Nadal Vs Fognini-Best match you've ever seen?

[SublimeTennis]

Nadal is going through his blowout of rival Fognini, a perennial player who has the skill, hits 95 mph fore and backhands, but doesn't train, doesn't take it serious, would rather complain. However that Fognini didn't show up, the serious pro turned up, in fact I didn't see him get mad once, just focused.

So I'm ready to go out, Nadal is playing great, he's up 2 sets and a break, but then slowly at first Fognini starts hitting INSANE WINNERS, the crowd goes wild, it was almost like Fognini thought "Wait, I like being applauded more than booed", and it's match on. He wins the third, but of course it will be like Nadals first match, losing the third, but then magic happened, Fognini moved into the zone, he still hit the occasional, and aggravating enforced error right into the net, still hit aggravated double faults, but he was PLAYING, they created a highlight reel everyone should watch.

I was very similar to when Wawrinka beat Novak at AO the other year, you keep thinking he's going to blow it, but this dude came through. McEnroe said "How does this guy lose to anyone". There was one game when Fognini was receiving, he took the serve and hit every return down the line over 90mph, fore and backhand. McEnroe couldn't believe it, nor I. If that guy played that way it's hard to see anyone beat him. It's amazing what these guys are capable of when they are in the zone. Remember, Nadal did NOT play bad at all, I'm sure he's lost a step and a nano second of reflexes, but Nadal didn't lose this match, Fognini won it.

 

[beltsman]

I prefer RG 2008 final.

 

[tennisaddict]

Will go down as one of the good early round matches in the annals of history. It is a far stretch to call it the best match.

Believe it or not, Simon vs Ferrer was very good last year. Nishikori vs Raonic, Simon vs Fish, Roddick vs Isner, Stan vs Murray were all good matches.

 

[tennis_pro]

I prefer RG 2008 final.

Oooh living in the past, aren't we? Good good, let the butthurt flow. Nadal ain't winning S%%% for the remainder of his career and the butthurt showsssss.

 

[Terry Tibbs]

I've just watched the highlights on YouTube and I'm in shock at the standard, albeit I only saw a 15 minute highlight reel.

Nadal to me looked close to his best and it was his best tennis probably since he last won the French open but that guy Foginni's ball striking was the best I ever seen. I was mesmerised by it! He made the slow court look fast. Where has this guy been and why is he only ranked 32?

I then watched the Federer match in real time. It looked pedestrian in comparison and Federer looked average. Foginni should win the tournament playing like this but I'm guessing he won't be able to play like that again and Nadal has again been unlucky enough to come up against a player who has been able to find tennis from the gods.

 

[Andyk028]

You've only been watching tennis for 2 years if that's the best you've seen.

 

[Jaitock1991]

If I started watching tennis 22 hours ago; maybe.

 

[Terry Tibbs]

I've just seen that Foginni had never beaten a top 10 opponent prior to this. It's just so hard to fathom with ability like that.

 

[TopFH]

Maybe of the past week.

 

[Jaitock1991]

I've just seen that Foginni had never beaten a top 10 opponent prior to this. It's just so hard to fathom with ability like that.

A classic case of an underachiever. I've followed him rather closely for a few years. Enormous talent.

 

[Slice'n'dice]

Nadal is going through his blowout of rival Fognini, a perennial player who has the skill, hits 95 mph fore and backhands, but doesn't train, doesn't take it serious, would rather complain. However that Fognini didn't show up, the serious pro turned up, in fact I didn't see him get mad once, just focused.

So I'm ready to go out, Nadal is playing great, he's up 2 sets and a break, but then slowly at first Fognini starts hitting INSANE WINNERS, the crowd goes wild, it was almost like Fognini thought "Wait, I like being applauded more than booed", and it's match on. He wins the third, but of course it will be like Nadals first match, losing the third, but then magic happened, Fognini moved into the zone, he still hit the occasional, and aggravating enforced error right into the net, still hit aggravated double faults, but he was PLAYING, they created a highlight reel everyone should watch.

I was very similar to when Wawrinka beat Novak at AO the other year, you keep thinking he's going to blow it, but this dude came through. McEnroe said "How does this guy lose to anyone". There was one game when Fognini was receiving, he took the serve and hit every return down the line over 90mph, fore and backhand. McEnroe couldn't believe it, nor I. If that guy played that way it's hard to see anyone beat him. It's amazing what these guys are capable of when they are in the zone. Remember, Nadal did NOT play bad at all, I'm sure he's lost a step and a nano second of reflexes, but Nadal didn't lose this match, Fognini won it.

It was a brilliant match, best I've seen in a while. But I dunno about best ever though. Probably the best of the year though.

 

[tennis_pro]

I've just seen that Foginni had never beaten a top 10 opponent prior to this. It's just so hard to fathom with ability like that.

Really? Unless you mean on HC.

 

[Bukmeikara]

If they meet in Chile and Argentina, Fognini could go after the "Nadal" Slam.

 

[Terry Tibbs]

Really? Unless you mean on HC.

Yes sorry, forgot to mention on a HC.

 

[tennis_pro]

If they meet in Chile and Argentina, Fognini could go after the "Nadal" Slam.

Just a thought. Is Fognini the first player to beat Nadal on 3 different continents in a calendar year (3)?

He also has a chance to beat him in Asia which would make it 4.

 

[WYK]

I dunno, the Azarenka/Kerber match is suiting up well

 

[droliver]

That was certainly some of the highest quality ball striking from Fognini that I've seen in 35 years of watching pro tennis. Just ridiculously red lining it for the last few sets. I thought Nadal played great, but was just blown off the court through pace and depth.

 

[Bukmeikara]

Just a thought. Is Fognini the first player to beat Nadal on 3 different continents in a calendar year (3)?

He also has a chance to beat him in Asia which would make it 4.

In 2013 Novak defeated Rafa in Europe, Asia and ... Antarctica

 

[OrangePower]

I thought it was a very exciting match, and very entertaining.

But I didn't think it was great quality in terms of the tennis, to be honest. It was very good, but not great. Sure Fognini made some insane shots. But he also made a bunch of errors, and his serve was weak. Also, on many of the great shots Fognini made, he hardly had to move to the ball at all and was able to set up early. As for Rafa, he was solid for the first half, but not great, and then looked a bit slow and incapable of sustained offense for much of the second half, excepting for a few points here and there that he was fired up for.

So a good match, some excellent shotmaking, very entertaining and very exciting, some high quality ball striking, but to say it was some of the very best quality tennis overall is not true IMO.

 

[NatF]

Bit of an exaggeration, I can think of plenty of matches of better quality. Blake vs Agassi was better for example.

 

[roger presley]

Hardly in my top 30 best tennis matches.

 

[Noelan]

LOL

 

[Slice'n'dice]

Bit of an exaggeration, I can think of plenty of matches of better quality. Blake vs Agassi was better for example.

Quality isn't everything in a great match. It was absolutely packed with drama and excitement. I've been thinking about it quite a lot today, you know how when you watch a really good film and the next day you keep just thinking about parts of the film and how good it was.

There have been better matches, but it was a fantastic match. Especially once Fognini started playing properly.

 

[SublimeTennis]

I've just watched the highlights on YouTube and I'm in shock at the standard, albeit I only saw a 15 minute highlight reel.

Nadal to me looked close to his best and it was his best tennis probably since he last won the French open but that guy Foginni's ball striking was the best I ever seen. I was mesmerised by it! He made the slow court look fast. Where has this guy been and why is he only ranked 32?

I then watched the Federer match in real time. It looked pedestrian in comparison and Federer looked average. Foginni should win the tournament playing like this but I'm guessing he won't be able to play like that again and Nadal has again been unlucky enough to come up against a player who has been able to find tennis from the gods.

What was most amazing I think, is they'd be in a regular rally, and Fognini would just kill a fore or backhand right down the line, OVER AND OVER, Mac kept saying the speed, 95, 98, "That looked 100mph", and as I say one game it was four in a row, you think if he plays like this how can he be beat? I know, some of these guys get into the Zone, and it was the coming from behind, not just anyways, but Nadal, whose never lost after winning two sets, just amazing. I mean 70 winners? It was amazing, just shows what a person can do in the zone.

 

[SublimeTennis]

It was a brilliant match, best I've seen in a while. But I dunno about best ever though. Probably the best of the year though.

Well it was the comeback, Nadal has never lost after winning first two sets, so you think it's over, that's what makes it an exciting event, then you cringe, you see a 96mph forehand, but you think "He can't keep this up", but he did, one of the best matches ever for that reason.

 

[West Coast Ace]

Great match. Fognini was crushing winners from crazy locations; snuck into net quite a bit.

Stan's AO win v Djokovic is higher. As is the classic Nadal - Verdasco AO SF. But this one is in the Top 10 in the last 5, 6 years.

 

[LETitBE]

as far as entertainment yes most definately...and a great result too

 

[HewittAlwaysDisappoints]

Oooh living in the past, aren't we? Good good, let the butthurt flow. Nadal ain't winning S%%% for the remainder of his career and the butthurt showsssss.

you really hate Nadal don't you??? always so bitter smh

 

[Novak And The Net.]

No, as only one of the players were producing great tennis.

 

[Garhi Shot First]

Great performance by Fognini, but best match I've ever seen? Not even close. Not even in 2015 or for this tournament (Azarenka vs Kerber has that distinction, so far).

 

[tennis_pro]

you really hate Nadal don't you??? always so bitter smh

I don't like him but I replied with butthurt to butthurt.

 

[smalahove]

What was most amazing I think, is they'd be in a regular rally, and Fognini would just kill a fore or backhand right down the line, OVER AND OVER, Mac kept saying the speed, 95, 98, "That looked 100mph", and as I say one game it was four in a row, you think if he plays like this how can he be beat? I know, some of these guys get into the Zone, and it was the coming from behind, not just anyways, but Nadal, whose never lost after winning two sets, just amazing. I mean 70 winners? It was amazing, just shows what a person can do in the zone.

And the incredible ease he did it with, almost nonchalant ... )
He just smacked the ball with his wrist, so that you'd expect a weak return, but boom ... 100 mph rocket.

 

[Fedinkum]

Excellent match!! You really need an attacking player to bring the best out of Rafa. Though I think Rafa's level dropped by the 5th. He was definitely out of legs in a number of rallies when the Fog unleashed those down the line monsters.

 

[Steve0904]

Oooh living in the past, aren't we? Good good, let the butthurt flow. Nadal ain't winning S%%% for the remainder of his career and the butthurt showsssss.

He's not even a Nadal fan, man. Just one of those guys that baits people into hating on Nadal.

 

[britam25]

Nadal is going through his blowout of rival Fognini, a perennial player who has the skill, hits 95 mph fore and backhands, but doesn't train, doesn't take it serious, would rather complain. However that Fognini didn't show up, the serious pro turned up, in fact I didn't see him get mad once, just focused.

So I'm ready to go out, Nadal is playing great, he's up 2 sets and a break, but then slowly at first Fognini starts hitting INSANE WINNERS, the crowd goes wild, it was almost like Fognini thought "Wait, I like being applauded more than booed", and it's match on. He wins the third, but of course it will be like Nadals first match, losing the third, but then magic happened, Fognini moved into the zone, he still hit the occasional, and aggravating enforced error right into the net, still hit aggravated double faults, but he was PLAYING, they created a highlight reel everyone should watch.

I was very similar to when Wawrinka beat Novak at AO the other year, you keep thinking he's going to blow it, but this dude came through. McEnroe said "How does this guy lose to anyone". There was one game when Fognini was receiving, he took the serve and hit every return down the line over 90mph, fore and backhand. McEnroe couldn't believe it, nor I. If that guy played that way it's hard to see anyone beat him. It's amazing what these guys are capable of when they are in the zone. Remember, Nadal did NOT play bad at all, I'm sure he's lost a step and a nano second of reflexes, but Nadal didn't lose this match, Fognini won it.

It was certainly one of the most enjoyable, but, for me, "best" includes quality of play, from both players. Maybe I'm overrating them from memory, but Mac vs Borg at Wimbledon '81, or Fed vs Roddick at Wimbledon come to mind. I don't think Nadal played well at all(pretty much donated the first two sets, and, obviously, not good the last 3), and as for Fog, plenty of others have mentioned the winners to unforced errors ratio, 70-57. For the last 2.5 sets, as far as quality of play-make that, actual quality of play to what was expected-if it wasn't at the head of the class, it don't long to call "role."

 

[britam25]

Really? Unless you mean on HC.

Yes, they said he was 0-17 on HC vs top ten. Hmmmm, I think Bird Brain had lost 17 straight times to Nadal before losing. Doesn't seem to like that number.

 

[Garhi Shot First]

McEnroe v Borg Wimbledon 1980 final. What a classic. That 4th set tiebreak alone is legendary.

 

[D.Nalby12]

One of the highest quality matches I've seen in this season.

We used to say someone "Rosoled" other, if one would ballbash and servebot his way to beat superior opponent..Now we can say, someone "Fogged" other, one puts offensive masterclass from baseline totally outclassing opponent with brutal flat shotmaking without having decent serve.

In short epic level from Fognini. He has earned the place in History books and hearts of Tennis fans with this performance. If someone asks me about Fognini after 20 years or so, I will surely point this match and that return game in fifth in which he struck four straight winners to get decisive break.

For those who missed this:
m.youtube.com/watch?v=NfY1V35cHMw

 

[spirit95]

I've just seen that Foginni had never beaten a top 10 opponent prior to this. It's just so hard to fathom with ability like that.

Only on hard courts

 

[Terry Tibbs]

One of the highest quality matches I've seen in this season.

We used to say someone "Rosoled" other, if one would ballbash and servebot his way to beat superior opponent..Now we can say, someone "Fogged" other, one puts offensive masterclass from baseline totally outclassing opponent with brutal flat shotmaking without having decent serve.

In short epic level from Fognini. He has earned the place in History books and hearts of Tennis fans with this performance. If someone asks me about Fognini after 20 years or so, I will surely point this match and that return game in fifth in which he struck four straight winners to get decisive break.

For those who missed this:
m.youtube.com/watch?v=NfY1V35cHMw

Those ground strokes are just a joy to watch even in the first 2 sets which he lost

 

[Mainad]

I've just seen that Foginni had never beaten a top 10 opponent prior to this. It's just so hard to fathom with ability like that.

Well, he had beaten Nadal twice already this year (Rio and Barcelona) and beat Murray last year in a Davis Cup tie. But this is the first time in a Grand Slam.

 

[BreakPoint]

I prefer RG 2008 final.

Yes, that exciting 5-setter was a real nail-biter! The suspense of not knowing who would ultimately win created so much drama!

 

[BreakPoint]

I've just seen that Foginni had never beaten a top 10 opponent prior to this. It's just so hard to fathom with ability like that.

Huh? Fognini had beaten Nadal twice just this year prior to this latest win.

 

[Tennisanity]

Huh? Fognini had beaten Nadal twice just this year prior to this latest win.

He probably meant in a slam.

 

[Tshooter]

A classic case of an underachiever. I've followed him rather closely for a few years. Enormous talent.

Enormous flake.

 

[Serve&Bash]

My jaw dropped just watching the highlights. Wish I could have seen it live.

 

[britam25]

He probably meant in a slam.

No, he was 0-17 vs Top Ten players on hard courts.

 

[Tennisanity]

No, he was 0-17 vs Top Ten players on hard courts.

THe original poster said never beaten a top 10 player ever. Didn't mention surface.

 

[britam25]

THe original poster said never beaten a top 10 player ever. Didn't mention surface.

Yes, I know that, he was wrong, obviously so, since Fog had already beaten Nadal twice this year. I was clarifying the stat.

 

[SublimeTennis]

It was certainly one of the most enjoyable, but, for me, "best" includes quality of play, from both players. Maybe I'm overrating them from memory, but Mac vs Borg at Wimbledon '81, or Fed vs Roddick at Wimbledon come to mind. I don't think Nadal played well at all(pretty much donated the first two sets, and, obviously, not good the last 3), and as for Fog, plenty of others have mentioned the winners to unforced errors ratio, 70-57. For the last 2.5 sets, as far as quality of play-make that, actual quality of play to what was expected-if it wasn't at the head of the class, it don't long to call "role."

Oh certainly I agree with you, it wasn't the literal greatest of all time, it was one of those "I'm going out, let me just see Nadal finish off Fognini, he's up two sets and a break", then Fognini starts hitting these INSANE SHOTS, and you start thinking "Is he coming back, no", then Fognini ups his play, lowers his UE, ends up 70 winners, it was so similar to the Wawrinka/Djokovich match, every shot you think they are going to fall apart, so it's exciting, probably overstated it's greatness, just haven't seen a great match in along time.