For Nadal's fans: Most devastating loss in his career?

[AnOctorokForDinner]

Big baby and act naturally aren't really oxymorons.

 

[Lebsta]

I have it down to four to pick from.

AO 2012 = as he matched peak level Djokovic all the way and without doubt should've won the match, that missed backhand at 4-2 up cost him dearly.

AO 2014 as he was expected to win and despite injury i think he mentally panicked and broke down. This match was to equal Sampras and would've had everyone making him certain to pass Roger. Despite going on to win the French , this defeat was the seed of the decline between 2015 -2016.

AO 2017 - An epic that he had the initiative and let it go. Yes Fed's Neo backhand and Rafa was gassed after the epic semi final war against Dimitrov (how else can we explain that 6-1 3rd set) Yet Rafa was 3-1 up in the 5th and should've seen it through. This was the first loss that determined that he wouldn't catch or surpass Roger.

Wim 2018 - I believe this was ultimately the match that cost him GOAT status. He should've won the match so badly against Djokovic who was still on the comeback. This again highlighted why Rafa's weak serve costs him so much. Had he won here he probably would've seal #1 for the year and gone past 200 weeks at the top. This of course generated the momentum for Djokovic to rise back to the top allowing him to regain confidence.

The tragedy here is that all four matches Rafa would and should've won if he had a stronger serve to consolidate his breaks of serve. The last two especially i think have cost him GOAT status as they would have given him more slam diversity and weeks at #1. As we stand at the moment of course he can still do it but we are the critical stage now where the quest will be over if he doesn't win at least one of the next two slams. The next big injury will likely force him to retire. I hope he can do it and overcome Djokovic for the sake of men's tennis , but it's not looking good.

Unfortunately i think Nick will blitz him off the court in 3 tomorrow.

 

[beltsman]

Did you forget you said Rafa is "great at avenging his losses." ? If what you said is true, why did it take him 1.5 years to get around to "avenging" his 2017 AO loss? He proceeded to lose three straight times to Fed. I merely exposed your "theory" as the bogus BS it is.

Because Fed ducked him unless it was on a favorable surface.

 

[Lebsta]

Wimbledon 2018 - Nadal had 5 break points in final set ,and if he converted one he could serve for match .

Also if he won it , maybe djoker won't be able to comeback and win USO and AO back to back . So Rafa could have been even bagged one more .
Resurgence of Novak is threat to Rafa's slam record chances .
Another Wimbledon title would have enhanced his legacy .
Wimbledon is the biggest trophy in tennis .

I think wimby 18 put brakes on Nadal"s GOAT chances .

Agree - it's so unfortunate that his inability to overcome Djokovic is what will probably cost him GOAT.

 

[Lebsta]

All his AO final losses and injury retirements before finals, have been his hardest losses.

Nadal has underachieved at the AO. He's had so many retirements and injuries on that court. Then also lost 5 set matches where he was a break up in the 5th.

AO 2017 was obviously super critical. That loss kind of sealed the whole GOAT debate. (IMO - Nadal wouldn't have been the GOAT even if he won that match, but still..)

Nadal wouldn't have been GOAT if he won this match but it would've propelled him to becoming GOAT for sure. At the very least it would've damaged Roger's claim as he would've had only 2 GS wins against Rafa.

 

[Mustard]

Most devastating: 2007 Wimbledon final vs. Federer
Most annoying: 2018 Wimbledon semi final vs. Djokovic

 

[MichaelNadal]

2018 Wimby Rafa choked badly, Djoker had no place winning that considering how long he was without winning anything of worth. I don't think even the roof excuse can make for that because Rafa was playing so well during the whole tournament.

Agree, though it didn't hurt bc no losses "hurt" anymore. Being objective though, he really should have won that match.

 

[Pablo1989]

AO 2012, AO 2014 and W2018

 

[The Blond Blur]

The question was which loss hurt the most for you personally. If it it didn't hurt that much for you, that's cool. As for Rafa winning 10 FO in a row, I absolutely believe he could have pulled it off without the 09 loss. He did win 9 in 10 years. it's not like he was Kuerten who won one then lost in back to back years. In fact, after watching what he did to Coria in back to back MS1000 finals in 05 I think he would have won in 04 making it 11 for 11. The 09 loss also came after he beat Roger in 3 slam finals in a row. Do you honestly think he loses to Fed in the final after the 08 beat down?

 

[The Blond Blur]

I can olny speak for myself. But as for Rafa, the man has gone on record saying the 2014 AO final was his most devastating loss/ only regret in his career.