Nadal's Most Monumental Service Holds in a Big Match

[Rago]

These are the 0-40 comebacks that come to mind immediately:

- 2006 RG: 3rd Set at 1-2 (Final)
- 2009 AO: 3rd Set at 4-4 (Final)
- 2011 RG: 4th Set at 0-0 (Final)
- 2012 AO: 4th Set at 3-4 (Final)
- 2013 US: 3rd Set at 4-4 (Final)
- 2018 GS: 4th Set at 5-3 (Semi)

Nadal had chances to win every one of these matches.

Rafa could very well be the most clutch player in all of sports history (on the big stage). Discuss.

 

[MeatTornado]

Imagine how unstoppably clutch he'll be when armed with his Karlovic-esque AO 19 serve for the rest of his career...

 

[MichaelNadal]

The 09 AO and 2013 USO holds are epic af.

 

[Rago]

Are there any other notable instances that I missed? Please feel free to mention them and I'll update the original post.

 

[MichaelNadal]

Are there any other notable instances that I missed? Please feel free to mention them and I'll update the original post.

It's epic when he breaks from the opponent being 40-0 up too, he's done it to Imhotep a few times at RG

 

[Rago]

It's epic when he breaks from the opponent being 40-0 up too, he's done it to Imhotep a few times at RG

If I remember correctly, Fed was up 40-0 (on his own serve) at the beginning of the second set of the RG'06 final, missed a volley, got broken and ended up eating a breadstick because of that.

 

[axlrose]

USO 13. If Nadal lost that game I think he would have lost the match.

Colder than ice.

 

[Rago]

USO 13. If Nadal lost that game I think he would have lost the match.

Colder than ice.

In the very next game, Djokovic was up 30-0 on serve and lost 4 straight points and the set. That passage of play gave me fits for a while; Nadal was doing work off his forehand wing when it mattered most in that final.

 

[Deleted member 77403]

I am actually glad Nadal got Djokovic in that USO 2013. Novak didn't get what he wanted that night, but he got what he needed, thanks to a valuable lesson taught to him by Nadal.

Nadal has helped create Djokovic more than any other, with the exception of Federer. If it wasn't for painful losses likes that USO2013, Djokovic wouldn't go onto become the King Slayer he is today. Failure is the biggest teacher of all, it is all about how you then apply what you have learned.

 

[Rago]

Nadal still remains as the greatest front runner in tennis but ironically, Rafa's greatest strength has turned into arguably his biggest weakness since AO'17 (having lost tight matches against Federer, Muller and Djokovic, all of which were winnable).

 

[aman92]

That 2013 USO hold still blows me away.... Ridiculously clutch to come back from 0-40 to take the game and the break right away

 

[roysid]

These are the 0-40 comebacks that come to mind immediately:

- 2006 RG: 3rd Set at 1-2 (Final)
- 2009 AO: 3rd Set at 4-4 (Final)
- 2011 RG: 4th Set at 0-0 (Final)
- 2012 AO: 4th Set at 3-4 (Final)
- 2013 US: 3rd Set at 4-4 (Final)
- 2018 GS: 4th Set at 5-3 (Semi)

Nadal had chances to win every one of these matches.

Rafa could very well be the most clutch player in all of sports history (on the big stage). Discuss.

Ok. So red ones are the one he lost. So that epic hold didnt help much other than preventing a 4th set loss.
Among the other ones
2006 RG: He would have that match anyway
2009 AO: With some help of Roger's poor play at breakpoint. But yes, had he lost that 3rd set, he loses the match
2011 RG: He would have won that match anyway.
2013 USO: Most epic of them all

 

[HetTheGreaterer]

That 2013 USO hold still blows me away.... Ridiculously clutch to come back from 0-40 to take the game and the break right away

That too, against the 2nd greatest returner in tennis history on his favourite surface

 

[lud]

Where the heck is Rome 2006?
5-6 , 15-40 - 2MPs (Federer choked big time, though) is in top 3 most important holds in Nadal history.

As for UsO 2013, even if Djoko did break for 5-4 in 3rd, Nadal would still won match in my open.

 

[BeatlesFan]

Rafa could very well be the most clutch player in all of sports history (on the big stage). Discuss.

Restrict it to tennis only. “All of sports history” verges on folly.

 

[MeatTornado]

I am actually glad Nadal got Djokovic in that USO 2013. Novak didn't get what he wanted that night, but he got what he needed, thanks to a valuable lesson taught to him by Nadal.

Nadal has helped create Djokovic more than any other, with the exception of Federer. If it wasn't for painful losses likes that USO2013, Djokovic wouldn't go onto become the King Slayer he is today. Failure is the biggest teacher of all, it is all about how you then apply what you have learned.

Turns out Hitman was Yoda all along