Is Nadal more stronger than ever on clay ?

[RoS]

When I rewatch some videos of young Nadal, I'am thinking if finally the current Nadal is became more powerful and brutal than her old self

His backhand was almost nothing then and now he is ripping it with sharp angles (his BH is dangerous as his FH right now), and his FH has not the brutal power (except FO 2008 and FO 2012) he has now, he was often pushing with his FH. His serve was nowhere the weapon it is now (his serve was the key factor in the Rome Final against Novak)

I feel that the offensive, juggernaut Nadal is a more complete player, more ruthless player than ever, more impossible to handle at Roland Garros. He barely lost sets since 2017. Djokovic in the FO Final 2020 had his worst defeat against Nadal while even against 2008 Peak Claydal, he had a set point to take the third set.
Yes he lost a bit of his speed, but he is still defending like a maniac. Nobody has the answers to his defense and his topspin FH

He is stronger than ever, or the competition is worse ? (no more Peak Federer or Peak Coria, no more Peak Djokovic). It is strange to see Nadal pushed very hard by the likes of PHM, Brands and of course Soderling who beat him . We don't have even a lower ranked player who can push him like this. It's why I'am thinking he is playing better than ever.

 

[Deleted member 748597]

Nah. This ain't peak Nadal.

 

[gjm127]

No, he was a better all around player on clay in 2006-08. I would take Nadal 2008 in a heartbeat over Nadal in 2017.

 

[Poisoned Slice]

No, the opposition is weaker.

 

[I Am Finnish]

Nah. This ain't peak Nadal.

Even better it's Slay Epicdal

 

[Martin J]

No, the opposition is weaker.

But he's still ruling because he listened to his tio carefully: Hey Hafa, remember what I told you when you started, the guys who last in this business are the guys who hit loopy/heavy CC shots, play safe, quiet. And the guys who want it all, tweeners, flat winners, flashy volleys...they don't last!

 

[wang07]

The competition is weaker. Nadal's peak level is still so good though that he isn't even losing sets anymore, and that's in part because there are no younger ATGs, if there were any they would punish him for his physical decline.

Physically he's nowhere near his peak, he makes up for it by being more aggressive, and he's getting away with it: this way the match is simply over before his fitness could be exposed.

2008, 2010 and 2012 Nadal would crush post-2017 Rafa, we have seen dozens of aggressive players getting destroyed by him when he was younger. Djokovic simply declined even more, which is why last year's final was a beatdown.

 

[ChrisRF]

Better at Roland Garros. At least if we consider the last 5 years altogether. Something like 2008 and 2010 as single years can compete with that of course.

Not better during the rest of the clay season. Back then he wanted to win everything, now he peaks for RG.

 

[Poisoned Slice]

But he's still ruling because he listened to his tio carefully: Hey Hafa, remember what I told you when you started, the guys who last in this business are the guys who hit loopy/heavy CC shots, play safe, quiet. And the guys who want it all, tweeners, flat winners, flashy volleys...they don't last!

Wise words, Frank. Tony should have listened..

 

[TearTheRoofOff]

No.

 

[Slowtwitcher]

The word you're looking for is "strongerer"

 

[40-15 still haunts me]

This is probably 6.5/7 out of 10 for Nadal on clay at the moment, but the rest of the tour on clay are 1/10
Nadals poorest form is still enough to win him matches against all but the best opposition

 

[Djokovic_is_the_best#1]

No definitely not. Peak/Prime 2008 Nadal would dish out out bakery or bagel products to this current version. It’s just the clay field now is pathetic.

 

[Purestriker]

When I rewatch some videos of young Nadal, I'am thinking if finally the current Nadal is became more powerful and brutal than her old self

His backhand was almost nothing then and now he is ripping it with sharp angles (his BH is dangerous as his FH right now), and his FH has not the brutal power (except FO 2008 and FO 2012) he has now, he was often pushing with his FH. His serve was nowhere the weapon it is now (his serve was the key factor in the Rome Final against Novak)

I feel that the offensive, juggernaut Nadal is a more complete player, more ruthless player than ever, more impossible to handle at Roland Garros. He barely lost sets since 2017. Djokovic in the FO Final 2020 had his worst defeat against Nadal while even against 2008 Peak Claydal, he had a set point to take the third set.
Yes he lost a bit of his speed, but he is still defending like a maniac. Nobody has the answers to his defense and his topspin FH

He is stronger than ever, or the competition is worse ? (no more Peak Federer or Peak Coria, no more Peak Djokovic). It is strange to see Nadal pushed very hard by the likes of PHM, Brands and of course Soderling who beat him . We don't have even a lower ranked player who can push him like this. It's why I'am thinking he is playing better than ever.

His serve is better. The rest, well he is just amazing on clay and especially in Paris.

 

[StrongRule]

This is probably 6.5/7 out of 10 for Nadal on clay at the moment, but the rest of the tour on clay are 1/10
Nadals poorest form is still enough to win him matches against all but the best opposition

Djokovic is nowhere near 1/10. Stop this.

 

[NatF]

No the current field simply doesn't have the ballstriking or the athleticism to hang him and expose his limitations - or they simply fold in the big moments.

 

[Pheasant]

Nadal is amazing, no doubt. But this field is a joke. In 2019, Federer played his first French Open in 4 years at the age 37 3/4, yet made it to the semis. This year, he made it to R16, despite only playing 3 matches in the past 15 months, due to two knee surgeries.

So basically, you can have a rusty guy on his worst surface that's almost 40 make it to R16. Yeah, the field sucks.

 

[RelentlessAttack]

No definitely not. Peak/Prime 2008 Nadal would dish out out bakery or bagel products to this current version. It’s just the clay field now is pathetic.

the field is pathetic on all surfaces

 

[BeatlesFan]

Of course 35 year old Nadal isn't stronger than ever on clay. 2008 or 2010 Nadal would defeat current Nadal easily in straights. The competition, however, is non-existent. The only player capable of defeating Rafa at RG is Djokovic and he still won't be able to do it.

 

[40-15 still haunts me]

Djokovic is nowhere near 1/10. Stop this.

Read the last sentence

 

[Djokovic_is_the_best#1]

the field is pathetic on all surfaces

Yeah that’s true I know.

 

[Mustard]

2008 was the best French Open Nadal. Back then, he had his speed and mobility still. He'd run a lot more and wear opponents out that way back then, whereas in recent years he gets more aggressive with his shot making, and is more selective with his mobility.

 

[ZanderGoga]

Read the last sentence

The last sentence is logically inconsistent and poorly punctuated. It's not worth reading on either front.

 

[Deleted member 771911]

No. Peak Nadal on Clay was 2007-2008.

 

[RS]

This is probably 6.5/7 out of 10 for Nadal on clay at the moment, but the rest of the tour on clay are 1/10
Nadals poorest form is still enough to win him matches against all but the best opposition

In the late rounds at least Nadal in the last 4 years at RG has certainly been well over a 7/10 at RG.

 

[NatF]

In the late rounds at least Nadal in the last 4 years at RG has certainly been well over a 7.

8/10

 

[Mustard]

His best French Open years:

2008, 2007, 2012, 2017. Rafa's serve was a big reason for his 2017 dominance.

 

[RS]

8/10

Maybe your standard is harsher

 

[40-15 still haunts me]

The last sentence is logically inconsistent and poorly punctuated. It's not worth reading on either front.

Logically inconsistent and poorly punctuated? How exactly? I’d love to read this.....so many idiots on here just looking for arguments for the sake of it. None of your posts are worth reading so i guess that’s another tool to add to the ignore list

 

[NatF]

Maybe your standard is harsher

As long as it's lower than average prime Big 3 I don't mind what you give it

 

[Sabrina]

His best French Open years:

2008, 2007, 2012, 2017. Rafa's serve was a big reason for his 2017 dominance.

What about 2010? 2010 Nadal was also very solid

 

[aldeayeah]

He's most strongerest.

 

[RS]

As long as it's lower than average prime Big 3 I don't mind what you give it

I would probably have the last 3 on average lower.

 

[Third Serve]

As long as it's lower than average prime Big 3 I don't mind what you give it

We need to upgrade the scale to out of 100 since the margins are too thin between some matches

 

[ForehandCross]

I think I tend to watch a lot of matches, what people usually call "improvement " of Nadal wasn't something that already wasn't there.

Nadal just wasn't comfortable using it. Watch his AO 2005 vs Hewitt, such a young Nadal, and he was being even more as aggressive as he usually is these days on HC.He even stood on baseline and blasted winners. But as Hewitt took control he receeded back into defensive play.


2007-12 Nadal would probably get 50% of the balls that 2021 Nadal hits as winners. They would make almost every single rally last like 10+ shots. They would keep their intensity for 4-5 hours. They will simply outgrind him.

Inefficient than 2021 ? Yes.
More Invincible? Definitely. Some years like 2012 would straight up straight set 2021.

 

[Mustard]

What about 2010? 2010 Nadal was also very solid

Not quite as good as 2012, despite the straight sets wins all the way through in 2010.

 

[RS]

We need to upgrade the scale to out of 100 since the margins are too thin

I was thinking of this for a thread but that ship has sailed now

 

[StrongRule]

What about 2010? 2010 Nadal was also very solid

They forget about it because of the weak competition that year. But yeah, 2010 Nadal would be destroying the field today.

 

[Deleted member 762343]

Yes, "more stronger".

 

[Third Serve]

Not quite as good as 2012, despite the straight sets wins all the way through in 2010.

Kinda feel like Nadal purposefully held back a little seeing as the competition wasn’t anywhere near his level. He did dial it back up once he saw Soderling across the net in the final, though.

 

[NatF]

I would probably have the last 3 on average lower.

From the Big 3 what would be a lower end of average slam win for you?

 

[Sabrina]

Kinda feel like Nadal purposefully held back a little seeing as the competition wasn’t anywhere near his level. He did dial it back up once he saw Soderling across the net in the final, though.

Nadal indeed raised his level massively in the Final that year. I still think 2012 Nadal would have won against 2010 Nadal in 5 though.

 

[StrongRule]

Nadal indeed raised his level massively in the Final that year. I still think 2012 Nadal would have won against 2010 Nadal in 5 though.

In both years he was on a mission in the final. He was dealing with the pressure better in 2010.

 

[Third Serve]

Nadal indeed raised his level massively in the Final that year. I still think 2012 Nadal would have won against 2010 Nadal in 5 though.

Yeah I do think 2012 Nadal was better overall (minus the final; I think 2010 has him beat there). Just saying that 2010 Nadal’s form was a little deceiving.

 

[Sabrina]

In both years he was on a mission in the final. He was dealing with the pressure better in 2010.

Probably still similar score in 2012 if not for the rain though. Something like 6-3 6-4 6-2 for Nadal.

 

[Spencer Gore]

Absolutely appalling grammar. It is either 'more strong' or 'stronger', not 'more stronger'.

Honestly, standards have slipped terribly since the 1870s.

 

[Mustard]

In the 2012 French Open, Nadal reached the final without dropping a set. Nadal led Djokovic 6-3, 6-4, 2-0 at one point in the final. Then started a persistent drizzle, and Djokovic won 8 games in a row, reducing Nadal's lead to 6-3, 6-4, 2-6, 0-2. Nadal just barely won the next game on serve before they went off court. Djokovic came back the next day serving at 2-1 in the fourth set, so a break up. Nadal won 6-3, 6-4, 2-6, 7-5, with Djokovic double faulting on championship point down.

 

[Rosstour]

Whatever he has lost in speed, he has more than made up for in strategy, smarts and feel for the game.

It's why Federer said in 2015 or whatever that he was a better player than when he was winning all the time. He did the same thing, but Djok being so strong negated the efforts he made.

 

[NatF]

In both years he was on a mission in the final. He was dealing with the pressure better in 2010.

He was pretty flawless until the rain got silly though tbf.

 

[RS]

From the Big 3 what would be a lower end of average slam win for you?

Federer Wim 2009 final maybe or like Nadal RG 2011 final or something like that? (like considered to be prime but not peak )