Nadal's Best Season?

[Big_Dangerous]

If he wins Paris, Shanghai, and the WTF, I'd put this season almost on par with 2010- considering that the competition in 2010 wasn't all that great, just like 2017.

That's an outrageous "if!" He has never won any of those events up to this point, so it seems really unlikely that this year he will take the title at all of those events.

To put it in perspective as far as Rafa's best season(s) go:

2010 - He won 7 titles, including 3 Majors
2013: He won 10 titles, including 2 Majors
2017: He's won 5 titles to this point, and 2 Majors

So it all depends on what you place more importance on.

For me, I'd say his 2013 is the best season he's had up to this point in his career. The reason being that while he didn't win a title on all 3 surfaces that year, he did win 2 Slams, (one on clay and the other on hardcourt) and he also won 5 Masters titles. What's more impressive is that of those 5 Masters titles, 3 came on hardcourts. Whereas in 2010, his 3 Masters titles all came on clay. In fact, in 2010 he didn't win a single title on hardcourts aside from the US Open.

 

[swordtennis]

2015. He was finally after all these years not injured and we only had to hear of how he is old washed up shot and declined not old washed up shot declined and injured! Hakejuia!

 

[sbengte]

2015. He was finally after all these years not injured and we only had to hear of how he is old washed up shot and declined not old washed up shot declined and injured! Hakejuia!

He wasn't injured in 2011 either.

 

[swordtennis]

He wasn't injured in 2011 either.

He wasn't? I think your right thinking back now. Well he did have a much better year that year than 2015.

 

[sbengte]

He wasn't? I think your right thinking back now. Well he did have a much better year that year than 2015.

He would have had a career best year, facing great competition to boot, if not for Djoko.

He made the finals of all 4 slams in a row for the first and only time in his career between RG 2011 to AO 2012. That was absolute peak and healthy Nadal right there.

 

[swordtennis]

He would have had a career best year, facing great competition to boot, if not for Djoko.

He made the finals of all 4 slams in a row for the first and only time in his career between RG 2011 to AO 2012. That was absolute peak and healthy Nadal right there.

Ssshhhhh. Do not speak about 2011 around here. 2011 did not happen. Total fluke year. That was not really nadal. It was a clone.

 

[KINGROGER]

2005

 

[mike danny]

OK, I meant IW.

His IW title wasn't bad. Fed was injured, true, but he still defeated a well playing Berdych and a well playing Delpo, who IMO played better in that IW final than in this year's USO SF.

 

[mike danny]

Hard to name one single season. All of them were great in their own way.

2008: peak year on clay and grass

2010: 3 slam season

2013: dominance on clay and HC.

 

[Charleneriva]

2013. But not for beating Novak.

It was the most emotional and special to him, coming back from ~7 months of uncertainty. What truly incredible is he was still injured at the time (no, I don't make up excuses; he said it himself), playing with injection before most of the matches (not sure abt this but again, he said so).

He said he almost didn't have time to practise but was still able to compete well and win. It's not "usual" for him. He always needs to practise a lot to feel well and play well. (Fed in his usual charming style calls it "Rafa demography" , e.g. Thiem, Murray etc.).

He also said it was because he played "smart". Smart and aggressive. Hence his best results on HC, ever.

2010 is his best year in terms of results, no doubt. 2008 is very special in that he first became no 1, won the match and Olympics Gold. 2017 is also special in another way - he came back to win 2 slams and became no 1 again at 30-31 (ye no1 is not a guarantee though) after some dismal years and practically everyone had written him off (again).

He never had 2 consecutive great years (winning multiple slams and ending the year as no 1). But each of his great year is special and "interesting" in its own way.

But still, it's 2013 for him. And for me as well.

 

[Charleneriva]

In terms of highest playing level = 2008
In terms of highest success = 2010
In terms of success off his favourite surface = 2013
In terms of comeback = 2010, 2017

In terms of comeback: 2013>2017>2010 to me.

 

[TheGhostOfAgassi]

2018

 

[BlueClayGOAT]

That's an outrageous "if!" He has never won any of those events up to this point, so it seems really unlikely that this year he will take the title at all of those events.

To put it in perspective as far as Rafa's best season(s) go:

2010 - He won 7 titles, including 3 Majors
2013: He won 10 titles, including 2 Majors
2017: He's won 5 titles to this point, and 2 Majors

So it all depends on what you place more importance on.

For me, I'd say his 2013 is the best season he's had up to this point in his career. The reason being that while he didn't win a title on all 3 surfaces that year, he did win 2 Slams, (one on clay and the other on hardcourt) and he also won 5 Masters titles. What's more impressive is that of those 5 Masters titles, 3 came on hardcourts. Whereas in 2010, his 3 Masters titles all came on clay. In fact, in 2010 he didn't win a single title on hardcourts aside from the US Open.

Completely agree. I don't expect him to win all of Paris, Shanghai, and the WTF either. It was just a hypothetical.

 

[Big_Dangerous]

Completely agree. I don't expect him to win all of Paris, Shanghai, and the WTF either. It was just a hypothetical.

Honestly, I think he'll be fortunate to win 1 of those events, as he just doesn't play as well or with as much confidence indoors.

 

[Charleneriva]

I can't pick, too much epicness. 08 holds a special, nostalgic, 23yo me happiness that I'm most grateful for. 2010 is ridic and unexpected after 09, and 2013 is just epic af.

Now we know your age.

Yeah, TBH I can't really pick one. 2010 is his best in terms of slams, the total clay Masters conquest and the (golden ) career slam but I actually like 2008 more. But 2013 is still the most emotional. To think he could have had to retire or have never played truly well again...

 

[sbengte]

His IW title wasn't bad. Fed was injured, true, but he still defeated a well playing Berdych and a well playing Delpo, who IMO played better in that IW final than in this year's USO SF.

Yep, a Delpo who had nothing left beating Djoko and Murray, the two best players of the moment and AO finalists, in back to back matches.

The draw was the real winner there, just like USO 2017.

 

[Apun94]

I choose 2013, but Nadal is the better player right now (2017) than it was in 2013.

Lol

 

[Apun94]

Yes, but Nadal is a more complete player now than in 2013.
Better was 2008-early 2009 actually.

What is wrong with people here?

 

[Apun94]

I feel like 2011 couldve been such a great year for Nadal if it hadnt been for Freaky Nole.
Think about it. IW, Miami, clay season sweep, Wimbledon, USO.
3 slams + 5 Masters + YE#1.
WOW

 

[kevaninho]

All this argument about getting straight setted by Lopez and being 1-2 down in sets against Petzschner and Haase at Wimbledon but you concetrate on Istomin .

Thatll be because you only mentioned the words 'should've lost' about the player I mentioned, Istomin. Does that make sense? I guess not...

 

[kevaninho]

Hard to say EXACTLY.

2008: He won French Open, Wimbledon, Olympics, Monte Carlo, Hamburg, Canada, Barcelona and Queens. Had SF's at AO and USO. Year End #1
2010: He won French Open, Wimbledon, US Open, Monte Carlo, Madrid, Rome and Tokyo. Had QF at AO and Year End #1
2013: He won French Open, US Open, Indian Wells, Madrid, Rome Canada, Cincinnati, Sao Paolo, Acapulco, and Barcelona. And Year End #1
2017: He won Monte Carlo, Barcelona, Madrid, French Open and US Open

2008 for Consistency
2010 for Dominance
2013 for Dominance on Another Surface
2017 for Comeback

2017: AO runner up also. That makes a big + in this seasons stats. If youre going to mention SF's etc in other seasons.

 

[kevaninho]

Federer 2009 was really close though - Won French and Wimbledon and finished Runner-up at both Australia and US Open.

'Close' isn't the point of the argument. Leave Federer out of this

 

[BringBackSV]

Winning slams on each surface within a calendar year is easier for Rafa than for Fed or Nole because Rafa gets 2 chances a year on HC, while Fed and Nole get only one chance a year on clay.
Either way, both Nole and Fed have held major titles on all 3 surfaces simultaneously, so they're up there as well.

Rafa was just harder for them to beat at RG than they were for him to be at the other slams. Another slam on clay would mean Rafa would have way more slams than both of them and also they would have only one opportunity a year to get their HC slam.

 

[KINGROGER]

Rafa was just harder for them to beat at RG than they were for him to be at the other slams. Another slam on clay would mean Rafa would have way more slams than both of them and also they would have only one opportunity a year to get their HC slam.

Another slam on grass and Federer would have over 20 slams. Ridiculous argument.

 

[BringBackSV]

Another slam on grass and Federer would have over 20 slams. Ridiculous argument.

Context is not lost on you.

 

[TheAverageFedererFan]

2017: AO runner up also. That makes a big + in this seasons stats. If youre going to mention SF's etc in other seasons.

Right. Forgot to mention that.

 

[KINGROGER]

Context is not lost on you.

I'm struggling to see how Fed has some sort of advantage when the AO has been slowed down to clay esque pace since 2008. Finally they sped it up this year.

His best surface is grass anyway.

 

[tennis2017]

Its between 2008 and 2010. Olympics is huge and as it was on hard court Nadal won the biggest events across three surfaces.

2010 he won a sort of calendar slam byvwinning three majors on 3 differe t surfaces and id just go for 2010

 

[BringBackSV]

I'm struggling to see how Fed has some sort of advantage when the AO has been slowed down to clay esque pace since 2008. Finally they sped it up this year.

His best surface is grass anyway.

I dont find any of them to have had a particular advantage in trying to win a slam on each surface over the course of a season. Some apologist was trying to diminsh the feat.

 

[Big_Dangerous]

'Close' isn't the point of the argument. Leave Federer out of this

I'm just pointing out that Fed was extremely close to winning a slam on all 3 surfaces in 2009. He was one match win away from doing it, and both of those matches in Australia and New York went 5 sets too. I'm not trying to diminish the greatness of Rafa, in fact, I laid a pretty good argument for why I felt like 2013 was his best season. You're delusional if you think there can be a thread about Rafa or Roger without the other guy being mentioned, no offense.

 

[kevaninho]

I'm just pointing out that Fed was extremely close to winning a slam on all 3 surfaces in 2009. He was one match win away from doing it, and both of those matches in Australia and New York went 5 sets too. I'm not trying to diminish the greatness of Rafa, in fact, I laid a pretty good argument for why I felt like 2013 was his best season. You're delusional if you think there can be a thread about Rafa or Roger without the other guy being mentioned, no offense.

Delusional LOL Actually theres completely no reason for Roger to be mentioned here. Its comparing RAFAs seasons. Not comparing achievements with other peoples seasons. So that last part of your post isn't asked for. Go elsewhere, no offence.

 

[ChaelAZ]

2018

 

[sbengte]

In terms of comeback: 2013>2017>2010 to me.

Like I said before, 2017 wasn't as much of a Nadal 'comeback' as it was rest of the top guys 'going away'.

 

[Charleneriva]

Like I said before, 2017 wasn't as much of a Nadal 'comeback' as it was rest of the top guys 'going away'.

The same with Rogi?

 

[mike danny]

In terms of comeback: 2013>2017>2010 to me.

2010 wasn't even a comeback. Nadal played a full season after 2009 Wimb and had decent results. He finished as no.2 in the world in 2009. Hardly a comeback.

 

[sbengte]

The same with Rogi?

He was actually gone in 2016 with injury and surgery, no ?

 

[mike danny]

He was actually gone in 2016 with injury and surgery, no ?

Even when Fed played in 2016, you never really felt he was there.

 

[User123]

2010 wasn't even a comeback. Nadal played a full season after 2009 Wimb and had decent results. He finished as no.2 in the world in 2009. Hardly a comeback.

He didn't win any titles for 11 months in a row.

 

[Charleneriva]

2010 wasn't even a comeback. Nadal played a full season after 2009 Wimb and had decent results. He finished as no.2 in the world in 2009. Hardly a comeback.

Well, #2 but no titles in 11 months, losing the French, #1 and to almost every top 10 players in the 2nd half of the season; then going on to win 3 slams in the summer, sth no other player can do to this day, and regaining the #1 the next year - that is perfectly a comeback in my book.

 

[Charleneriva]

He was actually gone in 2016 with injury and surgery, no ?

Yeah, everyone and their dog know that. His comeback has been almost surreal, no doubt.

But they also know that they both play the same field; and Rafa was also injured in 2016, played through injury and had to withdraw from RG where his level even with an injured wrist was extremely high. He also took 3 months off, which was of course nothing compared to Fed's 7 months. And only injuries that require surgery are "actual" injuries in the mind of a lot TTWers, who less than a year ago were still claiming he's finished.

Who am I to talk?

There is only one true combacker this year - You keep thinking you way. I keep thinking my way . Doesn't change the history book.

 

[beast of mallorca]

Which one do you think qualifies as Rafa's best season? Obvious contenders are

2008: First Wimbledon title, 2 majors, Olympic Gold. Won arguably the greatest tennis match of all times by defeating the greatest grass court player ever.

2010: Unparalleled dominance. Three majors. Clean sweep of the cost season, his only ever clean sweep.

2013: This gets my vote. Two majors, both won by defeating Djokovic who was GOATING in those years. Clean sweep of the North American hard court season, something which is rarely done (not even by Federer or Djokovic). Won five masters, his personal best in any year.

2017: Let's say he wins one more masters and WTF. Can this season qualify as his personal best? Two majors and another final. Finally solving the WTF puzzle. Best ever serving performance throughout the year (with the exception of uso 2010). Can be classified as the shared greatest comeback along with Federer.

Why did your poll closed so early ?

 

[EloQuent]

I'd put 2005 in the mix too. His second best overall win percentage after 2013, his best indoor level. Weak on grass, but so was 2013.

 

[Im(moral) Winner]

I'd put 2005 in the mix too. His second best overall win percentage after 2013, his best indoor level. Weak on grass, but so was 2013.

He wasn't weak on grass (by his standards). Just met Muller early.

 

[Deleted member 756486]

2010 of course, why is this even a question?

 

[EloQuent]

2010 of course, why is this even a question?

2005 win ratio was better than 2010.

 

[Im(moral) Winner]

2010 of course, why is this even a question?

He's had higher win rate and more top 10 wins in other seasons.

 

[Deleted member 756486]

2005 win ratio was better than 2010.

Okay and? That’s a nice little stat but that’s all it is.

Nadal won 3 of the 4 slams, which is a very rare thing to do unless you’re Fedr.

2005 was a nice breakout year for Nadal but he underperformed at Wimbledon and USO.

 

[Im(moral) Winner]

Okay and? That’s a nice little stat but that’s all it is.

Nadal won 3 of the 4 slams, which is a very rare thing to do unless you’re Fedr.

2005 was a nice breakout year for Nadal but he underperformed at Wimbledon and USO.

He didn't underperform. 2005 was a strong year.

 

[Deleted member 756486]

He's had higher win rate and more top 10 wins in other seasons.

Cool but it’s the slam wins that matter the most, no one really cares about win rates and wins over top 10 players if you don’t perform at the slams.

 

[Deleted member 756486]

He didn't underperform. 2005 was a strong year.

Yes it was a strong year for his level that year but in his overall career it’s nowhere close to 2008, 2010 and 2013.