Rafael Nadal's Best Tennis Is Happening Right Now

clayqueen

Talk Tennis Guru
For the past three seasons, Rafael Nadal’s second-serve performance has elevated to beast mode.

An Infosys ATP Beyond The Numbers analysis of the Spaniard’s second-serve win percentage since he first won an ATP event in 2004 identifies that 2017, 2018, and 2019 occupy three of his best four years on Tour.

Consider the following three second-serve achievements from Nadal:

1. Best Three-Year Streak
Nadal is currently first in second-serve points for the 2019 season at 59.97 per cent (836/1394). Federer is the only player within striking distance of taking year-end honours in this category, as the Swiss currently sits at 59.56 per cent (885/1486) won.

If Nadal does finish first in this category in 2019, it will be the first time in his career that he will have finished first in second-serve points won for three consecutive seasons.

Best Three 2019 Tournaments: Second-Serve Points Won
Rome = 67.44% (58/86)
Acapulco = 67.16% (45/67)
Indian Wells = 66.67% (60/90)

2. 2017 Was The Best
Nadal’s best year since 2004 winning second-serve points was just two years ago in 2017, when he averaged winning 61.17 per cent (1095/1790).

At Roland Garros in 2017, he charged through the draw to win the title without dropping a set. Of the 20 sets he won, opponents won a maximum of two games in 14 of them. He went on a rampage with second-serve points won, winning a jaw-dropping 74.17 per cent (112/151).

His best three tournaments with second-serve points won in 2017:
Roland Garros = 74.17% (112/151)
Shanghai = 66.25% (53/80)
Brisbane = 66.10% (39/59)

3. No One Does It Better
Nobody has a higher win percentage on second serves during their career since statistics in tennis were first kept in 1991. What’s also extremely impressive is that Nadal has been positioned in the Top 10 in this category for the past 16 years.

The top three players in career second-serve points won:
R. Nadal = 57.45% (15006/26122)
R. Federer = 56.85% (24079/42353)
J. Isner = 56.11% (9972/17773)

Nadal’s 2019 US Open title saw him win an impressive 57.02 per cent (138/242) on the hard courts in New York. He is now just 0.03 of a percentage point away from winning 60 per cent or more for the third time in his career.

What will it take to tip the scales to 60 per cent in 2019? Win just one more second-serve point.

 
For the past three seasons, Rafael Nadal’s second-serve performance has elevated to beast mode.

An Infosys ATP Beyond The Numbers analysis of the Spaniard’s second-serve win percentage since he first won an ATP event in 2004 identifies that 2017, 2018, and 2019 occupy three of his best four years on Tour.

Consider the following three second-serve achievements from Nadal:

1. Best Three-Year Streak
Nadal is currently first in second-serve points for the 2019 season at 59.97 per cent (836/1394). Federer is the only player within striking distance of taking year-end honours in this category, as the Swiss currently sits at 59.56 per cent (885/1486) won.

If Nadal does finish first in this category in 2019, it will be the first time in his career that he will have finished first in second-serve points won for three consecutive seasons.

Best Three 2019 Tournaments: Second-Serve Points Won
Rome = 67.44% (58/86)
Acapulco = 67.16% (45/67)
Indian Wells = 66.67% (60/90)

2. 2017 Was The Best
Nadal’s best year since 2004 winning second-serve points was just two years ago in 2017, when he averaged winning 61.17 per cent (1095/1790).

At Roland Garros in 2017, he charged through the draw to win the title without dropping a set. Of the 20 sets he won, opponents won a maximum of two games in 14 of them. He went on a rampage with second-serve points won, winning a jaw-dropping 74.17 per cent (112/151).

His best three tournaments with second-serve points won in 2017:
Roland Garros = 74.17% (112/151)
Shanghai = 66.25% (53/80)
Brisbane = 66.10% (39/59)

3. No One Does It Better
Nobody has a higher win percentage on second serves during their career since statistics in tennis were first kept in 1991. What’s also extremely impressive is that Nadal has been positioned in the Top 10 in this category for the past 16 years.

The top three players in career second-serve points won:
R. Nadal = 57.45% (15006/26122)
R. Federer = 56.85% (24079/42353)
J. Isner = 56.11% (9972/17773)

Nadal’s 2019 US Open title saw him win an impressive 57.02 per cent (138/242) on the hard courts in New York. He is now just 0.03 of a percentage point away from winning 60 per cent or more for the third time in his career.

What will it take to tip the scales to 60 per cent in 2019? Win just one more second-serve point.

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AnOctorokForDinner

Talk Tennis Guru
Nah, just extreme weakery inflating numbers. Come on, this Nadal got destroyed by Djo, bagelled by Fog, taken apart by old bones, and nearly choked a slam final from two sets and a break up. If you think that's his peak, you don't respect his game much. And yet the mean bull has thus far posted his highest game % in a single season. Ricockulous stuff.
 

travlerajm

Talk Tennis Guru
Nah, just extreme weakery inflating numbers. Come on, this Nadal got destroyed by Djo, bagelled by Fog, taken apart by old bones, and nearly choked a slam final from two sets and a break up. If you think that's his peak, you don't respect his game much. And yet the mean bull has thus far posted his highest game % in a single season. Ricockulous stuff.
Exactly. You could probably find similar late-career performance boosts for many other players whose careers spanned the last decade.
 

clayqueen

Talk Tennis Guru
Nah, just extreme weakery inflating numbers. Come on, this Nadal got destroyed by Djo, bagelled by Fog, taken apart by old bones, and nearly choked a slam final from two sets and a break up. If you think that's his peak, you don't respect his game much. And yet the mean bull has thus far posted his highest game % in a single season. Ricockulous stuff.
This is from the ATP website so take it up with them.
 

TennisFan3

Talk Tennis Guru
There is NO WAY Nadal is at his best. He isn't even at his 2nd or 3rd best - relative to his career. Nadal himself has said that the Nadal of today will NOT beat the Nadal of the past. You can quote statistics which would have to do with quality of competition.

There is no way the Nadal of old would choke away leads and lose to Fed and Djoker 10000000000000000000000000000000000 times outside of clay. Nadal of old does NOT lose in straights to Novak in the AO final. Also Nadal of old does NOT need 5 sets to beat Medvedev and does not get broken 4 times against Diego, choke repeatedly against Berrietini etc etc. Also does NOT lose on clay repeatedly.

This is a sad thread. Nadal is in the last phase of what has been a truly remarkable career. He is on the descendancy and is a pale shadow of the legend he used to be. Winning 2 slams does NOT change that fact.
 

TennisFan3

Talk Tennis Guru
He needed his quality second serve in the USO final. Couldn't buy a first for stretches. Had his first serve been at his typical level the match would have ended in 3.
The first serve sucked. It was less than 60% in most matches. Less than 55% in some.
In the final, Nadal missed all first serves in the 5-4 game until the final point. He also didn't serve well at 5-2 when he got broken. Again Diego broke him twice from 5-2 in 2 sets.
 

guitarra

Professional
Rafael Nadal right now plays the smartest tennis of his life. He is a great learner and adapted his tennis to his physical decline. It’s admirable how he is able to play more agressively, closer to the baseline and flatten his shots when needed because this is not his comfort zone.

But best tennis of his life? That’s a stretch cause he’s light years away from his physical peak in early/mid twenties.
 

clayqueen

Talk Tennis Guru
There is NO WAY Nadal is at his best. He isn't even at his 2nd or 3rd best - relative to his career. Nadal himself has said that the Nadal of today will NOT beat the Nadal of the past. You can quote statistics which would have to do with quality of competition.

There is no way the Nadal of old would choke away leads and lose to Fed and Djoker 10000000000000000000000000000000000 times outside of clay. Nadal of old does NOT lose in straights to Novak in the AO final. Also Nadal of old does NOT need 5 sets to beat Medvedev and does not get broken 4 times against Diego, choke repeatedly against Berrietini etc etc. Also does NOT lose on clay repeatedly.

This is a sad thread. Nadal is in the last phase of what has been a truly remarkable career. He is on the descendancy and is a pale shadow of the legend he used to be. Winning 2 slams does NOT change that fact.
Your opinion is not the reality.
 

TheGhostOfAgassi

Talk Tennis Guru
There is NO WAY Nadal is at his best. He isn't even at his 2nd or 3rd best - relative to his career. Nadal himself has said that the Nadal of today will NOT beat the Nadal of the past. You can quote statistics which would have to do with quality of competition.

There is no way the Nadal of old would choke away leads and lose to Fed and Djoker 10000000000000000000000000000000000 times outside of clay. Nadal of old does NOT lose in straights to Novak in the AO final. Also Nadal of old does NOT need 5 sets to beat Medvedev and does not get broken 4 times against Diego, choke repeatedly against Berrietini etc etc. Also does NOT lose on clay repeatedly.

This is a sad thread. Nadal is in the last phase of what has been a truly remarkable career. He is on the descendancy and is a pale shadow of the legend he used to be. Winning 2 slams does NOT change that fact.
It says about his serve best in his life.

I think the return is worse and thats why he isnt beating Novak off clay.
 

Zara

G.O.A.T.
Has Rafa ever been the clear favourite at the USO especially since 2010? I am trying to remember.

I know he beat Novak in 2010 but that year was such a flop year for Novak.
 

clayqueen

Talk Tennis Guru
There is NO WAY Nadal is at his best. He isn't even at his 2nd or 3rd best - relative to his career. Nadal himself has said that the Nadal of today will NOT beat the Nadal of the past. You can quote statistics which would have to do with quality of competition.

There is no way the Nadal of old would choke away leads and lose to Fed and Djoker 10000000000000000000000000000000000 times outside of clay. Nadal of old does NOT lose in straights to Novak in the AO final. Also Nadal of old does NOT need 5 sets to beat Medvedev and does not get broken 4 times against Diego, choke repeatedly against Berrietini etc etc. Also does NOT lose on clay repeatedly.

This is a sad thread. Nadal is in the last phase of what has been a truly remarkable career. He is on the descendancy and is a pale shadow of the legend he used to be. Winning 2 slams does NOT change that fact.
Facts are facts whether you believe them or not.
 

Lew II

G.O.A.T.
2018 --> highest 1-year career win percentage
2018-19 --> highest 2-year career win percentage
2017-19 --> highest 3-year career win percentage
 

NoleFam

Bionic Poster
I must say that's pretty incredible that Nadal is #1 for second serve points won, especially considering that early in his career his second serve was pretty attackable. I'm a bit surprised at that stat.
 

TennisFan3

Talk Tennis Guru
It says about his serve best in his life.

I think the return is worse and thats why he isnt beating Novak off clay.

His serve is NOT really the best of his life. It's not even the second best.
As a lot of people have said, Nadal's best ever serve was 2010. 2nd best was 2013.
Yes, his second serve is a LITTLE better, but the first is worse for sure.
 

Sport

G.O.A.T.
Nah, just extreme weakery inflating numbers. Come on, this Nadal got destroyed by Djo, bagelled by Fog, taken apart by old bones, and nearly choked a slam final from two sets and a break up. If you think that's his peak, you don't respect his game much. And yet the mean bull has thus far posted his highest game % in a single season. Ricockulous stuff.
No he wasn't bagelled. "Bagelled" means losing a set 6-0. Nadal has never lost a set 6-0 against Fognini.

And no he did not nearly choke. He only failed an easy volley in the third set. From that moment on, there was no choke. Medvedev just started to play like an unstoppable robot, hitting clean winners, defending like a wall and never getting tired. This robotic Medvedev is the best player post-Wimbledon.
 

clayqueen

Talk Tennis Guru
His serve is NOT really the best of his life. It's not even the second best.
As a lot of people have said, Nadal's best ever serve was 2010. 2nd best was 2013.
Yes, his second serve is a LITTLE better, but the first is worse for sure.
You're entitled to your opinion but only the facts matter.
 

clayqueen

Talk Tennis Guru
Nah, just extreme weakery inflating numbers. Come on, this Nadal got destroyed by Djo, bagelled by Fog, taken apart by old bones, and nearly choked a slam final from two sets and a break up. If you think that's his peak, you don't respect his game much. And yet the mean bull has thus far posted his highest game % in a single season. Ricockulous stuff.
When did Fog bagel Rafa?
 

TennisFan3

Talk Tennis Guru
You're entitled to your opinion but only the facts matter.

Not sure what you are trying to do here by claiming Nadal is at his best.
A 33 year old veteran CANNOT be playing his best tennis. Even rabid Fed fans don't do this to Fed as he got older. They acknowledge that Fed is not at his best and his prime is over.

Realize by claiming Nadal is at his best right now, you are essentially saying that Nadal's best is like losing to Djokovic and Federer repeatedly in non clay events for years! Getting straight setted by Novak in a slam final (worst slam loss of Nadal's career).
Not even winning a set against Federer for years until Wimbledon 2019 SF! 5 straight matches lost to Fed without winning a set (never happened in Nadal's career).
And even in the Wimb 2019 SF match, Nadal barely made it to 4 sets. Even a cub Nadal in 2007 took prime Fed to 5 sets in grass at Wimbledon. What does that say about your 2019 "best" Nadal?

Again Nadal's best is getting beaten by all kinds of players on his beloved clay in MC, Barca, Madrid etc. Surely he cannot be the clay GOAT if his best tennis means getting thrashed by clay giants such as Fognini and TsiTsipas? Truth is that prime Nadal wouldn't even have given games to these guys, much less sets and matches.

If by your opinion, Nadal is playing his best tennis right now, there is no way he would have won 19 slams and won them over the ATGs such as Federer and Novak. His current tennis is not good enough. That much is fact, the rest is opinions.
And I will dig up that interview in which Nadal said that his "current" form is NOWHERE good enough to beat his past version.
 

clayqueen

Talk Tennis Guru
Not sure what you are trying to do here by claiming Nadal is at his best.
A 33 year old veteran CANNOT be playing his best tennis. Even rabid Fed fans don't do this to Fed as he got older. They acknowledge that Fed is not at his best and his prime is over.

Realize by claiming Nadal is at his best right now, you are essentially saying that Nadal's best is like losing to Djokovic and Federer repeatedly in non clay events for years! Getting straight setted by Novak in a slam final.
Not even winning a set against Federer until Wimbledon 2019 SF. 5 straight matches lost to Fed without winning a set (never happened in Nadal's career).
And even in the Wimb 2019 SF match, Nadal barely made it to 4 sets. Even a cub Nadal in 2007 took prime Fed to 5 sets in grass at Wimbledon. What does that say about your 2019 "best" Nadal?

Again Nadal's best is getting beaten by all kinds of players on clay in MC, Barca, Madrid etc. Surely he cannot be the clay GOAT if his best tennis means getting thrashed by clay giants such as Fognini and TsiTsipas? Truth is that prime Nadal wouldn't even have given games to these guys, much less sets and matches.

If by your opinion, Nadal is playing his best tennis right now, there is no way he would have won 19 slams and won them over the ATGs such as Federer and Novak. His current tennis is not good enough.
It's the ATP who says Rafa is at his best now and I agree that he is playing better attacking tennis now. His serve is better, his volley is better and his strategy is better.
 

Zara

G.O.A.T.
In 2013 he was a pretty clear favorite after Montreal-Cinci combo.

Yes - he was now that I remember. Novak had a tough time against Wawrinka in the semi but what I clearly remember is Andy's loss to Stan in the qtr final and it went all downhill from since that point on until 2016.
 

TennisFan3

Talk Tennis Guru
It's the ATP who says Rafa is at his best now and I agree that he is playing better attacking tennis now. His serve is better, his volley is better and his strategy is better.

But that does NOT make him a better player overall. He is trying to change things as he gets older. But his speed, movement, explosiveness, defense, forehand offense, pace, depth etc -- were all 10x better when he was younger.
That is why he was able to beat Fed and Novak in their primes. Now he struggles against them and a lot of other players as well. Does that tell you something?
 

topher

Hall of Fame
You guys should take that up with Rafa: “No. I am not better than ever before."

If 2nd serve return was the main parameter, then his best year on tour would 2004, per the article. That just goes to show the dumb conclusions you can reach looking at stats in isolation.

Rafa's peak was probably AO 2009. Has he improved some aspects of his game since then? Yes, but none of them have made up for his physical losses since then nor his shotmaking ability from the baseline (which I feel his BH suffered after that due to his knee issues).
 

clayqueen

Talk Tennis Guru
But that does NOT make him a better player overall. He is trying to change things as he gets older. But his speed, movement, explosiveness, defense, forehand offense, pace, depth etc -- were all 10x better when he was younger.
That is why he was able to beat Fed and Novak in their primes. Now he struggles against them and a lot of other players as well. Does that tell you something?
I disagree.
 

TennisFan3

Talk Tennis Guru
You guys should take that up with Rafa: “No. I am not better than ever before."

If 2nd serve return was the main parameter, then his best year on tour would 2004, per the article. That just goes to show the dumb conclusions you can reach looking at stats in isolation.

Rafa's peak was probably AO 2009. Has he improved some aspects of his game since then? Yes, but none of them have made up for his physical losses since then nor his shotmaking ability from the baseline.

Excellent post. You should be careful of polluting this thread with sound objectivity and good tennis acumen :)
This thread is la la land, where a 33 year old Nadal is playing his best ever tennis.
 

Phoenix1983

G.O.A.T.
Marketers have no need or interest for actual truth, shiny numbers will suffice.

True.

Like those marketing Gonzales as a GOAT with his 8 year end No 1s - when the truth is that those are only equivalent to 6 year end No 1s in the Open Era.

No marketing spin can place Gonzales higher than Sampras.

Agreed upon by all objective tennis observers.
 
D

Deleted member 763691

Guest
I remember Roig said Rafa had agreed to return serve from close to the baseline in the 2019 Wimbledon SF vs. Federer, but for someone unknown reason Rafa decided to return serve from way behind the baseline.
A very rare tactical blunder, but surely he knew the tactic during the match, as he'd already spoken to Roig about it....
Weird :)
 

TheGhostOfAgassi

Talk Tennis Guru
I remember Roig said Rafa had agreed to return serve from close to the baseline in the 2019 Wimbledon SF vs. Federer, but for someone unknown reason Rafa decided to return serve from way behind the baseline.
A very rare tactical blunder, but surely he knew the tactic during the match, as he'd already spoken to Roig about it....
Weird :)
Maybe he didn’t want to play Novak in the final?
 
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