Nadal/Blake Indian Wells 2008

[MichaelNadal]

1. Dat Kit
2. Nadal's playstyle was never more dymamic than 08 for me, just doing ridiculously athletic things with the ball and his movement.
3. Blake really used to take it to Nadal on HC such an underrated match.

 

[pj80]

peak blake, fed's strong era competitor

 

[MichaelNadal]

peak blake, fed's strong era competitor

Yeah clearly some of you need to be reminded how well these guys played. Dude is hitting the ball better than most of the guys on tour right now, but I know Ultronians started watching in 2014

 

[MichaelNadal]

8:15, that set point

 

[MichaelNadal]

Yall really tripping on this one lol. Press play! Sorry you have to actually open YouTube to see it lmao big 3 debates can wait

 

[Biotic]

2. Nadal's playstyle was never more dymamic than 08 for me, just doing ridiculously athletic things with the ball and his movement.

Too bad absolute peak Djokovic didn't know any of that when he smoked him in the next round.

 

[metsman]

blake really blew his chance in this match, surely would have lost to Joe in the next match anyways but would have made it a much more interesting match probably

 

[mike danny]

Yeah clearly some of you need to be reminded how well these guys played. Dude is hitting the ball better than most of the guys on tour right now, but I know Ultronians started watching in 2014

These people are clearly not fans of tennis.

 

[Nadal_Django]

These people are clearly not fans of tennis.

The same can be said for you guys tbh. Living with mind and spirit vehemently in 2005, regularly blabbing about the good old days, negating everything that happened in the last decade, daily sh!tting on the current generation of tennis players... Yes, you're more Federer groupies, than real tennis fans.

 

[mike danny]

Blake's hitting when playing well was always crispy AF.

 

[Lew II]

clearly

clearly

'Clearly' is a word that people around here use a lot trying to make their opinions look objective.

 

[MeatTornado]

'Clearly' is a word that people around here use a lot trying to make their opinions look objective.

"If you consult the chart at this start date, exclude this surface and only count the last 2 rounds the answer speaks for itself."

That's what real objectivity looks like.

 

[MichaelNadal]

Too bad absolute peak Djokovic didn't know any of that when he smoked him in the next round.

Djokovic would have smoked anyone coming out of this match. Blake and Rafa murdered each other

 

[mike danny]

Djokovic would have smoked anyone coming out of this match. Blake and Rafa murdered each other

Blake always got up for Rafa.

 

[MichaelNadal]

Blake always got up for Rafa.

Always I used to hate it lol.

Blake's hitting when playing well was always crispy AF.

Man all I'd need is a cup of honey mustard on the side those look incredible!

 

[King No1e]

The same can be said for you guys tbh. Living with mind and spirit vehemently in 2005, regularly blabbing about the good old days, negating everything that happened in the last decade, daily sh!tting on the current generation of tennis players... Yes, you're more Federer groupies, than real tennis fans.

You don't need to be a Fedtаrd to acknowledge that the current generation doesn't remotely have their sheet together now.

 

[aldeayeah]

Blake was a real fun player to see when he was on, which was much less often than one'd like.

gotta respect those laser groundies though, he was at times more federer-like than federer (off the baseline at least)

 

[Nadal_Django]

You don't need to be a Fedtаrd to acknowledge that the current generation doesn't remotely have their sheet together now.

Well Roddick, Hewitt, Blake, Ljubicic, Bagdhatis, Nalbandian Vs Thiem, Tsitsipas, Medvedev, Zverev, Rublev, Shapovalov I would take the latter group in a heartbeat, to be completely honest.
At the very least, not so much difference in quality between the current generation and those 2004-07 mythical beasts...

 

[King No1e]

Always I used to hate it lol.



Man all I'd need is a cup of honey mustard on the side those look incredible!

Blake's power was insane. His FH was more like a punch than a swing in how compact and powerful it was.

No one ever "always got up for Rafa" like Davydenko though. Talk about kryptonite!

 

[King No1e]

Well Roddick, Hewitt, Blake, Ljubicic, Bagdhatis, Nalbandian Vs Thiem, Tsitsipas, Medvedev, Zverev, Rublev, Shapovalov I would take the latter group in a heartbeat, to be completely honest.
At the very least, not so much difference in quality between the current generation and those 2004-07 mythical beasts...

Except the first group also had a very important name you left out: Federer. This generation doesn't have anyone who's shown ATG potential - forget Federer, we haven't even seen anyone on par with Hewitt yet (in terms of career trajectory, not playing level)

 

[RelentlessAttack]

You don't need to be a Fedtаrd to acknowledge that the current generation doesn't remotely have their sheet together now.

absolutely, most people just wanna see good tennis. If Djokovic and Nadal were downing the next generation in epic five sets slugfests slam after slam I don’t know that anybody would be complaining. Even as a fan of Nadal, I think it’s hilarious that he picked up six more slams and two year end number ones in the last few years given how much he’s declined.

also, there’s a legitimate place for nostalgia when the sport’s governing body decides to completely change the game. Anyone who grew up watching Pete, Rafter, Goran, Tim, etc basically had to accept that they’ll never get to watch that type of aggressive game style at the highest level again

 

[RelentlessAttack]

Except the first group also had a very important name you left out: Federer. This generation doesn't have anyone who's shown ATG potential - forget Federer, we haven't even seen anyone on par with Hewitt yet (in terms of career trajectory, not playing level)

They don’t even have Delpo or Tsonga tier players, let alone ATG caliber talents

 

[King No1e]

absolutely, most people just wanna say good tennis. If Djokovic and Nadal were downing the next generation an epic five sets slugfests slam after slam I don’t know that anybody would be complaining. Even as a fan of Nadal, I think it’s hilarious that he is picked up six more slams and two year end number ones in the last few years given how much he’s declined.

also, there’s a legitimate place for nostalgia when the sport’s governing body decides to completely change the game. Anyone who grew up watching Pete, Rafter, Goran, Tim, etc basically had to accept that they’ll never get to watch that type of aggressive game style at the highest level again

I wouldn't mind never having to watch this again:

 

[King No1e]

They don’t even have Delpo or Tsonga tier players, let alone ATG caliber talents

I wouldn't say that. Shapovalov is one of the most talented players I've seen in a long time, but he hasn't done much with it so far.

 

[RelentlessAttack]

I wouldn't mind never having to watch this again:

Lol. There was a different kind of athleticism required for a net rushing game. North south movement instead of east west, more verticality, quicker reaction times, and a different type of creativity when it came to volleying. Having a mix of styles to watch and enjoy is ideal in my book

 

[Nadal_Django]

Except the first group also had a very important name you left out: Federer. This generation doesn't have anyone who's shown ATG potential - forget Federer, we haven't even seen anyone on par with Hewitt yet (in terms of career trajectory, not playing level)

Yes but Djokovic and Nadal are still very much around. And instead of one ATG playing at his best like in 2004-07, now you have two ATGs playing at or near the best still even in their early 30s. The Federer nostalgia groupies aren't into the quality of the current generation, they are solely and exclusively into who can save the Federer records. Thus all the sh1tting on the current gen.

 

[RelentlessAttack]

I wouldn't say that. Shapovalov is one of the most talented players I've seen in a long time, but he hasn't done much with it so far.

Shapo is flashy but Delpo (FH) and Tsonga (serve, FH, touch) had weapons that even the best players feared. Because of the lower swing weights and poly adapter groundstrokes technique most of them use, pretty much none of the NextGen has a really penetrating weapon except the Kyrgios serve.

 

[King No1e]

Lol. There was a different kind of athleticism required for a net rushing game. North south movement instead of east west, more verticality, quicker reaction times, and a different type of creativity when it came to volleying. Having a mix of styles to watch and enjoy is ideal in my book

Agreed. We've only had 2 serve&volleyers in Slam finals since Pete.
Unfortunately it may be impossible to revive that tradition now in any real way. The only active net-rushers are either on the verge of retirement (Karlovic, Lopez), career journeymen (Stakhovsky, Brown), or rely on a huge serve (Raonic).

 

[RelentlessAttack]

Agreed. We've only had 2 serve&volleyers in Slam finals since Pete.
Unfortunately it may be impossible to revive that tradition now in any real way. The only active net-rushers are either on the verge of retirement (Karlovic, Lopez), career journeymen (Stakhovsky, Brown), or rely on a huge serve (Raonic).

Definitely not possible with current racquet and string tech

 

[King No1e]

Yes but Djokovic and Nadal are still very much around. And instead of one ATG playing at his best like in 2004-07, now you have two ATGs playing at or near the best still even in their early 30s.

"At or near their best" gimme a break. This is Djokodal at their best:

^ Put either of these guys against their current versions, and they'd commit elder abuse.

The Federer nostalgia groupies aren't into the quality of the current generation, they are solely and exclusively into who can save the Federer records. Thus all the sh1tting on the current gen.

This is true
Always fun to see the Fed brigade suddenly turn into card-carrying Team-Thiemers whenever he comes up against Nadal or Djokovic.

 

[King No1e]

Shapo is flashy but Delpo (FH) and Tsonga (serve, FH, touch) had weapons that even the best players feared. Because of the lower swing weights and poly adapter groundstrokes technique most of them use, pretty much none of the NextGen has a really penetrating weapon except the Kyrgios serve.

Shapo's FH is one of the most underrated and devastating shots in the game. For all the talk of his BH (which is a beautiful shot on its own) he can really dictate play with the FH in a way none of the other NextGen do.
His fatal flaw is consistency. He always plays hyper-aggressive, but doesn't have a plan B when his shots aren't going in. Same problem as Dimitrov had - he's more unwilling to win ugly.

 

[BauerAlmeida]

Except the first group also had a very important name you left out: Federer. This generation doesn't have anyone who's shown ATG potential - forget Federer, we haven't even seen anyone on par with Hewitt yet (in terms of career trajectory, not playing level)

Also left out Safin, Haas, and Ferrero. New Balls wipes the floor with Next Gen.

 

[King No1e]

Also left out Safin, Haas, and Ferrero. New Balls wipes the floor with Next Gen.

Don't even need the rest. Safin alone could wipe the floor with the entire current gen if he were focused.

 

[Deleted member 22147]

Blake fell off a cliff at some point in 2007. Although he was still capable of good tennis in 2008, he was just not the same. I think he put everything into those 2005 and 2006 years, physically and mentally, after all of his struggles.

 

[RelentlessAttack]

Shapo's FH is one of the most underrated and devastating shots in the game. For all the talk of his BH (which is a beautiful shot on its own) he can really dictate play with the FH in a way none of the other NextGen do.
His fatal flaw is consistency. He always plays hyper-aggressive, but doesn't have a plan B when his shots aren't going in. Same problem as Dimitrov had - he's more unwilling to win ugly.

A weapon is a shot that you fear hitting to because you won’t be able to handle the result. Any stroke that breaks down as often as Shapo’s cannot be considered a weapon when talking about the all time greats. I have no bias against the kid - I know Denis and his family, and I like Denis, and he represents my home but he has a long way to go. But sure, he definitely has the potential to have a couple of big weapons

 

[Nadal_Django]

Also left out Safin, Haas, and Ferrero. New Balls wipes the floor with Next Gen.

Ferrero went MIA after the 2004 AO. Safin only 3 months of decent tennis in the whole period of 2004-07. Can we say that Safin was really Federer's rival? Umm, I don't think so. Difficult to cal someone a competition that is only good for 2/3 tournaments in a period of 4 years imo Haas!? Come on man... Lol

 

[BeatlesFan]

Blake fell off a cliff at some point in 2007.

Blake was still top 10 in 2008 and defeated Fed in the Olympics that summer.

 

[Deleted member 22147]

Blake was still top 10 in 2008 and defeated Fed in the Olympics that summer.

Yes, just. And that "Fed"...

Blake had a lot of deep runs in 2008, but he was unable to find the spark that he undoubtedly had in 2005, 2006 and 2007. He was losing almost all of the big matches and he lost many of those matches in ways that only players on the slide do. Blake was 28 in 2008, and that was past the age where players generally do slide, at that point in time (it was almost never up from 25 onward). He was losing to players in tight matches and he did not seem to have the vigour he once did. That was my observation at the time and I was no surprised to see him disappear thereafter; firstly, struggling to stay in the top 50, and then struggling to stay in the top 100, all in his late 20's and early 30's.

 

[Milanez82]

How about peak Fognini vs Blake

 

[MichaelNadal]

How about peak Fognini vs Blake

I'd watch lol. Fognini can be an absolute monster when he wants to be. One of those guys that puzzles me.

 

[BeatlesFan]

I'd watch lol. Fognini can be an absolute monster when he wants to be. One of those guys that puzzles me.

No secret that I worship at the divine alter of King Fabster, but I have to go with Blake in this match up on every surface off clay. Blake's FH was incredible. In person, it was nearly at the level of Agassi, though not nearly as reliable or with the accuracy Andre had. And when old James played young Fabio he pretty much annihilated him.

 

[PETEhammer]

Yeah clearly some of you need to be reminded how well these guys played. Dude is hitting the ball better than most of the guys on tour right now, but I know Ultronians started watching in 2014

Blake was one of those guys who had surprisingly little power given how much effort he put into hitting the ball. Pete had a quote around 07 or so where he said Roddick and Blake were each missing a key attribute needed to win slams. He said Roddick lacked the speed and athleticism, and Blake lacked the power. Oh well, maybe if we combined the two of them they'd manage to get a set off Roger in Australia...

 

[JaoSousa]

This is why I love @MichaelNadal. No trolling(most of the time), no mean posts, just posting crispy matches for us to watch.

 

[MichaelNadal]

Blake was one of those guys who had surprisingly little power given how much effort he put into hitting the ball. Pete had a quote around 07 or so where he said Roddick and Blake were each missing a key attribute needed to win slams. He said Roddick lacked the speed and athleticism, and Blake lacked the power. Oh well, maybe if we combined the two of them they'd manage to get a set off Roger in Australia...

This is why I love @MichaelNadal. No trolling(most of the time), no mean posts, just posting crispy matches for us to watch.

 

[mavsman149]

Blake was one of those guys who had surprisingly little power given how much effort he put into hitting the ball. Pete had a quote around 07 or so where he said Roddick and Blake were each missing a key attribute needed to win slams. He said Roddick lacked the speed and athleticism, and Blake lacked the power. Oh well, maybe if we combined the two of them they'd manage to get a set off Roger in Australia...

Blake crushed the ball, that was pretty much his entire game. Enormous forehand.

 

[swordtennis]

Blake was one of those guys who had surprisingly little power given how much effort he put into hitting the ball. Pete had a quote around 07 or so where he said Roddick and Blake were each missing a key attribute needed to win slams. He said Roddick lacked the speed and athleticism, and Blake lacked the power. Oh well, maybe if we combined the two of them they'd manage to get a set off Roger in Australia...

That is interesting.
I usually rooted for blake but there was always something lacking.
I always blamed it on the wispy back hand.
He had nice precision on the forehand.

 

[PETEhammer]

Blake crushed the ball, that was pretty much his entire game. Enormous forehand.

he didn't have enough pace to bother the very best. There are matches against Fed where Fed makes him look like a child, even when Blake crushes it as hard as he's capable of. Even Roddick was capable of making Fed work harder with his forehand.

There's a difference between hitting as hard as you can, and hitting hard,.

 

[swordtennis]

he didn't have enough pace to bother the very best. There are matches against Fed where Fed makes him look like a child, even when Blake crushes it as hard as he's capable of. Even Roddick was capable of making Fed work harder with his forehand.

There's a difference between hitting as hard as you can, and hitting hard,.

Federer is in an entirely different league physically it unreal.

 

[Third Serve]

Blake was one of those guys who had surprisingly little power given how much effort he put into hitting the ball. Pete had a quote around 07 or so where he said Roddick and Blake were each missing a key attribute needed to win slams. He said Roddick lacked the speed and athleticism, and Blake lacked the power. Oh well, maybe if we combined the two of them they'd manage to get a set off Roger in Australia...

lmao what is this? Blake downright murdered that ball; hitting the crap out of the ball is what he’s known for. Low spin, high winner count, high error count; those aren’t what you get from someone with “surprisingly little power”. He had a lot of flaws in his game but hitting with enough pace wasn’t one of them. Rather, you could say that hitting with too much pace was quite often his problem. Very streaky player. Whenever he managed to string together several good shots, he was dangerous. Of course, that didn’t happen that often because hitting the ball like that just isn’t a very sustainable strategy.

Sorry, this has to be a troll. A pretty good one, all things considered.

 

[PETEhammer]

lmao what is this? Blake downright murdered that ball; hitting the crap out of the ball is what he’s known for. Low spin, high winner count, high error count; those aren’t what you get from someone with “surprisingly little power”. He had a lot of flaws in his game but hitting with enough pace wasn’t one of them. Rather, you could say that hitting with too much pace was quite often his problem. Very streaky player. Whenever he managed to string together several good shots, he was dangerous. Of course, that didn’t happen that often because hitting the ball like that just isn’t a very sustainable strategy.

Sorry, this has to be a troll. A pretty good one, all things considered.

Hitting as hard as you can, and hitting hard are not the same thing bud. Take a chill pill, get some Dubble Bubble and do a downward dog to calm yourself down. Then compare Blake's "hard hitting" to Fed's and Rafa's, hell even Roddick's easy power off the forehand.