Def between AO 12, 14, 17 F and wimby 18 sfWhich of Nadal's losses was the toughest and most heartbreaking? Discuss and vote!
Wimby 07 had me feeling all kinds of ways. Definitely thought Nadal would never win Wimbledon after that.
I think it’s still heartbreaking because he made those big changes in his game to combat Novak specifically, and he fought so hard but still couldn’t get it over the line. Yes he improved a lot, but he didn’t get the end product he wanted, + 2012 wasn’t a good year for him despite winning RG.Most heartbreaking? 2007 Wimbledon final
Most pissed off and angry? 2018 Wimbledon semi final
I can't believe the poll results so far. The 2012 Australian Open final wasn't heartbreaking. It was the sad that he lost in the end, but it was a big improvement after his 2011 matches at Wimbledon and the US Open against Djokovic.
Most heartbreaking? 2007 Wimbledon final
Most pissed off and angry? 2018 Wimbledon semi final
I can't believe the poll results so far. The 2012 Australian Open final wasn't heartbreaking. It was the sad that he lost in the end, but it was a big improvement after his 2011 matches at Wimbledon and the US Open against Djokovic.
The 2018 Wimbledon semi final between Nadal and Djokovic should have been played outdoors, in the sunshine, like every other match during that late May - late July 2018 heatwave. Instead, it started gone 8pm under the roof, Nadal blew numerous chances to go 2-1 up in sets at the end of that night's play and was 1-2 down instead. The next day, under the roof again, Nadal fights back to 2-2 in sets, had numerous chances in the fifth set and couldn't get it done. Djokovic only controlled that match in the first set. It was infuriating, and still is. I think a Nadal win here keeps Djokovic in the genie's bottle, as Djokovic hadn't won a major for 2 years prior. Instead, the genie was out and won 3 majors in a row.
Have to admit, Wimbledon 2018 was a match Nadal shouldn't have lost, the same way Wimbledon 2019 was a match Federer shouldn't have lost.
I seem to remember Boris Becker on commentary backing Nadal to win, until Djokovic starting shouting in the fifth set and then he changed his mind, while always sounding doubtful.
Ao 2014. After the way he goated beating Federer and Sampras who was there saying it was the best performance he had ever seen, for injury to rob him of another Ao against a guy who i think had never won a set off him was awful. Also Nadal is on record as saying hat match hurt him the most.Which of Nadal's losses was the toughest and most heartbreaking? Discuss and vote!
ATGs should beat each other. It goes with the territory so while its pleasing for the victor defeat also hurts less.2009. Losing to a guy at your pet slam in the R4 was brutal considering what he did to him at Rome a few weeks prior.
Losing to Fed or Nole is never heartbreaking to me as a fan. It might bother me but never guts me
Ao 2014. After the way he goated beating Federer and Sampras who was there saying it was the best performance he had ever seen, for injury to rob him of another Ao against a guy who i think had never won a set off him was awful. Also Nadal is on record as saying hat match hurt him the most.
Wow, a match score of 7-6, 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 isn't an agonizingly close match by anyone's standards. Fed routined Nadal the last two sets, even though he almost choked it away twice towards the end. Rafa failed to convert numerous BP's. I guess it's blind fandom thinking he was the better player. A 6-3, 6-4 end to the match strongly indicates otherwise.Wim 18 - this is the one most heartbreaking to me the passing shot to break and knowing he goes on to win Wimby 18 amazing quality. Tiebreaker was crucial I knew it that night but still battled on was agonisingly close. For me the feeling was Nadal was the better player overall in this match he deserved the win.
I thought he was done in 2014 after Fo. I also did not think he would be joint leader of Slam race at end of 2021.Yeah, that was a bit of a sickener. Was never really the same afterwards, despite winning the 2014 French Open. When Nadal did get back to form in 2017, he played with a bit of a different style to years earlier, more aggressive and less grinding. Since then, Nadal has stopped "owning" Federer, and no longer beats his biggest rivals on the biggest stages with the regularity that he did up to 2014.
That match is so irrelevant as a painful defeat i had forgot the score. It actually made W2008 more pleasing as Federer is clearly a far better grass courter so that W2008 is truly special.Wow, a match score of 7-6, 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 isn't an agonizingly close match by anyone's standards. Fed routined Nadal the last two sets, even though he almost choked it away twice towards the end. Rafa failed to convert numerous BP's. I guess it's blind fandom thinking he was the better player. A 6-3, 6-4 end to the match strongly indicates otherwise.
Well, IMO the losses to Djokovic were the easiest to take.Which of Nadal's losses was the toughest and most heartbreaking? Discuss and vote!
I thought he was done in 2014 after Fo. I also did not think he would be joint leader of Slam race at end of 2021.
These last 7 years have been just the most pleasurable biggest bonus imagineable given how far he deteriorated play wise due to physical issues.
That match could've really been one for the ages if Nadal wasn't injured. I reckon it would've looked something like his matches vs Berdych at AO12 or Verdasco in 09, with Nadal grinding for hours and weathering the storm until Stan drops back to reality either mentally or physically.2014 AO was the only one I celebrated the night before it happened. I had no doubt in my mind..
Stan went on to win a few more slams, so there's been a reevaluation of it, but at the time it was a complete shock. Stan had never taken a set off Nadal and generally had the reputation of a choking clown.
I think you might need glasses.Wow, a match score of 7-6, 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 isn't an agonizingly close match by anyone's standards. Fed routined Nadal the last two sets, even though he almost choked it away twice towards the end. Rafa failed to convert numerous BP's. I guess it's blind fandom thinking he was the better player. A 6-3, 6-4 end to the match strongly indicates otherwise.
That match could've really been one for the ages if Nadal wasn't injured. I reckon it would've looked something like his matches vs Berdych at AO12 or Verdasco in 09, with Nadal grinding for hours and weathering the storm until Stan drops back to reality either mentally or physically.
Doubt it TBH. Nadal had a very similar situation in the QF, with Dimitrov playing the match of his life and dominating at the start. But prime Nadal was a different animal.Well, that was a strange match. I believe Nadal would have lost it injury or not, but once the injury became apparent, Stan got tight and tried to choke it away. He couldn't put Nadal away. Very strange.
2009. Losing to a guy at your pet slam in the R4 was brutal considering what he did to him at Rome a few weeks prior.
Losing to Fed or Nole is never heartbreaking to me as a fan. It might bother me but never guts me
While I admit that Rafa should have won that match, IMO still Djoko had a tiny edge. Yes Nadal was more agressive and hitting hard however Djoko IIRC would win his serve games easier? I think I saw somewhere Nadal won significantly less points when the serve immediately ended the point right away, in other words, even with his first serve in he had to rally to win, while Djoko won more points where his first serve ended the point right away, and I think in grass that is very important.The 2018 Wimbledon semi final between Nadal and Djokovic should have been played outdoors, in the sunshine, like every other match during that late May - late July 2018 heatwave. Instead, it started gone 8pm under the roof because of the first semi final (Anderson vs. Isner) going 6 hours and 33 minutes and 26-24 in the fifth set, Nadal blew numerous chances to go 2-1 up in sets at the end of that night's play and was 1-2 down instead. The next day, under the roof again, Nadal fights back to 2-2 in sets, had numerous chances in the fifth set and couldn't get it done. Djokovic only controlled that match in the first set. It was infuriating, and still is. I think a Nadal win here keeps Djokovic in the genie's bottle, as Djokovic hadn't won a major for 2 years prior. Instead, the genie was out and won 3 majors in a row.
Very frustrating but not one I look back on with much frustration. I wasn't shocked with the loss at the time since he struggled so much with Monfils in that late night marathon the round before. Fed coming out flat after that seemed about right. Also Cilic was simply zoning. Would've taken Roger's best performance to win that and obviously he wasn't even close to that.There's something to this. As much as Wimbledon 08 and 19 hurt...the '14 US SF might have been the worst of them all.
Beat Cilic and he would have got Nishikori in the Final, and would have been on 18...maybe would have got the confidence to win #19 and 20 even sooner.
Mate wasn’t talking about Fed loss SF of Wimby 19 the match I’m talking about it is 18 SF vs Djoker 5 setter. You have to be absurd to think that’s one of his most heartbreaking losses. The post had made a mistake mentioned 18 as a final not SFWow, a match score of 7-6, 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 isn't an agonizingly close match by anyone's standards. Fed routined Nadal the last two sets, even though he almost choked it away twice towards the end. Rafa failed to convert numerous BP's. I guess it's blind fandom thinking he was the better player. A 6-3, 6-4 end to the match strongly indicates otherwise.
Which of Nadal's losses was the toughest and most heartbreaking? Discuss and vote!
i don't understand this thread...
which of Bull’s wins was the most heartbreaking for you?
AO 12 has to be greatest non clay Slam Nadal ever played. His level was unbelievable. He came just short of beating zoning Berdych - in form prime Fed and peak Djokovic on plexicusion in succession. If he pulled it off - i would've rated it his best slam win.
ffs Djokovic ruined so many great runs of Fed and Nadal