Nadal was crispy af in the 2013 USO final

MichaelNadal

Bionic Poster

Had been too long since I watched the whole match. I would love to see this ferociousness and variety from him again, especially against Novak. I feel like he's capable and it's mental. Djokovic is not playing bad here as much as Ultronians hate to admit it. He'd have beaten anyone besides Rafa here, and would have beaten Rafa if he broke in that 0-40 game. The houdini escape from Rafa was epic af. Grab wings, watch :)
 
Novak played really well for the first 3 sets and then physically gave up. This also marks the beginning of the Becker era


As much as VB want a rematch at USO final, I can assure you NoleFam want that even more ;)
 

GhostOfNKDM

Hall of Fame
Rafa Novak encounters are like MMA fights - fighters geared to the gills going bare knuckle - seems inhumane to even watch two people going at each other like that.
 

beard

Legend
Novak played really well for the first 3 sets and then physically gave up. This also marks the beginning of the Becker era


As much as VB want a rematch at USO final, I can assure you NoleFam want that even more ;)
Yeah, but we will get only nth RG final, so Nadal will boost slam h2h and VB mojos... :rolleyes:
 
T

TheNachoMan

Guest
It helped that Rafa got Reeshard in his draw and Novak got Stan :sick:
 

Had been too long since I watched the whole match. I would love to see this ferociousness and variety from him again, especially against Novak. I feel like he's capable and it's mental. Djokovic is not playing bad here as much as Ultronians hate to admit it. He'd have beaten anyone besides Rafa here, and would have beaten Rafa if he broke in that 0-40 game. The houdini escape from Rafa was epic af. Grab wings, watch :)
The only crisp thing about this match is the footage quality, lol.

Ok, let me add timestamps of the "crispiest" choke ever:

*1:37:00 important point at 30-30 misses an easy BH
*1:39:15 break point for a double break, misses a routine BH
*1:48:30 puts an easy FH into the net
*1:50:00 another routine error
*1:51:40 has a game point, slow to the chase the BH, puts it into the stands
*1:52:50 another really easy FH error (are you kidding me)
*1:53:45 ball in the middle of the court, sends it 2m long (lol, wtf Novak)
*2:05:45 the long point at 4-4 40-15 where he puts a ball into the net
*2:08:00 routine BH, could have been a potential 4th BP if he won the point
*2:14:00 club level miss to give a set point to Nadal

Let's recap:

1) Fails to get the double break at 2-0 because of unforced errors

2) Gives the break back to Nadal with 4/6 points being VERY EASY unforced errors

3) Has 3 consecutive BPs, misses a big chance on the 2nd one

4) Makes a crappy UE to give Nadal setpoint at 5-4 30-30

So no, the game at 4-4 had the least impact. The choke was at 2-0 and 3-2.

His 2nd best set in the match was a mega-choke, while sets 1 and 4 are hard to even talk about.

Got a crispy imagine for this match :X3:
how-to-know-if-chicken-is-bad.2..jpg
 

jondice

Semi-Pro
I love watching this match. I thought Nole would stream roll going in. But Rafa was just fantastic in the match. I think this is my favorite slam win of Rafa's.
 

Sport

G.O.A.T.
Novak played really well for the first 3 sets and then physically gave up. This also marks the beginning of the Becker era


As much as VB want a rematch at USO final, I can assure you NoleFam want that even more ;)
He mentally gave up. It's just too hard to lose a set in such a deciding moment after being 0-40 with 3 break balls.
 

Hitman

Bionic Poster
The only crisp thing about this match is the footage quality, lol.

Ok, let me add timestamps of the "crispiest" choke ever:

*1:37:00 important point at 30-30 misses an easy BH
*1:39:15 break point for a double break, misses a routine BH
*1:48:30 puts an easy FH into the net
*1:50:00 another routine error
*1:51:40 has a game point, slow to the chase the BH, puts it into the stands
*1:52:50 another really easy FH error (are you kidding me)
*1:53:45 ball in the middle of the court, sends it 2m long (lol, wtf Novak)
*2:05:45 the long point at 4-4 40-15 where he puts a ball into the net
*2:08:00 routine BH, could have been a potential 4th BP if he won the point
*2:14:00 club level miss to give a set point to Nadal

Let's recap:

1) Fails to get the double break at 2-0 because of unforced errors

2) Gives the break back to Nadal with 4/6 points being VERY EASY unforced errors

3) Has 3 consecutive BPs, misses a big chance on the 2nd one

4) Makes a crappy UE to give Nadal setpoint at 5-4 30-30

So no, the game at 4-4 had the least impact. The choke was at 2-0 and 3-2.

His 2nd best set in the match was a mega-choke, while sets 1 and 4 are hard to even talk about.

Got a crispy imagine for this match :X3:
how-to-know-if-chicken-is-bad.2..jpg

Lol. Real crispy.
 
The only crisp thing about this match is the footage quality, lol.

Ok, let me add timestamps of the "crispiest" choke ever:

*1:37:00 important point at 30-30 misses an easy BH
*1:39:15 break point for a double break, misses a routine BH
*1:48:30 puts an easy FH into the net
*1:50:00 another routine error
*1:51:40 has a game point, slow to the chase the BH, puts it into the stands
*1:52:50 another really easy FH error (are you kidding me)
*1:53:45 ball in the middle of the court, sends it 2m long (lol, wtf Novak)
*2:05:45 the long point at 4-4 40-15 where he puts a ball into the net
*2:08:00 routine BH, could have been a potential 4th BP if he won the point
*2:14:00 club level miss to give a set point to Nadal

Let's recap:

1) Fails to get the double break at 2-0 because of unforced errors

2) Gives the break back to Nadal with 4/6 points being VERY EASY unforced errors

3) Has 3 consecutive BPs, misses a big chance on the 2nd one

4) Makes a crappy UE to give Nadal setpoint at 5-4 30-30

So no, the game at 4-4 had the least impact. The choke was at 2-0 and 3-2.

His 2nd best set in the match was a mega-choke, while sets 1 and 4 are hard to even talk about.

Got a crispy imagine for this match :X3:
how-to-know-if-chicken-is-bad.2..jpg
This. Not difficult to be crispy against Comatosevic.;)
 

ewiewp

Hall of Fame

Had been too long since I watched the whole match. I would love to see this ferociousness and variety from him again, especially against Novak. I feel like he's capable and it's mental. Djokovic is not playing bad here as much as Ultronians hate to admit it. He'd have beaten anyone besides Rafa here, and would have beaten Rafa if he broke in that 0-40 game. The houdini escape from Rafa was epic af. Grab wings, watch :)

This was response to the Djokovic's 2011 form and Nadal made significant improvement on his serve and quick hard court game.

I think this shocked Djokovic and he hired Becker and raised his game another level with better serve and forehand.

And then Nadal responded with strategic changes toward middle of courts and Djokovic's forehand.

Then after elbow injury Djokovic raised his game again with simplified serving and forehand.

Since then Nadal had no solution to Novak.

Ivan Lendle claimed Nadal improved again attacking middle and forehand side at last year's french open.

But I'm not sure because it was french open.

Anyway the biggest, longest to and highest intensities in rivalry between top 2 rankers I've ever witnessed.
 

Had been too long since I watched the whole match. I would love to see this ferociousness and variety from him again, especially against Novak. I feel like he's capable and it's mental. Djokovic is not playing bad here as much as Ultronians hate to admit it. He'd have beaten anyone besides Rafa here, and would have beaten Rafa if he broke in that 0-40 game. The houdini escape from Rafa was epic af. Grab wings, watch :)
Reminds me how good Rafa used to be. He looks a tiny bit sluggish compared to this though he always gives 100%.
 

Hitman

Bionic Poster
This was response to the Djokovic's 2011 form and Nadal made significant improvement on his serve and quick hard court game.

I think this shocked Djokovic and he hired Becker and raised his game another level with better serve and forehand.

And then Nadal responded with strategic changes toward middle of courts and Djokovic's forehand.

Then after elbow injury Djokovic raised his game again with simplified serving and forehand.

Since then Nadal had no solution to Novak.

Ivan Lendle claimed Nadal improved again attacking middle and forehand side at last year's french open.

But I'm not sure because it was french open.

Anyway the biggest, longest to and highest intensities in rivalry between top 2 rankers I've ever witnessed.

Djokovic didn't just hire Becker because of what happened at USO 2013, in 2013 Djokovic was starting to lose his mental edge that he had the last few years, losses to Del Potro, Haas, Dimitrov, Berdych were piling up, loss to Isner, a terrible showing at the Wimbledon final against Murray who had still no answer to on grass, and Wawrinka pushing him to the pointing of breaking at AO and USO that year. He saw he was taking steps back at that point and needed to get back on track despite a solid end to 2013 winning I believe four titles in a row, Beijing, Shanghai, Paris and WTF which included beating Nadal twice, his issue was struggling when the matches got tight. Becker helped him through that, of course Nadal was part of that, but so was Murray and many of the others players that caused him issues that year.
 

ewiewp

Hall of Fame
Djokovic didn't just hire Becker because of what happened at USO 2013, in 2013 Djokovic was starting to lose his mental edge that he had the last few years, losses to Del Potro, Haas, Dimitrov, Berdych were piling up, loss to Isner, a terrible showing at the Wimbledon final against Murray who had still no answer to on grass, and Wawrinka pushing him to the pointing of breaking at AO and USO that year. He saw he was taking steps back at that point and needed to get back on track despite a solid end to 2013 winning I believe four titles in a row, Beijing, Shanghai, Paris and WTF which included beating Nadal twice, his issue was struggling when the matches got tight. Becker helped him through that, of course Nadal was part of that, but so was Murray and many of the others players that caused him issues that year.
Yes I agree.
I just used Nadal as a rep since he was the top ranker.
 

Hitman

Bionic Poster
Yes I agree.
I just used Nadal as a rep since he was the top ranker.

I don't disagree with the notion that the USO 2013 loss didn't impact his decision, in fact not only did it reinforce his decision, but I remember a little while back I said here that I think Djokovic remembers that USO 2013 loss everytime he plays Nadal, especially on HC, the fact that he has won 19 straight sets against him since that time is telling and no one can tell me that Nadal just went onto just plain suck that badly against Djokovic that he was incapable of winning just one set on HC in the last seven plus years, when much lesser players have done so much better. Djokovic in fact confirmed that by saying that he started carrying a notepad around in which he wrote his feelings straight after some of his big losses, that he would go back and read before big matches against those very same players....as if he was trying to reopen those wounds and then using that to channel himself before the match.

It always looked like Djokovic saw red when he was across the net from Nadal, Federer or Murray, the whole Novak gets up for his big four rivals and not so much for others. Well, those are the guys who gave him his biggest losses, so he probably reads those notes before such big matches, or at least he did.
 
Djokovic didn't just hire Becker because of what happened at USO 2013, in 2013 Djokovic was starting to lose his mental edge that he had the last few years, losses to Del Potro, Haas, Dimitrov, Berdych were piling up, loss to Isner, a terrible showing at the Wimbledon final against Murray who had still no answer to on grass, and Wawrinka pushing him to the pointing of breaking at AO and USO that year. He saw he was taking steps back at that point and needed to get back on track despite a solid end to 2013 winning I believe four titles in a row, Beijing, Shanghai, Paris and WTF which included beating Nadal twice, his issue was struggling when the matches got tight. Becker helped him through that, of course Nadal was part of that, but so was Murray and many of the others players that caused him issues that year.
The improvement wasn't immediate, given 2014 wasn't his best prime year, but improved serve stability and placement, better all around game (including slice and net game) and a more controlled aggression rather than going all out helped him transition into the great career period of 2015-2016.

It was very helpful to compensate for the slight decline in explosiveness from 2011-2013 with all these improvements and adjustements.
 

Hitman

Bionic Poster
The improvement wasn't immediate, given 2014 wasn't his best prime year, but improved serve stability and placement, better all around game (including slice and net game) and a more controlled aggression rather than going all out helped him transition into the great career period of 2015-2016.

It was very helpful to compensate for the slight decline in explosiveness from 2011-2013 with all these improvements and adjustements.

Well yes, even Djokovic stated when he hired Becker that he was expecting things to start showing on court around summer time, which was about right. There were a lot of adjustments that needed to take place, in various aspect of his game, both physically and mentally.
 

ewiewp

Hall of Fame
The improvement wasn't immediate, given 2014 wasn't his best prime year, but improved serve stability and placement, better all around game (including slice and net game) and a more controlled aggression rather than going all out helped him transition into the great career period of 2015-2016.

It was very helpful to compensate for the slight decline in explosiveness from 2011-2013 with all these improvements and adjustements.

I agree. He improved how he managed his serving assets.
He mixes flat, kick and slice serves very mature way since Becker although that management skill reminds me of his idol Sampras'. :-D
And his mental focus in serving.
 

Enceladus

Legend

Had been too long since I watched the whole match. I would love to see this ferociousness and variety from him again, especially against Novak. I feel like he's capable and it's mental. Djokovic is not playing bad here as much as Ultronians hate to admit it. He'd have beaten anyone besides Rafa here, and would have beaten Rafa if he broke in that 0-40 game. The houdini escape from Rafa was epic af. Grab wings, watch :)
For me it's Nole's most frustrating loss. At the time, Nole was in a state of mental fragility, which this loss yet further highlighted. In terms of game level, Djoker had a chance to beat Nadal, but his head wouldn't let him. Djoker with mental strength from 2011 or from period since 2015 (except during the period of the game crisis) would win this match.
 

abmk

Bionic Poster
He mentally gave up. It's just too hard to lose a set in such a deciding moment after being 0-40 with 3 break balls.

oh yeah? Roddick lost 4 SPs in 2nd set of Wim 09 breaker. More than held his own in the 3rd set taking it to a breaker.
didn't mentally crumble unlike Djokovic.
 

abmk

Bionic Poster

Had been too long since I watched the whole match. I would love to see this ferociousness and variety from him again, especially against Novak. I feel like he's capable and it's mental. Djokovic is not playing bad here as much as Ultronians hate to admit it. He'd have beaten anyone besides Rafa here, and would have beaten Rafa if he broke in that 0-40 game. The houdini escape from Rafa was epic af. Grab wings, watch :)

Djokovic sucked in sets 1 and 4 of this match. set 2 he played well. set 3 he played well minus the choking (granted credit to Nadal for being clutch as well)
About that 3rd set, what he said ->

The only crisp thing about this match is the footage quality, lol.

Ok, let me add timestamps of the "crispiest" choke ever:

*1:37:00 important point at 30-30 misses an easy BH
*1:39:15 break point for a double break, misses a routine BH
*1:48:30 puts an easy FH into the net
*1:50:00 another routine error
*1:51:40 has a game point, slow to the chase the BH, puts it into the stands
*1:52:50 another really easy FH error (are you kidding me)
*1:53:45 ball in the middle of the court, sends it 2m long (lol, wtf Novak)
*2:05:45 the long point at 4-4 40-15 where he puts a ball into the net
*2:08:00 routine BH, could have been a potential 4th BP if he won the point
*2:14:00 club level miss to give a set point to Nadal

Let's recap:

1) Fails to get the double break at 2-0 because of unforced errors

2) Gives the break back to Nadal with 4/6 points being VERY EASY unforced errors

3) Has 3 consecutive BPs, misses a big chance on the 2nd one

4) Makes a crappy UE to give Nadal setpoint at 5-4 30-30

So no, the game at 4-4 had the least impact. The choke was at 2-0 and 3-2.

His 2nd best set in the match was a mega-choke, while sets 1 and 4 are hard to even talk about.

Got a crispy imagine for this match :X3:
how-to-know-if-chicken-is-bad.2..jpg

As far as Nadal goes, he played well in sets 1 and 4 of this match, but wasn't that good in sets 2 and 3 (even with clutching out set3 - had like 1 winner in the whole set at 4 all 0-40)
 

abmk

Bionic Poster
Novak played really well for the first 3 sets and then physically gave up. This also marks the beginning of the Becker era


As much as VB want a rematch at USO final, I can assure you NoleFam want that even more ;)

firstly Djokovic sucked in the 1st set, Also choked 3rd set away apart from Nadal being clutch. 4th set was a mental letdown from Djokovic.
 

USO

Banned

Had been too long since I watched the whole match. I would love to see this ferociousness and variety from him again, especially against Novak. I feel like he's capable and it's mental. Djokovic is not playing bad here as much as Ultronians hate to admit it. He'd have beaten anyone besides Rafa here, and would have beaten Rafa if he broke in that 0-40 game. The houdini escape from Rafa was epic af. Grab wings, watch :)

Wow peak Djokovic was completely helpless in the final of the biggest hardcourt tournament. :giggle:
 

The Blond Blur

G.O.A.T.
This was a tactical masterclass match from RAFA. He mixed up spin, pace, angles, and changed the direction of the ball so well. He kept Joker off balance and frustrated him so much, it’s a shame his movement went in the crapper after AO 2014. Since then m, he can’t move laterally nearly as well so he can’t hit his fearhand DTL with reliable regularity. IMO it’s the most important shot in the Nadovic matchup since it was the answer to Joker’s cross court backhand. If he’s hitting it well he has a chance, if not he’s screwed.
 

MichaelNadal

Bionic Poster
This was a tactical masterclass match from RAFA. He mixed up spin, pace, angles, and changed the direction of the ball so well. He kept Joker off balance and frustrated him so much, it’s a shame his movement went in the crapper after AO 2014. Since then m, he can’t move laterally nearly as well so he can’t hit his fearhand DTL with reliable regularity. IMO it’s the most important shot in the Nadovic matchup since it was the answer to Joker’s cross court backhand. If he’s hitting it well he has a chance, if not he’s screwed.

It really was :giggle:

bdf22ac06fadecbdd0743d69096c4aba_-united-states-pennsylvania-allegheny-county-monroeville-charleys-philly-steaks-440-876-7735htm.jpg
 

MichaelNadal

Bionic Poster
That 3rd set still gives me nightmares. It wouldn't have been game over, but for Nadal to come back against Djokovic from 1-2 on hard courts it would have been veeery tough.

I really thought it was over when he was 0-40. I was getting so mad lol. Same with USO 19, it was like RAFA!?!?!?!? OMG BRO!! Then he pulls out the magic :D
 

Blahovic

Professional
Nadal played unbelievable tennis in 2013.

I don't think you can compare it negatively to the 2010 US Open final as Djokovic was a much better player in 2013 than in 2010. 2010 Djokovic was playing desperate tennis without a proper serve; 2013 Djokovic was controlling rallies when things were clicking.

Djokovic probably "should" have won this match, but as Nadal says "if, if, if... doesn't exist". This was one of the matches where Nadal was simply mentally tougher than Djokovic despite being a less natural hard court player, and an example of Nadal probably being the mentally toughest player of all time in the big moments.
 

Beckerserve

Legend

Had been too long since I watched the whole match. I would love to see this ferociousness and variety from him again, especially against Novak. I feel like he's capable and it's mental. Djokovic is not playing bad here as much as Ultronians hate to admit it. He'd have beaten anyone besides Rafa here, and would have beaten Rafa if he broke in that 0-40 game. The houdini escape from Rafa was epic af. Grab wings, watch :)
Didnt Rafa repeat this 6 months ago in the final?
 

RS

Bionic Poster
Nadal played unbelievable tennis in 2013.

I don't think you can compare it negatively to the 2010 US Open final as Djokovic was a much better player in 2013 than in 2010. 2010 Djokovic was playing desperate tennis without a proper serve; 2013 Djokovic was controlling rallies when things were clicking.

Djokovic probably "should" have won this match, but as Nadal says "if, if, if... doesn't exist". This was one of the matches where Nadal was simply mentally tougher than Djokovic despite being a less natural hard court player, and an example of Nadal probably being the mentally toughest player of all time in the big moments.
IMO both played better in 2010 final.
 

Beckerserve

Legend
I really thought it was over when he was 0-40. I was getting so mad lol. Same with USO 19, it was like RAFA!?!?!?!? OMG BRO!! Then he pulls out the magic :D
Rafa at the USO is like an out of world experience. Definitely plays above his natural HC level. He loves the atmosphere on Ashe and all the hottest Hollywood Celebrities rooting for him looking at his body. In fairness in such circumstances id play above my level as well.
At the AO the polar opposite is true. Rafa goes into a shell like a tortoise.
 

Blahovic

Professional
IMO both played better in 2010 final.
No chance that Djokovic played better. 2010 Djokovic played more flashy tennis but it was desperate stuff against an opponent who was more solid than him. He never got control of the match, and his service games were beseiged in every set (his serve was much worse in 2010, he was still only partway to recovering a more natural service motion). He managed to save a lot of break points with gambles to make the match competitive.

2013 Djokovic was weird though because he was so bad in sets 1 and 4.
 

Beckerserve

Legend
This was a tactical masterclass match from RAFA. He mixed up spin, pace, angles, and changed the direction of the ball so well. He kept Joker off balance and frustrated him so much, it’s a shame his movement went in the crapper after AO 2014. Since then m, he can’t move laterally nearly as well so he can’t hit his fearhand DTL with reliable regularity. IMO it’s the most important shot in the Nadovic matchup since it was the answer to Joker’s cross court backhand. If he’s hitting it well he has a chance, if not he’s screwed.
I have always said the Nadal DTLFH and DTLBH are the keys against Djokovic. Hit them well he wins on any surface. He did in Paris 6 months ago and obliterated Djokovic. On hard and grass it would be closer but Nadal would win.
At the USO Nadal hits those shots well. For some reason in australia and Wimbledon he never does anymore. As u say on quicker courts his lateral movement is exposed.
I am glad Rafa avoided Novak in Australia this year. He would have been creamed i fear.
 

abmk

Bionic Poster
No chance that Djokovic played better. 2010 Djokovic played more flashy tennis but it was desperate stuff against an opponent who was more solid than him. He never got control of the match, and his service games were beseiged in every set (his serve was much worse in 2010, he was still only partway to recovering a more natural service motion). He managed to save a lot of break points with gambles to make the match competitive.

2013 Djokovic was weird though because he was so bad in sets 1 and 4.

# of times Djokovic was broken in 2010 US Open final = 6 times in 20 service games
# of times Djokovic was broken in 2013 US Open final = 7 times in 17 service games

Djokovic's serve itself was better in 2013 USO final, but he backed it up clearly worse than in 2010 US Open final
Djokovic was broken in every set in 2013 US Open final - twice in first, once in second, twice in third, twice in fourth. So much for you talking about Djoko's service games being beseiged in USO 2010 final

Nadal was clearly better in USO 2010 final than in USO 2013 final as well.
 

RS

Bionic Poster
# of times Djokovic was broken in 2010 US Open final = 6 times in 20 service games
# of times Djokovic was broken in 2013 US Open final = 7 times in 17 service games

Djokovic's serve itself was better in 2013 USO final, but he backed it up clearly worse than in 2010 US Open final
Djokovic was broken in every set in 2013 US Open final - twice in first, once in second, twice in third, twice in fourth. So much for you talking about Djoko's service games being beseiged in USO 2010 final

Nadal was clearly better in USO 2010 final than in USO 2013 final as well.
Out of 10?
 
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