Nadal's 2010: the field in slams

[RF-18]

AO

1R Luczak
2R Lacko
3R Kohlschreiber
4R Karlovic
QF Murray


FO

1R Mina
2R Zeballos
3R Hewitt
4R Bellucci
QF Almagro
SF Melzer
F Soderling

Wimbledon

1R Nishikori
2R Haase
3R Petzcshner
4R Mathieu
QF Soderling
SF Murray
F Berdych

USO

1R Gabashvilli
2R Istomin
3R Simon
4R Lopez
QF Verdasco
SF Youzhny
F Djokovic

 

[Deleted member 410229]

There was a field, with players and all. Thats what you're trying to say?

 

[RF-18]

There was a field, with players and all. Thats what you're trying to say?

What's the problem?

 

[Tenez!]

Wow, never realised there were that many consonants in Petzschner : 6 in a row!
(After inspection, English has that too: catchphrase)

But concerning the field, it really was the flukiest year ever for Nadal. Failed at AO, cakewalk at FO, easiest WO final since the 1880s, and only one tough US Open challenge.
Essentially, his 3 slams came at the cost of one big match: Djokovic in 2010.

I guess we can always thank the skies he didn't fluke the 2010 AO as well, that would have made his fans unbearable. It's a fair thing he's now receiving the narrow defeats he deserved all those years ago.

 

[Navdeep Srivastava]

To be fair Melzer, Almagro , Soderling in RG and Soderling, Murray , Berdych in Wimbledon were playing well.
His draw in Us open and AO were easy.

 

[Chanwan]

Wow, never realised there were that many consonants in Petzschner : 6 in a row!
(After inspection, English has that too: catchphrase)

But concerning the field, it really was the flukiest year ever for Nadal. Failed at AO, cakewalk at FO, easiest WO final since the 1880s, and only one tough US Open challenge.
Essentially, his 3 slams came at the cost of one big match: Djokovic in 2010.

I guess we can always thank the skies he didn't fluke the 2010 AO as well, that would have made his fans unbearable. It's a fair thing he's now receiving the narrow defeats he deserved all those years ago.

Mind you, this was a Djokovic, who had his first top-10 win of the entire year the day before by beating Fed and who probably wasn't quite ready to climb the hill he'd climbed vs. Fed twice in a row after going more than 2,5 years without beating Fedal in a slam.
As for the Berd comment and 1880's ------

 

[Anaconda]

AO

1R Luczak
2R Lacko
3R Kohlschreiber
4R Karlovic
QF Murray


FO

1R Mina
2R Zeballos
3R Hewitt
4R Bellucci
QF Almagro
SF Melzer
F Soderling

Wimbledon

1R Nishikori
2R Haase
3R Petzcshner
4R Mathieu
QF Soderling
SF Murray
F Berdych

USO

1R Gabashvilli
2R Istomin
3R Simon
4R Lopez
QF Verdasco
SF Youzhny
F Djokovic

I actually think his W10 run was his best draw. Nishikori on any surface is not a pleasant first round draw, regardless of his ranking in 2010. Only other 1st round which is harder is Karlovic. Haase and Petzchner have been very, very close to KO'ing Nadal out at Wimbledon prior to W10. Soderling, Murray and Berdych - although two of them haven't won a slam and Murray wasn't a slam winner at that point, you would usually have to play good tennis to beat these players on grass, especially Nadal.

Djokovic was the best player he played at US Open 2010. Djokovic was getting better in 2010 but still had issues which needed to be addressed. Overall, his Wimbledon draw was the toughest.

His FO draw was probably as tough as it would have gotten, except for playing Djokovic (but Djokovic was really low on confidence at that time and Federer lost to Soderling), Almagro is one of the better CC'ers, he played Soderling in the final.

 

[TheMusicLover]

I actually think his W10 run was his best draw. Nishikori on any surface is not a pleasant first round draw, regardless of his ranking in 2010. Only other 1st round which is harder is Karlovic. Haase and Petzchner have been very, very close to KO'ing Nadal out at Wimbledon prior to W10. Soderling, Murray and Berdych - although two of them haven't won a slam and Murray wasn't a slam winner at that point, you would usually have to play good tennis to beat these players on grass, especially Nadal.

You forgot to mention Robert Kendrick. Yes, "who"?

In all, this whinage about 'weak' or 'tough' draws is just as nauseating as those about 'weak' or 'tough' era's.
As a tennis player, you'll have to beat the guys at the opposite side of the net, and in slams, 7 times in a row - whoever those might be. Whoever manages such, is the rightful winner.

It shouldn't be too hard to figure out.

 

[Tenez!]

Mind you, this was a Djokovic, who had his first top-10 win of the entire year the day before by beating Fed and who probably wasn't quite ready to climb the hill he'd climbed vs. Fed twice in a row after going more than 2,5 years without beating Fedal in a slam.
As for the Berd comment and 1880's ------

Good point about the surprise win for Djokovic. Come to think of it, he was hesitant in the AO 2008 final too, had he faced Nadal he'd probably have failed. Beating Federer was still probably the ultimate achievement for him.

Well seriously, we're talking about Polestick "two grass finals in 10 years" Berdych.

As a tennis player, you'll have to beat the guys at the opposite side of the net, and in slams, 7 times in a row - whoever those might be. Whoever manages such, is the rightful winner.

Granted.
But there's a reason Challengers are not watched as much as ATP250s, not ATP500 as much as Masters.

One could imagine a six qualifier run-up to the final. Would it strike tennis viewers as memory-worthy? Similarly here, 7 boring matches do not a praiseworthy run make .

 

[mike danny]

I actually think his W10 run was his best draw. Nishikori on any surface is not a pleasant first round draw, regardless of his ranking in 2010. Only other 1st round which is harder is Karlovic. Haase and Petzchner have been very, very close to KO'ing Nadal out at Wimbledon prior to W10. Soderling, Murray and Berdych - although two of them haven't won a slam and Murray wasn't a slam winner at that point, you would usually have to play good tennis to beat these players on grass, especially Nadal.

Djokovic was the best player he played at US Open 2010. Djokovic was getting better in 2010 but still had issues which needed to be addressed. Overall, his Wimbledon draw was the toughest.

His FO draw was probably as tough as it would have gotten, except for playing Djokovic (but Djokovic was really low on confidence at that time and Federer lost to Soderling), Almagro is one of the better CC'ers, he played Soderling in the final.

As a whole Djokovic in 2007 was better than in 2010.

 

[Anaconda]

As a whole Djokovic in 2007 was better than in 2010.

Djokovic in 2007 was quite a lot better than the Djokovic of 2010. He could barely serve in 2010, his forehand was a liability, on top of that he was physically quite weak, and he looked like he didn't want to be their.

 

[Tenez!]

and he looked like he didn't want to be their.

Be their what?

 

[Thamel90]

Wow, never realised there were that many consonants in Petzschner : 6 in a row!
(After inspection, English has that too: catchphrase)

Kohlschreiber is also 6 consonants in a row

 

[PeterHo]

2010 was the weaker year during his peak, 08 to 13.

 

[Anaconda]

Be their what?

*there

 

[Deleted member 410229]

What's the problem?

I was playfully referring to the fact that by just posting that title and a field you let the reader make his own implications about what the thread's underlying meaning was. But i surely didnt see a problem, that's why i liked the thread.

 

[Deleted member 410229]

*there

There what?

 

[Navdeep Srivastava]

I actually think his W10 run was his best draw. Nishikori on any surface is not a pleasant first round draw, regardless of his ranking in 2010. Only other 1st round which is harder is Karlovic. Haase and Petzchner have been very, very close to KO'ing Nadal out at Wimbledon prior to W10. Soderling, Murray and Berdych - although two of them haven't won a slam and Murray wasn't a slam winner at that point, you would usually have to play good tennis to beat these players on grass, especially Nadal.

Djokovic was the best player he played at US Open 2010. Djokovic was getting better in 2010 but still had issues which needed to be addressed. Overall, his Wimbledon draw was the toughest.

His FO draw was probably as tough as it would have gotten, except for playing Djokovic (but Djokovic was really low on confidence at that time and Federer lost to Soderling), Almagro is one of the better CC'ers, he played Soderling in the final.

Agree with you , never understood why people claim RG and Wimbledon 10 was easy draw for Rafa.
Us and AO were little bit easy.

 

[Anaconda]

Agree with you , never understood why people claim RG and Wimbledon 10 was easy draw for Rafa.
Us and AO were little bit easy.

FO 2010 and W 2010 were not epic draws by any means, but they weren't weak either. The only good grasscourters Nadal didn't play at W10 were Federer and Roddick.

 

[vanioMan]

I actually think his W10 run was his best draw. Nishikori on any surface is not a pleasant first round draw, regardless of his ranking in 2010. Only other 1st round which is harder is Karlovic. Haase and Petzchner have been very, very close to KO'ing Nadal out at Wimbledon prior to W10. Soderling, Murray and Berdych - although two of them haven't won a slam and Murray wasn't a slam winner at that point, you would usually have to play good tennis to beat these players on grass, especially Nadal.

Djokovic was the best player he played at US Open 2010. Djokovic was getting better in 2010 but still had issues which needed to be addressed. Overall, his Wimbledon draw was the toughest.

His FO draw was probably as tough as it would have gotten, except for playing Djokovic (but Djokovic was really low on confidence at that time and Federer lost to Soderling), Almagro is one of the better CC'ers, he played Soderling in the final.

Quoted for truth.

 

[user]

As a whole Djokovic in 2007 was better than in 2010.

Ofc.

One interesting fact:

2007 - Djokovic reached #3 after reaching Wimbledon SF. Had 3310 pts, which I guess would be about 5600 in today's terms.
2010 - Djokovic was at #2 after Wimbledon SF with 6905 pts. Federer had 6885 at #3.

Did 2010 have a weak field because he amassed almost 7000 pts in crappy form with no serve, or 2007 because he reached #3 with modest pts number?

 

[NatF]

Ofc.

One interesting fact:

2007 - Djokovic reached #3 after reaching Wimbledon SF. Had 3310 pts, which I guess would be about 5600 in today's terms.
2010 - Djokovic was at #2 after Wimbledon SF with 6905 pts. Federer had 6885 at #3.

Did 2010 have a weak field because he amassed almost 7000 pts in crappy form with no serve, or 2007 because he reached #3 with modest pts number?

Is that the race or actual ranking points? Because in 2006 the field was weaker (certainly at the very top) which surely helped Djokovic to climb to that spot (though his results were good). In 2010 Djokovic was also benefiting from his results in the back half of 2009 which included Paris, Bejing, Basel and a Cincy final. Doesn't mean much. In the end the top 3 players in 2007 were better overall than in 2010.

 

[user]

Is that the race or actual ranking points? Because in 2006 the field was weaker

Ranking points. Yes, it was, but Djokovic was a lot weaker in 2006, too, so it's irrelevant. 2006 post Wimbledon W/L = 21-6. Pts = about 800 or so. Far from impressive.

In the end the top 3 players in 2007 were better overall than in 2010.

True, but we're talking about the whole field. And looking into how Djokovic reached #3 for the first time, passing Davydenko and Roddick, all of the sudden 2007 field doesn't look strong at all.

 

[Gazelle]

Wow, never realised there were that many consonants in Petzschner : 6 in a row!
(After inspection, English has that too: catchphrase)

Dutch has a word with 8 consonants in a row:

angstschreeuw

 

[NatF]

True, but we're talking about the whole field. And looking into how Djokovic reached #3 for the first time, passing Davydenko and Roddick, all of the sudden 2007 field doesn't look strong at all.

Davydenko and Roddick were tier 2 players in 2007. How does Djokovic passing them reflect badly on that year....

No one has claimed they were Federer's top competition that year. Both had some good runs in major tournaments but across the whole tour they weren't the top guys. Djokovic's results and play in 2007 coming out of Wimbledon (for the whole year) was better in 2007 than in 2010. That's what matters. Rankings are dependant on the last 52 weeks, your attempt to discredit the 2007 field based on it is ridiculous when half of it is to do with 2006 (a definitely weaker year - though still probably as strong as 2010 overall).

 

[sbengte]

But concerning the field, it really was the flukiest year ever for Nadal. Failed at AO, cakewalk at FO, easiest WO final since the 1880s, and only one tough US Open challenge.
Essentially, his 3 slams came at the cost of one big match: Djokovic in 2010.

You do realize that Djoko was in complete clown mode in 2010 and had his first top 10 win against Federer in the USO semi, right ?

 

[patebon]

nice thread

 

[user]

Davydenko and Roddick were tier 2 players in 2007. How does Djokovic passing them reflect badly on that year....

At that point in time Djokovic was far from tier 1, that is Federer and Nadal.

No one has claimed they were Federer's top competition that year.

Cool, cause if they were not, all we got is Nadal.

your attempt to discredit the 2007 field based on it is ridiculous when half of it is to do with 2006

A big fat LOL. Roddick stats post Wimbledon 2006 are better than post Wimbledon 2007 (maybe Davydenko too), so I'm actually doing you a favor inflating their totals, so that they appear stronger in 2007 than they really were (and thus the field). Can't find info on race points, going by what I know, Roddick and Davydenko were meh for most of that year.

 

[NatF]

At that point in time Djokovic was far from tier 1, that is Federer and Nadal.

Djokovic was by far the second best HC player that year and a won the first slam in 2008. He was clearly seperate from the rest of the pack.

Cool, cause if they were not, all we got is Nadal.

Yeah all we got was classic Wimbledon final and the clay GOAT at his peak. Who did Nadal have consistently in the slams in 2010? Federer played way more top 10 players in the majors in 2007. Maybe you should quit while you're a head. Roddick and Davydenko weren't Federer's main rivals in the slams that year but he played them both twice, Nadal only had 5 combined matches against top 10 players in the majors in 2010. Federer had 9.

A big fat LOL. Roddick stats post Wimbledon 2006 are better than post Wimbledon 2007 (maybe Davydenko too), so I'm actually doing you a favor inflating their totals, so that they appear stronger in 2007 than they really were (and thus the field). Can't find info on race points, going by what I know, Roddick and Davydenko were meh for most of that year.

You're not really showing anything of merit at all. Roddick was ranked #6 in 2007, he won 77% of his matches in 2007. Hardly bad. He was in top form at the AO and USO. How many world #6's are lighting up the tour anyway? His results and play in 2007 was surely better than Nadal's in 2015 or 2016 and he's ranked #5.

 

[djokerer]

Federer field 2003-2007.
/thread

 

[user]

Djokovic was by far the second best HC player that year

He wasn't when he passed them.

won the first slam in 2008

2008 =/= 2007

Yeah all we got was classic Wimbledon final and the clay GOAT at his peak. Who did Nadal have consistently in the slams in 2010? Federer played way more top 10 players in the majors in 2007. Maybe you should quit while you're a head. Roddick and Davydenko weren't Federer's main rivals in the slams that year but he played them both twice, Nadal only had 5 combined matches against top 10 players in the majors in 2010. Federer had 9.

All of this doesn't make 2007 strong.

You're not really showing anything of merit at all. Roddick was ranked #6 in 2007, he won 77% of his matches in 2007. Hardly bad. He was in top form at the AO and USO. How many world #6's are lighting up the tour anyway? His results and play in 2007 was surely better than Nadal's in 2015 or 2016 and he's ranked #5.

Yes he was #6 with 2500 pts (probably worth about 4000-4500 today) . That is not better than Berdych's 4600 by the end of "weak" 2015. Your point?

 

[NatF]

You seem to be arguing for the sake of it. Is your point that 2010 was as strong as 2007? Stronger? What? Because I don't know.

He wasn't when he passed them.

Yes he was. His results for the whole year showed he was, he hadn't yet confirmed it but but he was clearly the second best player at the end of the year and he had the second best results in the slow HC season at the beginning of the year anyway.

2008 =/= 2007

Indeed, but apart from clay he didn't make any huge leaps forward in play in 2008 like 2010-2011. He was clearly close in 2007.

All of this doesn't make 2007 strong.

Didn't say it was strong. You responded to someones post about Novak in 2007/2010. No one said anything about 2007 in general until you got involved.

Yes he was #6 with 2500 pts (probably worth about 4000-4500 today) . That is not better than Berdych's 4600 by the end of "weak" 2015. Your point?

You want to go by point totals? Ljubicic was ranked #9 in 2005 with the same amount of points as Tsonga at #6 in 2008. What does it tell us? Does it tell us anything at all?

I haven't called 2015 weak anywhere. I was pointing out an issue with your logic.

 

[user]

You seem to be arguing for the sake of it.

Yes, I enjoy it thoroughly...

Is your point that 2010 was as strong as 2007? Stronger? What? Because I don't know.

It was I who asked the question in the first place.

He was clearly close in 2007.

Not close enough.

You want to go by point totals?

What else should I do? You've said Roddick was in top form at AO, but in reality he was obliterated by Federer, and could have lost much earlier than SF.

Ljubicic was ranked #9 in 2005 with the same amount of points as Tsonga at #6 in 2008. What does it tell us? Does it tell us anything at all?

Maybe. 2008 was more top heavy, which made it look stronger?

Either way, you forgot to underline. What it tells us?

 

[kevaninho]

Facing Murray at the SF of Wimbledon certainly wasn't easy LOL people forget these guys were playing very good tennis to get to where they did at those times. Nadal was on fire though.

 

[NatF]

Yes, I enjoy it thoroughly...

Glad someone does.

It was I who asked the question in the first place.

You asked two questions, you didn't give a preference for which way you leaned.

Not close enough.

Not quite no, but luckily Federer declined the next year

What else should I do? You've said Roddick was in top form at AO, but in reality he was obliterated by Federer, and could have lost much earlier than SF.

Have you seen his match with Fish in the QF? He obliterated him. He was in good form coming in. In the SF itself he was a tactical nightmare and Federer GOAT'd.

Maybe. 2008 was more top heavy, which made it look stronger?

Maybe, but I actually think 2008 was a strong year. I tend to think the discussion needs to be nuanced than it often is. I would also say even weak years can produce hell'ish draws. I tend to prefer to look at individual tournaments and the performances rather than whole years.

Either way, you forgot to underline. What it tells us?

Not sure it tells us anything. I don't really care either

 

[mattosgrant]

In fairness to Nadal there is nobody in the draw at any of the 3 slams he won who would have beaten him. Anyone who thinks Federer/Djokovic at Wimbedon, or Federer at the U.S Open, or anyone at RG was beating him this year are delusional. So yes his draws were easy, but it wouldn't have mattered even if they weren't this particular year. He was always winning those 3 events.

 

[user]

In fairness to Nadal there is nobody in the draw at any of the 3 slams he won who would have beaten him. Anyone who thinks Federer/Djokovic at Wimbedon, or Federer at the U.S Open, or anyone at RG was beating him this year are delusional. So yes his draws were easy, but it wouldn't have mattered even if they weren't this particular year. He was always winning those 3 events.

From what I've heard on this board, this is the definition of a weak era.

 

[NatF]

In fairness to Nadal there is nobody in the draw at any of the 3 slams he won who would have beaten him. Anyone who thinks Federer/Djokovic at Wimbedon, or Federer at the U.S Open, or anyone at RG was beating him this year are delusional. So yes his draws were easy, but it wouldn't have mattered even if they weren't this particular year. He was always winning those 3 events.

A year either side and there would have been though

 

[mattosgrant]

A year either side and there would have been though

A year to the right side (2011) for sure. A year to the left side (2009) debateable. I think he still might have won the same 3 slams in his 2010 form, although it wouldn't have been nearly as certain as 2010. Everyone knows what a nightmare opponent he is for Federer, and 09 Federer was still not exactly peak of peaks Federer. Del Potro would always be a tough opponent for Nadal on hard courts but beating the best ever Nadal on hard courts serving 135 mph? I wouldn't bet on that. Nor would Soderling necessarily be able to duplicate his 09 upset over 2010 Nadal who was quite a bit stronger at RG, and very unlikely to ever do it if it is a final where he never played well (both 09 and 2010).

 

[Diehard]

Nadal was unplayable in 2010 and his level at the Majors was the best in the past 50 years. He literally destroyed Djokovic at USO. Berdych at W i think had beaten Federer and Djokovic? I discount the FO as in the next millenium nobody will be as good as Nadal on clay, Nadal on clay is a coaching manual.

 

[Diehard]

AO

1R Luczak
2R Lacko
3R Kohlschreiber
4R Karlovic
QF Murray


FO

1R Mina
2R Zeballos
3R Hewitt
4R Bellucci
QF Almagro
SF Melzer
F Soderling

Wimbledon

1R Nishikori
2R Haase
3R Petzcshner
4R Mathieu
QF Soderling
SF Murray
F Berdych

USO

1R Gabashvilli
2R Istomin
3R Simon
4R Lopez
QF Verdasco
SF Youzhny
F Djokovic

Wow, ididnt realise Nadal had such a hard draw at all the Majors. Nice thread. 2010, Nadal's vintage year, just ahead of 2008. 2013 was an overrated season for Nadal though.

 

[Mustard]

FO

1R Mina
2R Zeballos
3R Hewitt
4R Bellucci
QF Almagro
SF Melzer
F Soderling

Melzer, the man who beat Djokovic from 2 sets down in the quarter finals.

Soderling, the man who beat Federer in the quarter finals, ending Federer's streak of 23 consecutive semi finals in majors. Soderling was also the man who caused arguably the biggest upset in tennis history by beating Nadal in the Round of 16 at the 2009 French Open.

Wimbledon

1R Nishikori
2R Haase
3R Petzcshner
4R Mathieu
QF Soderling
SF Murray
F Berdych

Soderling and Murray speaks for itself. Berdych, the man who beat Federer in the quarter finals.

USO

1R Gabashvilli
2R Istomin
3R Simon
4R Lopez
QF Verdasco
SF Youzhny
F Djokovic

As if anyone would have beaten Nadal that fortnight. Only 1 set dropped all tournament, something not even Federer has done at the US Open. And Djokovic beat Federer in the semi finals after saving 2 match points. He couldn't deal with Nadal in the final, and Nadal had pressure of his own in trying to win the career Grand Slam.

 

[Diehard]

Melzer, the man who beat Djokovic from 2 sets down in the quarter finals.

Soderling, the man who beat Federer in the quarter finals, ending Federer's streak of 23 consecutive semi finals in majors. Soderling was also the man who caused arguably the biggest upset in tennis history by beating Nadal in the Round of 16 at the 2009 French Open.



Soderling and Murray speaks for itself. Berdych, the man who beat Federer in the quarter finals.



As if anyone would have beaten Nadal that fortnight. Only 1 set dropped all tournament, something not even Federer has done at the US Open. And Djokovic beat Federer in the semi finals after saving 2 match points. He couldn't deal with Nadal in the final, and Nadal had pressure of his own in trying to win the career Grand Slam.

Yep, Nadal 2010 the best season in tennis history, that a fact and many pros believe that to be the case as well.