Rafael Nadal's Best Moment

[VAPORHEAD]

So many to choose from. What do you think?

2005 French Open
2008 Wimbledon Final
2008 Olympic Gold + First World #1 Ranking
2010 US Open Career Grand Slam
2012 Australian Open Final
2012 French Open Record Breaking 7th Title
2019 US Open Final
2022 Australian Open 21st Slam
2022 French Open Last Slam
2022 Laver Cup Last Dance with Federer

 

[Mustard]

The 2008 Wimbledon final is the most iconic high.

The 2009 Australian Open final should be on the list, as the climax of Nadal beating Federer in major finals on clay, grass and hardcourt.

The 2022 Australian Open final is the most "How the hell did he find a way to win that?" moment.

 

[Vincent-C]

2008 Wimbledon final I think. A tough one for FredFans like me, alas.

 

[socallefty]

I think the world took notice of him as a credible rival for Federer when he won Wimbledon in 2008. Before that he just seemed to be the latest of the long line of good clay court players from Spain. He then added an exclamation mark at the 2009 AO by making Federer bawl.

 

[MeatTornado]

This poll will be a race for 2nd place

 

[MissileBackHand99]

Wimby 2008 was just iconic. With Fedal in the Finals for the 3rd straight year, Rafa taking Fed to a 5th set the year before, Rafa beating the brakes off Fed at the 2008 French...everything just came together perfectly

Aussie Open 2022 was another legendary moment. 13 years of heartbreak down under was all washed away in that comeback for the ages. "It's the Miracle in Melbourne"

 

[MissileBackHand99]

Not a single moment, but one of my personal favorite times omas a Rafa fan was the 2013 season. SO MANY "experts" in the tennis media and on here SWORE his career was done after the leg/knee injury in 2012. He would have to either retire, or would be a shell of himself--certainly would NEVER return to peak level. Yet, he wins 10 titles, rips up the American summer Hardcourt swing, wins another French, and beats Joker in a terrific US Open Final

 

[vive le beau jeu !]

 

[bigbadboaz]

I think the world took notice of him as a credible rival for Federer when he won Wimbledon in 2008. Before that he just seemed to be the latest of the long line of good clay court players from Spain.

He was a "credible rival" both of the preceding years when he played the final, and stretched the great man to five in 2007. He'd already broken the "good clay court" player barrier by becoming a Wimbledon final.

2008 was when the torch was fully passed: he took the most precious title from the pre-anointed "GOAT" and, inevitably, the No. 1 mantle not much later.

 

[MichaelNadal]

Wimby 2008 was just iconic. With Fedal in the Finals for the 3rd straight year, Rafa taking Fed to a 5th set the year before, Rafa beating the brakes off Fed at the 2008 French...everything just came together perfectly

Aussie Open 2022 was another legendary moment. 13 years of heartbreak down under was all washed away in that comeback for the ages. "It's the Miracle in Melbourne"

Not a single moment, but one of my personal favorite times omas a Rafa fan was the 2013 season. SO MANY "experts" in the tennis media and on here SWORE his career was done after the leg/knee injury in 2012. He would have to either retire, or would be a shell of himself--certainly would NEVER return to peak level. Yet, he wins 10 titles, rips up the American summer Hardcourt swing, wins another French, and beats Joker in a terrific US Open Final

Totally agree with both

 

[Waves]

2008 WB…dethrones the goat in his house. Embarrassing fed in that disgusting gold lined blazer…a beautiful thing!

 

[Mustard]

The 2013 US Open final was incredible, when it was 1 set all, Nadal serving at 4-4 in the third set and down 0-40, with Djokovic seemingly having the momentum and about to inflict a terrible blow. Nadal got out of it to hold serve, broke Djokovic to win the third set, and then Nadal raced through the fourth set 6-1. What a moment!

Had Nadal lost that match, it would have been like Agassi at the 1995 US Open.

Nadal at that time was even bossing it on hardcourt. He had just won the US Open, and that year had also won Cincinnati, Canadian Open and Indian Wells.

 

[hoodjem]

2008 FO final

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