Nadal is 9-0 in matches 4 hours or longer

[JennyS]

Unless I missed any matches, I think Nadal is undefeated in matches 4 hours or longer:

Nadal's record in matches over 4 hours:

2005 Rome final, 5 hours, 14 minutes, def Coria
2009 Australian Open Semifinal, 5 hours, 10 minutes def Verdasco
2006 Rome final, 5 hours, 5 minutes, def Federer
2006 French Open 3R, 4 hours 53 minutes, def Matthieu
2008 Wimbledon final, 4 hours, 48 minutes, def Federer
2009 Australian Open final, 4 hours, 19 minutes, def Federer
2009 Madrid SF, 4 hours, 3 minutes, def Djokovic
2007 Wimbledon 3R, 4 hours, 1 minute, def Soderling
2007 Chennai, 5 minutes shy of 4 hours, def Moya

I think beating Nadal in long matches is tough because he wears the opponent down and they're totally gassed by the fourth hour.

 

[JennyS]

the longest matches that Nadal lost were:

2005 Australian Open 4R, 3 hours, 53 minutes (I guess we could sort of count that as a 4 hour match loss)
2007 Wimbledon final, 3 hours, 45 minutes, lost to Federer
2008 US Open semifinal, 3 hours 31 minutes, lost to Murray
2007 US Open 4R, 3 hours, 26 minutes, lost to Ferrer

 

[cesarmo03]

how much time does the wimbledon final of 2007 last?

 

[Cup8489]

Unless I missed any matches, I think Nadal is undefeated in matches 4 hours or longer:

Nadal's record in matches over 4 hours:

2005 Rome final, 5 hours, 14 minutes, def Coria
2009 Australian Open Semifinal, 5 hours, 10 minutes def Verdasco
2006 Rome final, 5 hours, 5 minutes, def Federer
2006 French Open 3R, 4 hours 53 minutes, def Matthieu
2008 Wimbledon final, 4 hours, 48 minutes, def Federer
2009 Australian Open final, 4 hours, 19 minutes, def Federer
2009 Madrid SF, 4 hours, 3 minutes, def Djokovic
2007 Wimbledon 3R, 4 hours, 1 minute, def Soderling
2007 Chennai, 5 minutes shy of 4 hours, def Moya

I think beating Nadal in long matches is tough because he wears the opponent down and they're totally gassed by the fourth hour.

to be fair though, the top 3 matches featured opponents who weren't worn down as much as they didn't convert the chances they had. I saw the 05 Rome final, and Coria definitely couldve won that, even in the fifth set. same with Verdasco. he literally lost that match in the last game, which was kinda like a 'wtf? did he just implode in 2 minutes?' the 06 Rome final, Federer had match points, but squandered them.

 

[egn]

Thats a very interesting stat. It shows the high level of fitness that Nadal maintains.

 

[jamesblakefan#1]

It's because when he loses, particularly in slams, he usually loses decisively. He usually goes down in straight sets or 4 sets at slams, at least more often than not.

 

[Blinkism]

Wasn't that Chennai match in 2008?

I wonder how many people even held matchpoints past the 4 hour mark against Nadal?

 

[crackbillionair]

Those 4 hour matches weren't too easy on the joints though.

 

[Chelsea_Kiwi]

Time is irrelevant when you waste so much time. Especially in that Rome final.

 

[stapler]

I'm confused, I only see 8 matches that lasted 4 hours or longer, yet the topic title says hes 9-0. What am I missing?

 

[kOaMaster]

I'm confused, I only see 8 matches that lasted 4 hours or longer, yet the topic title says hes 9-0. What am I missing?

jenny cheats!

 

[CMM]

I think beating Nadal in long matches is tough because he wears the opponent down...

...mentally.

 

[Mustard]

Lleyton turned him over in 05 despite Nadal having a 2 sets to 1 lead. Thats probably the only time I have seen Nadal physically wilt in a 5 set match. Of course, Nadal was far from being a complete physical specimen at the time.

He was worse a few months later against Federer in the Miami Masters final. That seemed to convince Nadal that he had to improve his physical conditioning.

 

[Nadal_Power]

Wasn't that Chennai match in 2008?

I wonder how many people even held matchpoints past the 4 hour mark against Nadal?

Victory over Moya in 3 hours 53 (or 54)

 

[Mustard]

I wonder how many people even held matchpoints past the 4 hour mark against Nadal?

Federer in the 2006 Rome Masters final, he had 2 match points in the 12th game of the fifth set.

 

[krosero]

the longest matches that Nadal lost were:

2005 Australian Open 4R, 3 hours, 53 minutes (I guess we could sort of count that as a 4 hour match loss)
2007 Wimbledon final, 3 hours, 45 minutes, lost to Federer
2008 US Open semifinal, 3 hours 31 minutes, lost to Murray
2007 US Open 4R, 3 hours, 26 minutes, lost to Ferrer

He also lost to Federer in Miami and I've seen that reported as 3:42

 

[MichaelChang]

It shows how much steroids can help.

Just kidding.

 

[JennyS]

I'll expand this to include all of Rafa's matches around 3.5 hours or longer since the Miami 2005 loss to Federer. Nadal is 15-5 in those matches:

Wins:
2005 Rome final, 5 hours, 14 minutes, def Coria
2009 Australian Open Semifinal, 5 hours, 10 minutes def Verdasco
2006 Rome final, 5 hours, 5 minutes, def Federer
2006 French Open 3R, 4 hours 53 minutes, def Matthieu
2008 Wimbledon final, 4 hours, 48 minutes, def Federer
2009 Australian Open final, 4 hours, 19 minutes, def Federer
2009 Madrid SF, 4 hours, 3 minutes, def Djokovic
2007 Wimbledon 3R, 4 hours, 1 minute, def Soderling
2008 Chennai, 3 hours, 56 minutes, def Moya
2005 Madrid final, 3 hours, 53 minutes, def Ljubicic
2007 Australian Open 4R, 3 hours, 51 minutes, def Murray
2006 Monte Carlo final, 3 hours, 50 minutes, def Federer
2006 Wimbledon 2R, 3 hours, 46 minutes, def Kendrick
2007 Rome SF, 3 hours 39 minutes, def Davydenko
2005 French Open final, 3 hours, 24 minutes, beat Puerta

Losses:
2007 Wimbledon final, 3 hours, 45 minutes, lost to Federer
2008 US Open semifinal, 3 hours 31 minutes, lost to Murray
2009 French Open 4R, 3 hours 30 minutes, lost to Soderling
2007 US Open 4R, 3 hours, 26 minutes, lost to Ferrer
2008 Madrid SF, 3 hours 23 minutes, lost to Simon

 

[JennyS]

Here are Federer's numbers in long matches since Wimbledon 2003:

record in matches over 4 hours: 2-5
record in matches approx 3.5 hours or longer: 8-7

Wins:
2008 Australian Open 3R, 4 hours 25 minutes, def Tipsarevic
2009 Wimbledon final, 4 hours, 16 minutes, def Roddick
2007 Wimbledon final, 3 hours, 45 minutes, def Nadal
2005 Miami final, 3 hours, 43 minutes, def Nadal
2008 US Open 4R, 3 hours, 31 minutes, def Andreev
2009 French Open SF, 3 hours, 29 minutes, def Del Potro
2009 Australian Open 4R, 3 hours 25 minutes, def Berdych
2009 French Open 2R, 3 hours, 25 minutes, def Acasuso

Losses:
2006 Rome final, 5 hours, 5 minutes, lost to Nadal
2008 Wimbledon final, 4 hours, 48 minutes, lost to Nadal
2005 Masters Cup final, 4 hours 33 minutes, lost to Nalbandian
2005 Australian Open SF, 4 hours, 28 minutes, lost to Safin
2009 Australian Open final, 4 hours, 19 minutes, lost to Nadal
2009 US Open final, 4 hours, 10 minutes , lost to Del Potro
2006 Monte Carlo final, 3 hours, 50 minutes, lost to Nadal

 

[sureshs]

Is it because of steroids?

 

[JennyS]

Nadal's record in his 10 longest matches since Miami 2005: 10-0

1. 2005 Rome final, 5 hours, 14 minutes, def Coria
2. 2009 Australian Open Semifinal, 5 hours, 10 minutes def Verdasco
3. 2006 Rome final, 5 hours, 5 minutes, def Federer
4. 2006 French Open 3R, 4 hours 53 minutes, def Matthieu
5. 2008 Wimbledon final, 4 hours, 48 minutes, def Federer
6. 2009 Australian Open final, 4 hours, 19 minutes, def Federer
7. 2009 Madrid SF, 4 hours, 3 minutes, def Djokovic
8. 2007 Wimbledon 3R, 4 hours, 1 minute, def Soderling
9. 2008 Chennai, 3 hours, 56 minutes, def Moya
10. 2005 Madrid final, 3 hours, 53 minutes, def Ljubicic

Federer's record in his 10 longest matches since Wimby 2003: 3-7
1. 2006 Rome final, 5 hours, 5 minutes, lost to Nadal
2. 2008 Wimbledon final, 4 hours, 48 minutes, lost to Nadal
3. 2005 Masters Cup final, 4 hours 33 minutes, lost to Nalbandian
4. 2005 Australian Open SF, 4 hours, 28 minutes, lost to Safin
5. 2008 Australian Open 3R, 4 hours 25 minutes, def Tipsarevic
6. 2009 Australian Open final, 4 hours, 19 minutes, lost to Nadal
7. 2009 Wimbledon final, 4 hours, 16 minutes, def Roddick
8. 2009 US Open final, 4 hours, 10 minutes , lost to Del Potro
9. 2006 Monte Carlo final, 3 hours, 50 minutes, lost to Nadal
10. 2007 Wimbledon final, 3 hours, 45 minutes, def Nadal

 

[JennyS]

Is it because of steroids?

No, he ate his Spinach.

 

[sureshs]

No, he ate his Spinach.

That would cause more bowel movement. Not a good idea.

 

[CMM]

No, he ate his Spinach.

Roger ate spinach too, but he gets really upset when he realizes that his oponent doesn't bow to him and that's why he loses the match.
The AO final from last year proves that.

 

[TMF]

Nadal's record in his 10 longest matches since Miami 2005: 10-0

1. 2005 Rome final, 5 hours, 14 minutes, def Coria
2. 2009 Australian Open Semifinal, 5 hours, 10 minutes def Verdasco
3. 2006 Rome final, 5 hours, 5 minutes, def Federer
4. 2006 French Open 3R, 4 hours 53 minutes, def Matthieu
5. 2008 Wimbledon final, 4 hours, 48 minutes, def Federer
6. 2009 Australian Open final, 4 hours, 19 minutes, def Federer
7. 2009 Madrid SF, 4 hours, 3 minutes, def Djokovic
8. 2007 Wimbledon 3R, 4 hours, 1 minute, def Soderling
9. 2008 Chennai, 3 hours, 56 minutes, def Moya
10. 2005 Madrid final, 3 hours, 53 minutes, def Ljubicic

Federer's record in his 10 longest matches since Wimby 2003: 3-7
1. 2006 Rome final, 5 hours, 5 minutes, lost to Nadal
2. 2008 Wimbledon final, 4 hours, 48 minutes, lost to Nadal
3. 2005 Masters Cup final, 4 hours 33 minutes, lost to Nalbandian
4. 2005 Australian Open SF, 4 hours, 28 minutes, lost to Safin
5. 2008 Australian Open 3R, 4 hours 25 minutes, def Tipsarevic
6. 2009 Australian Open final, 4 hours, 19 minutes, lost to Nadal
7. 2009 Wimbledon final, 4 hours, 16 minutes, def Roddick
8. 2009 US Open final, 4 hours, 10 minutes , lost to Del Potro
9. 2006 Monte Carlo final, 3 hours, 50 minutes, lost to Nadal
10. 2007 Wimbledon final, 3 hours, 45 minutes, def Nadal

Fatigue become a factor when playing a marathon matches. I find it odd that Rafa has a perfect record, which means fatigue has LESS affect on him. No wonder people suspicious about him using steroids.

 

[JennyS]

That would cause more bowel movement. Not a good idea.

Maybe that's why he needs to pick his butt so much.

 

[CMM]

7. 2009 Madrid SF, 4 hours, 3 minutes, def Djokovic

I thought this match lasted 45 minutes.

 

[mandy01]

I thought this match lasted 45 minutes.

yep.Most of it was time-wasting :wink:

 

[asafi2]

However impressive this feat is all it is saying is that it takes 4 hours and 5 sets to beat Roger but only straight sets or a quick 4 sets to beat Rafa.

 

[bruce38]

That would cause more bowel movement. Not a good idea.

Why would spinach cause a bowel movement?

 

[LiveForever]

However impressive this feat is all it is saying is that it takes 4 hours and 5 sets to beat Roger but only straight sets or a quick 4 sets to beat Rafa.

Well said. I agree that Federer can be mentally unstable in those big matches but at least he puts his efforts in and fight till the bitter end.

Nadal and Sampras may have be mentally tougher in tight situations, but they were more beatable than Federer as witnessed by the many SF trashings they received in their career. Sampras sometimes even used to get clobbered before the QFs rolled around.

 

[asafi2]

Well said. I agree that Federer can be mentally unstable in those big matches but at least he puts his efforts in and fight till the bitter end.

Nadal and Sampras may have be mentally tougher in tight situations, but they were more beatable than Federer as witnessed by the many SF trashings they received in their career.

Also, I think Fed does a good job of hiding if he is tired or not. He looks nearly the same at the start of the 5th set as he did at the start of the first set, but I do think more times than not he is tired in the 5th set more than he lets on. On the other hand, Nadal looks sweaty and beat. Yet, he can run around like nothing is bothering him.

 

[matchmaker]

Interesting data.

Nadal is obviously very strong in matches that go the full length.

I do think he gets tired, but mentally he stays quite fresh. I think what he most loves is competition, moreso than just tennis.

 

[veroniquem]

Lleyton turned him over in 05 despite Nadal having a 2 sets to 1 lead. Thats probably the only time I have seen Nadal physically wilt in a 5 set match. Of course, Nadal was far from being a complete physical specimen at the time.

Wow I really have to disagree with that. Rafa was a completely amazing physical specimen in 2005. He played at least 2 unforgettable 5 setters: the one vs Federer in Miami and the one vs Coria in Rome. His physical intensity was very intimidating.