put out all the stops to beat Federer. And he will have the mental advantage.

This would probably qualify as the hardest draw in history but I think Nadal 2008 makes it through. If you threw Kuerten and a modernised Borg into the draw, I think he gets taken out but with this draw, Rafa takes the win IMO
 

intrepidish

Hall of Fame
These are all straight set matches for Nadal and some of them will look embarrassing for his opponents.

Novak would keep it respectable in a 3 set loss and maybe Thiem but that's it.
 

Fabresque

Legend
He’ll beat Ferrer and Delpo in straights. Thiem will push him to 4 but will still lose. Soderling and Wawrinka won’t take a set either. 2011 Djokovic is the problem. Even 2008 Rafa will struggle, and it’s not a guarantee Nadal will be able to beat 2006 Federer in the final after the semi-final v Djokovic. He might be able to squeeze it out in the last two matches to claim it, though.
 
He probably will pull through, Ferrer should be glad to win more than a couple of games in a set, delpo will put up a fight but he won't take a set, he beats thiem in straights, soderling might have a decent chance to take a set, stan doesn't fair well against a well playing nadal on clay so straights sets it is. Djokovic will probably take a set but he won't get close to winning the match(novak almost took a set off nadal in 2008 FO), and federer goes down in 3, a very slime chance of taking a set. Rafa will lose 0-3 sets, hypothetically.
 

BorgTheGOAT

Legend
Don’t know why he should not. Sure this is a monster draw but Nadal at the French is something else and he always dominated all of those guys. Maybe he will have a few more four set wins than usual but I do not think that anyone (maybe bar Soderling 2009 if we are talking R4 level) will push him to five. 2008 Nadal also had endless stamina so I don’t think this would make a big difference anyways.
 
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