Nadal has been in almost every epic and significant battle in last 5 years

[Retra]

Since 2004, if there is a significant and epic battle, probably you'll find Nadal playing with someone.
To reject Nadal is to reject tennis.

Davis Cup'04 (final): Nadal-Roddick 6-7(6) 6-2 7-6(6) 6-2
Miami'05 (final) Nadal-Federer 6-2 7-6(4) 6-7(5) 3-6 1-6
Roma'05(final) Nadal-Coria 6-4 3-6 6-3 4-6 7-6(6)
Madrid'05 (final) Nadal-Ljubicic 3-6 2-6 6-3 6-4 7-6(3)
Roma'06 (final) Nadal-Federer 6-7(0) 7-6(5) 6-4 2-6 7-6(5)
Wimbledon'07 (final) Nadal-Federer 6-7(7) 6-4 6-7(3) 6-2 2-6
Wimbledon'08 (final) Nadal-Federer 6-4 6-4 6-7(5) 6-7(8) 9-7
AusOpen'09 (semifinal) Nadal-Verdasco 6-7(4) 6-4 7-6(2) 6-7(1) 6-4


Nadal, best epic maker ever.

 

[Retra]

Wrong forum, sorry.

 

[bumfluff]

MMMM, but listening to the noise he makes when hitting the ball for more than 2hours gets very annoying.

 

[luckyboy1300]

Since 2004, if there is a significant and epic battle, probably you'll find Nadal playing with someone.
To reject Nadal is to reject tennis.

Davis Cup'04 (final): Nadal-Roddick 6-7(6) 6-2 7-6(6) 6-2
Miami'05 (final) Nadal-Federer 6-2 7-6(4) 6-7(5) 3-6 1-6
Roma'05(final) Nadal-Coria 6-4 3-6 6-3 4-6 7-6(6)
Madrid'05 (final) Nadal-Ljubicic 3-6 2-6 6-3 6-4 7-6(3)
Roma'06 (final) Nadal-Federer 6-7(0) 7-6(5) 6-4 2-6 7-6(5)
Wimbledon'07 (final) Nadal-Federer 6-7(7) 6-4 6-7(3) 6-2 2-6
Wimbledon'08 (final) Nadal-Federer 6-4 6-4 6-7(5) 6-7(8) 9-7
AusOpen'09 (semifinal) Nadal-Verdasco 6-7(4) 6-4 7-6(2) 6-7(1) 6-4


Nadal, best epic maker ever.

well we can say it has something to do with his style, the greatest retriever we have ever seen. his matches are not meant to be short, therefore creating a lot of opportunities for epic matches.

 

[lilminihorse]

I think it's because fed dominates everyone except rafa therefore the only battles you notice are fed vs rafa and rafa vs anyone else. fed vs anyone else = blowout thus not epic battle worthy

 

[Richie Rich]

MMMM, but listening to the noise he makes when hitting the ball for more than 2hours gets very annoying.

that's not too bad. but it's the butt picking after every point that is disturbing.

 

[martini1]

MMMM, but listening to the noise he makes when hitting the ball for more than 2hours gets very annoying.

He ain't the first one to grunt and won't be the last. It's part of the game these days. I bet your ears were bleeding when Sharapova was playing.

 

[martini1]

that's not too bad. but it's the butt picking after every point that is disturbing.

He was pulling his underwear actually. A very annoying habbit indeed.

 

[Richie Rich]

He was pulling his underwear actually.

still butt picking. stop clouding the issue with facts :lol:

 

[Frankauc]

just an interrogation i have: is there any other tournament now that is best of 5 sets except the grand slams?

 

[skip1969]

one could say he's involved in so many "epic" matches simply because he doesn't play short points.

 

[NickH87]

Epic matches like that are great for tennis, the fans, and the not traditional fans that rarely tune in. When you see the way verdasco and nadal played the other day, it was nothing short of amazing, my friends and family dont really watch tennis besides sportcenter clips. They were so into the match it amazed me.

 

[ceberus]

His style of play creates long matches. All long matches are not epic

 

[Zaragoza]

Since 2004, if there is a significant and epic battle, probably you'll find Nadal playing with someone.
To reject Nadal is to reject tennis.

Davis Cup'04 (final): Nadal-Roddick 6-7(6) 6-2 7-6(6) 6-2
Miami'05 (final) Nadal-Federer 6-2 7-6(4) 6-7(5) 3-6 1-6
Roma'05(final) Nadal-Coria 6-4 3-6 6-3 4-6 7-6(6)
Madrid'05 (final) Nadal-Ljubicic 3-6 2-6 6-3 6-4 7-6(3)
Roma'06 (final) Nadal-Federer 6-7(0) 7-6(5) 6-4 2-6 7-6(5)
Wimbledon'07 (final) Nadal-Federer 6-7(7) 6-4 6-7(3) 6-2 2-6
Wimbledon'08 (final) Nadal-Federer 6-4 6-4 6-7(5) 6-7(8) 9-7
AusOpen'09 (semifinal) Nadal-Verdasco 6-7(4) 6-4 7-6(2) 6-7(1) 6-4


Nadal, best epic maker ever.

There are some epic matches missing such as Davydenko in Rome, Soderling in Wimbledon, Moya in Chennai and Tsonga in Indian Wells, but you're completely right. Good thread.

 

[tudwell]

I don't know about "almost every", but yes, he's been in quite a lot, probably more than any other single active player (though Federer's up there). And I don't think it's necessarily his playing style. Sure, he plays long points, but that doesn't mean it has to take him five sets to win. It takes two players to make a five setter.

 

[illkhiboy]

I don't know about "almost every", but yes, he's been in quite a lot, probably more than any other single active player (though Federer's up there). And I don't think it's necessarily his playing style. Sure, he plays long points, but that doesn't mean it has to take him five sets to win. It takes two players to make a five setter.

Federer's not really up there because he's had a habit of destructing his opponents quickly. His "epic" matches have mainly been with Nadal.

It's not a knock on Nadal that his playing style contributes to these long matches - it's just a fact.

 

[AAUS]

Fed Safin AO QF 2005
Fed Nalbandian MC F 2005
Gasquet Murray Wimbledon 2008

didnt look back these are just from the top of my head

 

[tudwell]

Federer's not really up there because he's had a habit of destructing his opponents quickly. His "epic" matches have mainly been with Nadal.

It's not a knock on Nadal that his playing style contributes to these long matches - it's just a fact.

Yeah, I suppose you're right about Federer. The only non-Nadal epic matches of his I can think of are with Safin at the 05 Australian and Nalbandian at the 05 Masters Cup. But then again, half of the OP's list is matches between Federer and Nadal.

And I didn't say it was a knock on Nadal. I just don't think his playing style contributes as much to these epic matches as some people think. It's not Nadal's style that makes him lose two sets before he ultimately wins (or doesn't, I guess there are a few on the list that he lost). His style might make these five setters longer than others with similar scores between different players, but it doesn't, by itself, make these matches "epic".

 

[IvanAndreevich]

Don't forget Federer vs Safin - there were a couple of epic matches with crazy tiebreaks.

 

[thejoe]

Not really. If you look at any player, they've usually had a lot of epic matches as well.

 

[illkhiboy]

Yeah, I suppose you're right about Federer. The only non-Nadal epic matches of his I can think of are with Safin at the 05 Australian and Nalbandian at the 05 Masters Cup. But then again, half of the OP's list is matches between Federer and Nadal.

And I didn't say it was a knock on Nadal. I just don't think his playing style contributes as much to these epic matches as some people think. It's not Nadal's style that makes him lose two sets before he ultimately wins (or doesn't, I guess there are a few on the list that he lost). His style might make these five setters longer than others with similar scores between different players, but it doesn't, by itself, make these matches "epic".

Yeah it's probably not. If you look at the players who have played a lot of epics in the last 5 years, it would probably be Nalbandian (twice at AO'07, Masters against Federer, against Tursonov at RG '06, Wawrinka at AO'06, Safin at UO'06, Ferrer at US '07, Soderling in Davis Cup etc.) and I can't think of anyone else. However Nadal's played more epics in latter stages of the tournament because he is consistently going deep.

If you think about it, top class grinders tend to have a lot of these 5-setters (Hewitt, Chang type players) because they don't blow their opponents away, and in fact keep their opponents in the match by having play dictated, yet they are great fighters and eventually wear the opponents out. So, I think Nadal's style does have a bit to do with his 'epics.'

 

[Zaragoza]

Not really. If you look at any player, they've usually had a lot of epic matches as well.

Not as many as Nadal.

 

[edmondsm]

Fed Safin AO QF 2005
Fed Nalbandian MC F 2005
Gasquet Murray Wimbledon 2008

didnt look back these are just from the top of my head

Yeah this is a pretty biased thread to say the least. There have been tons of epic 5 setters that had nothing to do with Nadal. Djokovic/Stepanek USO comes to mind. Gasquet/Roddick at Wimbledon, Federer/Haas AO, Federer/Tipsaravic, Nalbandian/Baghdatis. Again, biased thread.

 

[All-rounder]

one could say he's involved in so many "epic" matches simply because he doesn't play short points.

very true i agree which is one of the reasons why sampras is hardly mentioned he keeps his points very short

 

[illkhiboy]

Yeah this is a pretty biased thread to say the least. There have been tons of epic 5 setters that had nothing to do with Nadal. Djokovic/Stepanek USO comes to mind. Gasquet/Roddick at Wimbledon, Federer/Haas AO, Federer/Tipsaravic, Nalbandian/Baghdatis. Again, biased thread.

It's not as biased as you suggest, since he hasn't listed a bunch of Nadal's epics. He only mentioned the finals apart from the Australian Open semi-final.

 

[benne]

Agassi - Baghdatis USO 2006.

 

[IvanAndreevich]

Agassi - Baghdatis USO 2006.

Yeah, and Agassi vs Blake USO 2005

 

[tudwell]

If you think about it, top class grinders tend to have a lot of these 5-setters (Hewitt, Chang type players) because they don't blow their opponents away, and in fact keep their opponents in the match by having play dictated, yet they are great fighters and eventually wear the opponents out. So, I think Nadal's style does have a bit to do with his 'epics.'

That's a good point. I hadn't thought of it that way.

 

[edmondsm]

It's not as biased as you suggest, since he hasn't listed a bunch of Nadal's epics. He only mentioned the finals apart from the Australian Open semi-final.

Nadal has been one of the two most dominant players of the last 5 years and he plays a grinding style so he is going to get in these types of battles more then others. But to say that he "has been in almost every epic and significant battle in last 5 years" is seeing the world through Nadal-colored-glasses. If you're going to start lecturing me on the definition of "epic and significant" then I'll pass.

 

[All-rounder]

i consider gasquet vs hewitt in 2006 us open as an epic just because he was limping and still smacking winners off his backhand

 

[Morrissey]

Nadal vs Coria Rome 2005.
Nadal vs Fed Rome 2006
Nadal vs Murray Australian Open 2007
Nadal vs Fed Wimby 2007
Nadal vs Fed Wimby 2008
Nadal vs Verdasco Australian Open 2009

I'm trying to bring up more at the moment. Oh

Nadal vs Fed Miami 2005

Nadal vs Hewitt Australian Open 2005

 

[illkhiboy]

Nadal has been one of the two most dominant players of the last 5 years and he plays a grinding style so he is going to get in these types of battles more then others. But to say that he "has been in almost every epic and significant battle in last 5 years" is seeing the world through Nadal-colored-glasses. If you're going to start lecturing me on the definition of "epic and significant" then I'll pass.

Yeah it's definitely a biased thread by one of these Nadal-Freaks but he did only mention Nadal's finals while ignoring his other 'epics.' And it is kind of annoying to read the post as the OP implies that this is another one of Nadal's superior achievements.
I just noticed the Davis Cup included in the list was a 4-setter.

 

[Morrissey]

Yeah it's definitely a biased thread by one of these Nadal-Freaks but he did only mention Nadal's finals while ignoring his other 'epics.' And it is kind of annoying to read the post as the OP implies that this is another one of Nadal's superior achievements. While I think that notion is ludicrous, I do agree with the OP that Nadal tends to play more of these matches than most players.

I just noticed the Davis Cup included in the list was a 4-setter.

I don't think it's biased to be honest. I agree there's a bias on many threads, but that goes to both Fed and Nadal fans. But this thread seems appropriate when you consider all the epics he's been involved in his short career.

 

[illkhiboy]

I don't think it's biased to be honest. I agree there's a bias on many threads, but that goes to both Fed and Nadal fans. But this thread seems appropriate when you consider all the epics he's been involved in his short career.

Nadal has been a part of nearly every "epic n significant battle?" Really? The OP includes the Davis Cup final of 2004, which was a 4-set affair. That's not biased?

It would have been an awesome and unbiased thread if the OP said,
"Geez, it appears that Nadal plays a lot of these epics in important matches. I don't think any other player has been involved in so many great encounters the last few years."

Instead OP says,

"To reject Nadal is to reject tennis."

"Nadal is the best epic maker."

 

[Morrissey]

Nadal has been a part of nearly every "epic n significant battle?" Really? The OP includes the Davis Cup final of 2004, which was a 4-set affair. That's not biased?

It would have been an awesome and unbiased thread if the OP said,
"Geez, it appears that Nadal plays a lot of these epics in important matches. I don't think any other player has been involved in so many great encounters the last few years."

Instead OP says,

"To reject Nadal is to reject tennis."

"Nadal is the best epic maker."

I wasn't reading the post, just the thread title. And it seems reasonable to me. Those quotes from that person's posts are way over the top. And I'm a Nadal fan. But you should know better than to take that seriously. Those lines were there to provoke. But in the last 5 years Nadal has been involved in a lot of memorable and great 5 set matches. The kind of matches you wanna watch later on or record on dvd.

 

[illkhiboy]

I wasn't reading the post, just the thread title. And it seems reasonable to me. Those quotes from that person's posts are way over the top. And I'm a Nadal fan. But you should know better than to take that seriously. Those lines were there to provoke. But in the last 5 years Nadal has been involved in a lot of memorable and great 5 set matches. The kind of matches you wanna watch later on or record on dvd.

Sure me and you will get the DVD's, I 'm not so sure of fans like edberg###...

 

[Morrissey]

Sure me and you will get the DVD's, I 'm not so sure of fans like edberg###...

That's alright. I forgive him anyway. Especially for expecting Verdasco to roll over and let Nadal walk through to the final when I said otherwise. How I wish he were right. But it'd be funny if he were ripping Nadal and he had all these taped matches of his in his house. Like a closet Nadal junkie.

I'm totally messing with him right now.

 

[zagor]

There's a reason for Nadal having so many epic matches:

1)His defensive game is most probably the best ever.He dosn't just have the movement and anticipation to get to every ball but the hands to put back even the seemingly impossible shots into atleast neutral position.I've never seen anyone hit on the run as well as Nadal does.

2)Due to his defensive game being so amazing,when put under great pressure he relies on it to win matches and grinds people down rather then forcing the issue and going for winners.Nadal's offensive game has improved a lot over the last 2 years but his A plan is still playing great defense and counterpunching,that's what he's most comfortable doing.

3)He's mentally very strong and a great fighter,those type of players tend to have epic matches more than others by default as they rarely go down easily.

 

[oranges]

Among the active players, the guys with most 5-setters and best winning ratio would be Hewitt (27-11) and Safin (28-12). Nadal is 11-3 and there's quite a few guys close to those numbers, including Wawrinka, Berdych, Ancic, Ferrer and Tipsy.

 

[tudwell]

Wow, only three five set losses. Two to Federer, what's the third?

Where do you find five set match records and stats, anyway? I remember trying to find some not too long ago (probably after the Federer-Berdych match) but was unsuccessful.

 

[oranges]

^^ He lost to Hewitt in five at AO IIRC.

 

[TahoeTennis]

Since 2004, if there is a significant and epic battle, probably you'll find Nadal playing with someone.
To reject Nadal is to reject tennis.

Davis Cup'04 (final): Nadal-Roddick 6-7(6) 6-2 7-6(6) 6-2
Miami'05 (final) Nadal-Federer 6-2 7-6(4) 6-7(5) 3-6 1-6
Roma'05(final) Nadal-Coria 6-4 3-6 6-3 4-6 7-6(6)
Madrid'05 (final) Nadal-Ljubicic 3-6 2-6 6-3 6-4 7-6(3)
Roma'06 (final) Nadal-Federer 6-7(0) 7-6(5) 6-4 2-6 7-6(5)
Wimbledon'07 (final) Nadal-Federer 6-7(7) 6-4 6-7(3) 6-2 2-6
Wimbledon'08 (final) Nadal-Federer 6-4 6-4 6-7(5) 6-7(8) 9-7
AusOpen'09 (semifinal) Nadal-Verdasco 6-7(4) 6-4 7-6(2) 6-7(1) 6-4


Nadal, best epic maker ever.

Make
that 13 years my friend!!!

VAMOS!!!

 

[JohnnyMac Fan!]

Since 2004, if there is a significant and epic battle, probably you'll find Nadal playing with someone.
To reject Nadal is to reject tennis.

Davis Cup'04 (final): Nadal-Roddick 6-7(6) 6-2 7-6(6) 6-2
Miami'05 (final) Nadal-Federer 6-2 7-6(4) 6-7(5) 3-6 1-6
Roma'05(final) Nadal-Coria 6-4 3-6 6-3 4-6 7-6(6)
Madrid'05 (final) Nadal-Ljubicic 3-6 2-6 6-3 6-4 7-6(3)
Roma'06 (final) Nadal-Federer 6-7(0) 7-6(5) 6-4 2-6 7-6(5)
Wimbledon'07 (final) Nadal-Federer 6-7(7) 6-4 6-7(3) 6-2 2-6
Wimbledon'08 (final) Nadal-Federer 6-4 6-4 6-7(5) 6-7(8) 9-7
AusOpen'09 (semifinal) Nadal-Verdasco 6-7(4) 6-4 7-6(2) 6-7(1) 6-4


Nadal, best epic maker ever.

Where is AO '12 vs Novak? There are a few French Opens post '12 also very good

 

[BeatlesFan]

If your definition of epic is a long match, then you're right.

The fact is, your boy takes 30 seconds between every point. So all his matches are interminable because of massive time wasting and his nervous garbage before every first and second serve.

Had Fed and Roddick been involved in the bore fest that was the 2012 AO final, it would have lasted 3 hours, max. Both were fast players. But because Djoker and Nadal were involed, it took 72 hours to complete.