Rafael Nadal: Top 50 Matches

SamSpade

New User
In honor of a great champion.

Rafael Nadal of Majorca, Spain.

Turned Pro: 2003
Retired: 2024

Contested 1,307 matches
Won 92 Titles
Ranked #1 209 Weeks

Merely a snapshot

1. 2008 Wimbledon Final -- Nadal v Federer -- 64, 64, 67, 67, 97
2. 2012 Australian Open Final -- Djokovic v Nadal -- 57, 64, 62, 67, 75
3. 2005 Rome Final -- Nadal v Coria -- 64, 36, 63, 36, 76
4. 2009 Australian Open Semifinal -- Nadal v Verdasco -- 67, 64, 76, 67, 64
5. 2006 Rome Final -- Nadal v Federer -- 67, 76, 64, 26, 76
6. 2018 Wimbledon Semifinal -- Djokovic v Nadal -- 64, 36, 76, 36, 108
7. 2019 US Open Final -- Nadal v Medvedev -- 75, 63, 57, 46, 64
8. 2010 Masters Semifinal -- Nadal v Murray -- 76, 36, 76
9. 2017 Australian Open Final -- Federer v Nadal -- 64, 36, 61, 36, 63
10. 2008 Chennai Semifinal -- Nadal v Moya -- 67, 76, 76
11. 2017 Australian Open Semifinal -- Nadal v Dimitrov -- 63, 57, 76, 67, 64
12. 2009 Madrid Semifinal -- Nadal v Djokovic -- 36, 76, 76
13. 2022 Madrid Round of 16 -- Nadal v Goffin -- 63, 57, 76
14. 2018 Wimbledon Quarterfinal -- Nadal v Del Potro -- 75, 67, 46, 64, 64
15. 2010 Doha Final -- Davydenko v Nadal -- 06, 76, 64
16. 2014 Rio de Janeiro Semifinal -- Nadal v Andujar -- 26, 63, 76
17. 2021 Rome Round of 16 -- Nadal v Shapovalov -- 36, 64, 76
18. 2009 Australian Open Final -- Nadal v Federer -- 75, 36, 76, 36, 62
19. 2008 Madrid Semifinal -- Simon v Nadal -- 36, 75, 76
20. 2018 US Open Quarterfinal -- Nadal v Thiem -- 06, 64, 75, 67, 76
21. 2021 French Open Semifinal -- Djokovic v Nadal -- 36, 63, 76, 62
22. 2021 Australian Open Quarterfinal -- Tsitsipas v Nadal -- 36, 26, 76, 64, 75
23. 2009 Paris Round of 32 -- Nadal v Almagro -- 36, 76, 75
24. 2022 Wimbledon Quarterfinal -- Nadal v Fritz -- 36, 75, 36, 75, 76
25. 2005 French Open Semifinal -- Nadal v Federer -- 63, 46, 64, 63
26. 2013 French Open Semifinal -- Nadal v Djokovic -- 64, 36, 61, 67, 97
27. 2017 Australian Open Round of 32 -- Nadal v Zverev -- 46, 63, 67, 63, 62
28. 2019 Masters Round Robin -- Nadal v Medvedev -- 67, 63, 76
29. 2007 Rome Semifinal -- Nadal v Davydenko -- 76, 67, 64
30. 2022 Australian Open -- Nadal v Medvedev -- 26, 67, 64, 64, 75
31. 2011 Miami Final -- Djokovic v Nadal -- 46, 63, 76
32. 2016 Olympics Semifinal -- Del Potro v Nadal -- 57, 64, 76
33. 2014 Rome Quarterfinal -- Nadal v Murray -- 16, 63, 75
34. 2007 Wimledon Final -- Federer v Nadal -- 76, 46, 76, 26, 62
35. 2011 Davis Cup Final -- Nadal v Del Potro -- 16, 64, 61, 76
36. 2013 Canada Semifinal -- Nadal v Djokovic -- 64, 36, 76
37. 2010 Tokyo Semifinal -- Nadal v Troicki -- 76, 46, 76
38. 2005 Rome Semifinal -- Nadal v Ferrer -- 46, 64, 75
39. 2009 Miami Quarterfinal -- Del Potro v Nadal -- 64, 36, 76
40. 2005 Miami Final -- Federer v Nadal -- 26, 67, 76, 63, 61
41. 2007 Wimbledon Round of 32 -- Nadal v Soderling -- 64, 64, 67, 46, 75
42. 2022 French Open Quarterfinal -- Nadal v Djokovic -- 62, 46, 62, 76
43. 2008 London Quarterfinal -- Nadal v Karlovic -- 67, 76, 76
44. 2017 Canada Round of 16 -- Shapovalov v Nadal -- 36, 64, 76
45. 2008 Indian Wells Round of 16 -- Nadal v Tsonga -- 67, 76, 75
46. 2012 Wimbledon Round of 64 -- Rosol v Nadal -- 67, 64, 64, 26, 64
47. 2021 Barcelona Final -- Nadal v Tsitsipas -- 64, 67, 75
48. 2020 Australian Open Quarterfinal -- Thiem v Nadal -- 76, 76, 46, 76
49. 2010 Masters Round Robin -- Nadal v Roddick -- 36, 76, 64
50. 2015 Indian Wells Quarterfinal -- Raonic v Nadal -- 46, 76, 75
 
No Nadal vs. Ljubicic from 2005 Madrid Indoor in Nadal's top 50 matches?
Right. That absolutely should be in the top 50
I'd also move up the 2009 AO Final. The shotmaking quality in that Final was ridiculous. Even more so due to the 5-hour slugfest he had with Verdasco in the Semis. That's truly two of the greatest back to back victories to win a Slam in the 21st century.

2013 French Open SFs needs to be higher too. That was one of the only times Nadal has been absolutely pushed to the brink at Roland Garros

Also, for me, the 2005 Rome Finals vs. Coria goes above the 2012 Aussie Open Finals. Coria was just a maestro on the dirt and in that match. Nadal, at 19, somehow coming back in the 5th set and the tiebreak was just other worldly
 

7thKingSlam

New User
Hmm, outside of some of these matches seeming quite out of order (USO2018 dropping to 20th while Moya 2008 makes top 10? 2007 Wimbledon final absolutely should be higher than #34), one notable omission to me is Nadal vs Berdych AO2012 QF. Actually, quite a few omissions: 2014 RG Final is also missing, 2005 RG final, and also 2019 USO Final vs Medvedev. 2018 Wimbledon QF vs Del Potro as well. Feel like all of these matches are clear locks and could easily replace matches like Raonic vs Nadal for example.
 
Fed vs Nadal in the 2006 Dubai Final also should make the list. Dubai was one of Fed's kingdoms (would win 8x there when it was all said and done) and was the 3x defending champion in that match. Fed was hitting the ball HUGE off both wings and Nadal seemed overmatched at first. But he dug DEEP and pulled it out in 3 sets
 

MichaelNadal

Bionic Poster
Fed vs Nadal in the 2006 Dubai Final also should make the list. Dubai was one of Fed's kingdoms (would win 8x there when it was all said and done) and was the 3x defending champion in that match. Fed was hitting the ball HUGE off both wings and Nadal seemed overmatched at first. But he dug DEEP and pulled it out in 3 sets
Yeah that match is insane, so scrappy from Nadal
 

Mustard

Bionic Poster
Fed vs Nadal in the 2006 Dubai Final also should make the list. Dubai was one of Fed's kingdoms (would win 8x there when it was all said and done) and was the 3x defending champion in that match. Fed was hitting the ball HUGE off both wings and Nadal seemed overmatched at first. But he dug DEEP and pulled it out in 3 sets
It was like Rumble in the Jungle, with Federer as Foreman and Nadal as Ali.

Federer was playing his best stuff for most of the match. Nadal dug his heels in late in the second set and found a way.
 

Mustard

Bionic Poster
Where is the Isner match.
From the 2011 French Open? The only concerning moment of that match was immediately after the third set. Nadal took charge early on in both the fourth and fifth sets.

Nadal's match against Mathieu at the 2006 French Open was far tougher. That was Nadal's longest French Open match in terms of match time, taking 4 hours and 53 minutes to win 5-7, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4. Mathieu led 7-5, 1-1 after just over 2 hours of play.

 

nolefam_2024

Bionic Poster
From the 2011 French Open? The only concerning moment of that match was immediately after the third set. Nadal took charge early on in both the fourth and fifth sets.

Nadal's match against Mathieu at the 2006 French Open was far tougher. That was Nadal's longest French Open match in terms of match time, taking 4 hours and 53 minutes to win 5-7, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4. Mathieu led 7-5, 1-1 after just over 2 hours of play.

Nice HUGE backhand to support huge forehand from Mathieu.

This is why Fed sucked on clay vs Nadal. His backhand can not do damage like Mathieu here. Fed backhand is proper weakness.
 

hoodjem

G.O.A.T.
2008 FO final

Fed won four games. Bagel in the third.
”This marks Federer's worst loss at a major in his entire career.”
 
Top