Ranking Nadal’s seasons on all surfaces (and overall)

[SABRvolley]

Probably been posted before, but since Nadal’s days are probably numbered on tour, I decided to break down his best and worse years on each surface, both in terms of level of play and results. So, here we go.

Clay (Results):

1. 2010
2. 2006
3. 2012 = 2008
4. 2005
6. 2007 = 2013
7. 2017 = 2018
8. 2011
9. 2014
10. 2009
11. 2019
12. 2020
13. 2021
14. 2016
15. 2015

Clay (Level of play):

1. 2008
2. 2006
3. 2012
4. 2007 = 2005
5. 2010
6. 2013
7. 2011
8. 2009
10. 2017
11. 2014 = 2018
12. 2020 = 2019
13. 2021
14. 2022
15. 2016
16. 2015

Hard (Results):

1. 2013
2. 2009
3. 2010
4. 2019
5. 2011
6. 2017
7. 2012
8. 2008
9. 2014
10. 2022
11. 2018
12. 2007
13. 2006
14. 2005
15. 2021
16. 2020
17. 2015
18. 2016

Hard (Level of play):

1. 2013
2. 2009
3. 2010
4. 2011
5. 2012
6. 2008 = 2017
7. 2019
8. 2018
9. 2014
10. 2007
11. 2022
12. 2006 = 2005
13. 2020
14. 2021
15. 2015
16. 2016

Grass (Results):

1. 2008
2. 2010
3. 2007
4. 2011
5. 2006
6. 2018 = 2019 = 2022
7. 2005 = 2017
8. 2015
9. 2014
10. 2012
11. 2013
12. 2016 = 2009 = 2021 = 2020

Grass (Level of play):

1. 2008
2. 2007
3. 2010
4. 2019 = 2018
5. 2006
6. 2011
7. 2017
8. 2022
9. 2014 = 2005
10. 2015
11. 2012 = 2013
12. 2016 = 2009 = 2021 = 2020

Combining level of play and results, I came to the overall ranking of seasons by surface:

Clay (Overall):

1. 2008
2. 2006
3. 2010
4. 2012
5. 2005
6. 2007
7. 2013
8. 2011
9. 2017
10. 2009
11. 2014
12. 2018
13. 2019
15. 2022
14. 2020 = 2021
15. 2016
16. 2015

Hard (Overall):

1. 2013
2. 2009
3. 2010
4. 2011
5. 2019
6. 2017 = 2008
7. 2012
8. 2014
9. 2022
10. 2018
11. 2007
11. 2006 = 2005
12. 2020 = 2021
13. 2015
14. 2016

Grass (Overall):

1. 2008
2. 2010
3. 2007
4. 2011
5. 2006
6. 2019 = 2018
7. 2022
8. 2017
9. 2015
10. 2014
11. 2005
11. 2012
12. 2013
14. 2016 = 2009 = 2021 = 2020

So, when combining the rankings of his best seasons on each individual surface together, you can rank his overall best seasons (from best to worst):

Overall season ranking looks something like this (from best to worst):

1. 2008
2. 2010
3. 2013
4. 2011
5. 2019
6. 2007
7. 2017
8. 2012
9. 2005 = 2018
10. 2022
11. 2009 = 2014
12. 2006
13. 2020
14. 2021
15. 2015
16. 2016

What do y’all think?

 

[Hitman]

Probably been posted before, but since Nadal’s days are probably numbered on tour, I decided to break down his best and worse years on each surface, both in terms of level of play and results. So, here we go.

Clay (Results):

1. 2010
2. 2006
3. 2012 = 2008
4. 2005
6. 2007 = 2013
7. 2017 = 2018
8. 2011
9. 2014
10. 2009
11. 2019
12. 2020
13. 2021
14. 2016
15. 2015

Clay (Level of play):

1. 2008
2. 2006
3. 2012
4. 2007 = 2005
5. 2010
6. 2013
7. 2011
8. 2009
10. 2017
11. 2014 = 2018
12. 2020 = 2019
13. 2021
14. 2022
15. 2016
16. 2015

Hard (Results):

1. 2013
2. 2009
3. 2010
4. 2019
5. 2011
6. 2017
7. 2012
8. 2008
9. 2014
10. 2022
11. 2018
12. 2007
13. 2006
14. 2005
15. 2021
16. 2020
17. 2015
18. 2016

Hard (Level of play):

1. 2013
2. 2009
3. 2010
4. 2011
5. 2012
6. 2008 = 2017
7. 2019
8. 2018
9. 2014
10. 2007
11. 2022
12. 2006 = 2005
13. 2020
14. 2021
15. 2015
16. 2016

Grass (Results):

1. 2008
2. 2010
3. 2007
4. 2011
5. 2006
6. 2018 = 2019 = 2022
7. 2005 = 2017
8. 2015
9. 2014
10. 2012
11. 2013
12. 2016 = 2009 = 2021 = 2020

Grass (Level of play):

1. 2008
2. 2007
3. 2010
4. 2019 = 2018
5. 2006
6. 2011
7. 2017
8. 2022
9. 2014 = 2005
10. 2015
11. 2012 = 2013
12. 2016 = 2009 = 2021 = 2020

Combining level of play and results, I came to the overall ranking of seasons by surface:

Clay (Overall):

1. 2008
2. 2006
3. 2010
4. 2012
5. 2005
6. 2007
7. 2013
8. 2011
9. 2017
10. 2009
11. 2014
12. 2018
13. 2019
15. 2022
14. 2020 = 2021
15. 2016
16. 2015

Hard (Overall):

1. 2013
2. 2009
3. 2010
4. 2011
5. 2019
6. 2017 = 2008
7. 2012
8. 2014
9. 2022
10. 2018
11. 2007
11. 2006 = 2005
12. 2020 = 2021
13. 2015
14. 2016

Grass (Overall):

1. 2008
2. 2010
3. 2007
4. 2011
5. 2006
6. 2019 = 2018
7. 2022
8. 2017
9. 2015
10. 2014
11. 2005
11. 2012
12. 2013
14. 2016 = 2009 = 2021 = 2020

So, when combining the rankings of his best seasons on each individual surface together, you can rank his overall best seasons (from best to worst):

Overall season ranking looks something like this (from best to worst):

1. 2008
2. 2010
3. 2013
4. 2011
5. 2019
6. 2007
7. 2017
8. 2012
9. 2005 = 2018
10. 2022
11. 2009 = 2014
12. 2006
13. 2020
14. 2021
15. 2015
16. 2016

What do y’all think?

You can't really put 2010 below any season as it is the only season in which he won three slams. That will always be his greatest season overall.

 

[SABRvolley]

You can't really put 2010 below any season as it is the only season in which he won three slams. That will always be his greatest season overall.

2010 was amazing. But it’s important to remember that, outside the USO, he didn’t really achieve anything else on HC that year.

His win %, masters titles won, HC and grass court titles won, total tournaments won and general level of play was much higher in 2008 than in 2010. Not to mention, 2010 was a pretty weak year for the rest of the field.

That’s why 2008 eclipses 2010 for me.

 

[Djokovic_is_the_best#1]

2010 for me is his best!

 

[Neptune]

2010 for me is his best!

But even higher level of 2011 Rafa smoked by Nole

 

[The Blond Blur]

But even higher level of 2011 Rafa smoked by Nole

The only tournaments he played better in 2011 vs 2010 would be the sunshine double.

 

[MichaelNadal]

2008 and 2010 for me

 

[SABRvolley]

The only tournaments he played better in 2011 vs 2010 would be the sunshine double.

I think his level was pretty similar both years in most tournaments (maybe barring the clay season, and obviously the USO and WTF). Djokovic just stopped him in 2011.

 

[Hitman]

2010 was amazing. But it’s important to remember that, outside the USO, he didn’t really achieve anything else on HC that year.

His win %, masters titles won, HC and grass court titles won, total tournaments won and general level of play was much higher in 2008 than in 2010. Not to mention, 2010 was a pretty weak year for the rest of the field.

That’s why 2008 eclipses 2010 for me.

Fair enough.

Nadal himself though will not pick a season in which he won less slams IMO.

 

[The Blond Blur]

I think his level was pretty similar both years in most tournaments (maybe barring the clay season, and obviously the USO and WTF). Djokovic just stopped him in 2011.

Soooo most of the biggest events then, lol.

 

[DIMI_D]

2013 comeback and level of play was epic but yes 2010 the best because of the 3 slams in a row, 2008 then 2013

 

[Milanez82]

2010 he really was the best player and even got to the final of year end masters.
2008 he got destroyed at USO and AO.

 

[CoolCoolCool]

I wouldn't put 2019 Grassdal on par with 2018 Grassdal in terms of level of play. 2018 > 2019 imo.

 

[SABRvolley]

Soooo most of the biggest events then, lol.

Only Djokovic stopped him in those events. Nadal would’ve had by far his best season in 2011, were it not for Djokovic. I truly believe that.

 

[SonnyT]

It's interesting to separate 2011 by Djokovic and the rest of the field. Djokovic was responsible for 6 finale losses (2 in slams). Nadal was pretty much untouchable otherwise.

Anyone knows Nadal's record in 2011? By my account, Nadal would've won 9 tournaments in 2011, 3 more than the previous year.

 

[The Blond Blur]

Only Djokovic stopped him in those events. Nadal would’ve had by far his best season in 2011, were it not for Djokovic. I truly believe that.

Dude there’s a difference between results and level of play. You can play worse and still have better results or vice versa. Take 2012-2014 Joker, he played much better than the Joker of this year but the Joker of this year had way better results.

Similarly the only events that RAFA played at a higher level in 2011 compared to 2010 would be the sunshine double. I mean you just admitted that 2010 RAFA was better during the CC season, USO, and the WTF. That leaves Wimby basically. He got injured during the QF at the AO in both years.

 

[junior74]

I wouldn't put 2019 Grassdal on par with 2018 Grassdal in terms of level of play. 2018 > 2019 imo.

Losing to Grassovic > > > losing to poor man's Santoro with a slightly better serve and choking habits

 

[SABRvolley]

Dude there’s a difference between results and level of play. You can play worse and still have better results or vice versa. Take 2012-2014 Joker, he played much better than the Joker of this year but the Joker of this year had way better results.

Similarly the only events that RAFA played at a higher level in 2011 compared to 2010 would be the sunshine double. I mean you just admitted that 2010 RAFA was better during the CC season, USO, and the WTF. That leaves Wimby basically. He got injured during the QF at the AO in both years.

Disagree. I think his level was pretty much the same for much of the year.

Kindly read this article, published late in the 2011 season. The break his 2010 vs 2011 stats down nicely, and it was pretty similar:

853566-rafael-nadals-level-has-dropped-significantly-in-2011-myth-or-reality

If anything, his 2011 stats are actually slightly better in many categories compared to 2010.

 

[BauerAlmeida]

No way was 2010 SIXTH in terms of level on clay. While there can be a difference between results and level of play, there's no reason for it to go from first on results to sixth on level of play when it had maybe his best tournament ever in Montecarlo and also won RG without dropping a set.

 

[Pheasant]

Nadal's best records on clay, sorted by winning pct:
2006: 26-0
2010: 22-0
2007: 31-1(81 match winning streak on clay was snapped by Federe in the Hamburg final)
2018: 28-1(lost to Thiem)
2005: 50-2(lost to Andreev and Gaudio Gaston)
2008: 24-1(lost to Ferrero)
2017: 24-1(lost to Thiem)
2012: 23-1(lost to Verdasco)

Of the years above, the total percentage of points won on clay
2012: 58.3%
2017: 58.3%
2018: 57.9%
2008: 57.8%
2007: 57.4%
2010: 57.1%
2005: 56.7%
2006: 55.6%

I'd still have to take 2010. That was the only year that he swept all 3 clay Masters. It's also only one of 2 years that he was undefeated on clay.

As for 2010 as a whole, that was Nadal at his best. His serve was at his very best that year. He was hitting serves in the 130s at the USO. As a matter of fact, I remember the announcers commenting on his revamped serves. He was hitting 7 mph faster on average than a year ago. But here's the kicker. In 2010, Nadal held serve in 90.1% of his service games. How good was that? Only Roddick at 91.1% topped him. Isner was #3 at 89.8%, followed by Federer at 89.3%. In 2011, Nadal dropped to #16 in that metric with a Nadal-like 83.3% hold rate.

 

[The Blond Blur]

Disagree. I think his level was pretty much the same for much of the year.

Kindly read this article, published late in the 2011 season. The break his 2010 vs 2011 stats down nicely, and it was pretty similar:

853566-rafael-nadals-level-has-dropped-significantly-in-2011-myth-or-reality

If anything, his 2011 stats are actually slightly better in many categories compared to 2010.

This was literally in the article lol:

“While I do not have the 2010 statistics, I believe it is safe to say that Rafa's return game cannot have been much better than this.
His serve is more of an open question as I do not possess the 2010 data and his positions are further removed from the top.”

We can go by event if we want to.

AO: He was injured in both years so that’s a wash.

I already conceded he was better in the sunshine double in 2011 so moving on.

He dropped 2 sets total during the 2010 CC season and no that wasn’t a typo. During that stretch he won: MC, Madrid, Rome, and RG to be the only man ever to complete the “Clay Slam”. So he was way ahead there compared to 2011.

He struggled in the early rounds in Wimby more than usual (granted he missed the 09 event so it had been 2 years since he played on grass). But by the 2nd week he was in full flight. The SF vs Murray in particular was a great match.

Canada: In 2010 lost to MurrayGOAT (who would go on to win the title) in the SF. In 2011 he lost in the 2R (where he got an automatic bye) to Dodig…

Cincy: In 2010 he went out in the QF to Baggy in 3 whereas in 2011 he went out to Fish in straights sets.

2-1: Do we even need to talk about this one? The difference between his serve those 2 years is like night and day.

YEC: He went undefeated in the RR, played MurrayGOAT in an absolute war in the SF, and then gave Ol’ Rog a good fight until he ran out of gas in the 3rd. In 2011 he went 1-2 and was eliminated in the RR stage.

Yeah we’re just gonna have to agree to disagree and move on.

 

[timnz]

Probably been posted before, but since Nadal’s days are probably numbered on tour, I decided to break down his best and worse years on each surface, both in terms of level of play and results. So, here we go.

Clay (Results):

1. 2010
2. 2006
3. 2012 = 2008
4. 2005
6. 2007 = 2013
7. 2017 = 2018
8. 2011
9. 2014
10. 2009
11. 2019
12. 2020
13. 2021
14. 2016
15. 2015

Clay (Level of play):

1. 2008
2. 2006
3. 2012
4. 2007 = 2005
5. 2010
6. 2013
7. 2011
8. 2009
10. 2017
11. 2014 = 2018
12. 2020 = 2019
13. 2021
14. 2022
15. 2016
16. 2015

Hard (Results):

1. 2013
2. 2009
3. 2010
4. 2019
5. 2011
6. 2017
7. 2012
8. 2008
9. 2014
10. 2022
11. 2018
12. 2007
13. 2006
14. 2005
15. 2021
16. 2020
17. 2015
18. 2016

Hard (Level of play):

1. 2013
2. 2009
3. 2010
4. 2011
5. 2012
6. 2008 = 2017
7. 2019
8. 2018
9. 2014
10. 2007
11. 2022
12. 2006 = 2005
13. 2020
14. 2021
15. 2015
16. 2016

Grass (Results):

1. 2008
2. 2010
3. 2007
4. 2011
5. 2006
6. 2018 = 2019 = 2022
7. 2005 = 2017
8. 2015
9. 2014
10. 2012
11. 2013
12. 2016 = 2009 = 2021 = 2020

Grass (Level of play):

1. 2008
2. 2007
3. 2010
4. 2019 = 2018
5. 2006
6. 2011
7. 2017
8. 2022
9. 2014 = 2005
10. 2015
11. 2012 = 2013
12. 2016 = 2009 = 2021 = 2020

Combining level of play and results, I came to the overall ranking of seasons by surface:

Clay (Overall):

1. 2008
2. 2006
3. 2010
4. 2012
5. 2005
6. 2007
7. 2013
8. 2011
9. 2017
10. 2009
11. 2014
12. 2018
13. 2019
15. 2022
14. 2020 = 2021
15. 2016
16. 2015

Hard (Overall):

1. 2013
2. 2009
3. 2010
4. 2011
5. 2019
6. 2017 = 2008
7. 2012
8. 2014
9. 2022
10. 2018
11. 2007
11. 2006 = 2005
12. 2020 = 2021
13. 2015
14. 2016

Grass (Overall):

1. 2008
2. 2010
3. 2007
4. 2011
5. 2006
6. 2019 = 2018
7. 2022
8. 2017
9. 2015
10. 2014
11. 2005
11. 2012
12. 2013
14. 2016 = 2009 = 2021 = 2020

So, when combining the rankings of his best seasons on each individual surface together, you can rank his overall best seasons (from best to worst):

Overall season ranking looks something like this (from best to worst):

1. 2008
2. 2010
3. 2013
4. 2011
5. 2019
6. 2007
7. 2017
8. 2012
9. 2005 = 2018
10. 2022
11. 2009 = 2014
12. 2006
13. 2020
14. 2021
15. 2015
16. 2016

What do y’all think?

What about Indoor Hard? It is clear that even though it is the same surface as outdoor hard, the conditions really change play.

 

[SABRvolley]

This was literally in the article lol:

“While I do not have the 2010 statistics, I believe it is safe to say that Rafa's return game cannot have been much better than this.
His serve is more of an open question as I do not possess the 2010 data and his positions are further removed from the top.”

We can go by event if we want to.

AO: He was injured in both years so that’s a wash.

I already conceded he was better in the sunshine double in 2011 so moving on.

He dropped 2 sets total during the 2010 CC season and no that wasn’t a typo. During that stretch he won: MC, Madrid, Rome, and RG to be the only man ever to complete the “Clay Slam”. So he was way ahead there compared to 2011.

He struggled in the early rounds in Wimby more than usual (granted he missed the 09 event so it had been 2 years since he played on grass). But by the 2nd week he was in full flight. The SF vs Murray in particular was a great match.

Canada: In 2010 lost to MurrayGOAT (who would go on to win the title) in the SF. In 2011 he lost in the 2R (where he got an automatic bye) to Dodig…

Cincy: In 2010 he went out in the QF to Baggy in 3 whereas in 2011 he went out to Fish in straights sets.

2-1: Do we even need to talk about this one? The difference between his serve those 2 years is like night and day.

YEC: He went undefeated in the RR, played MurrayGOAT in an absolute war in the SF, and then gave Ol’ Rog a good fight until he ran out of gas in the 3rd. In 2011 he went 1-2 and was eliminated in the RR stage.

Yeah we’re just gonna have to agree to disagree and move on.

You also need to take into account that the competition was much stronger in 2011 than in 2010. Obviously Djokovic was miles better, Federer didn’t go awol during the middle of the season, Murray was better, Tsonga was better (arguably), even guys like Ferrer and Karlovic were better.

Despite this, his record against top 10 (despite losing to Djokovic all the time) was STILL superior in 2011.

Im not downplaying his 2010 season at all, it was great. But it’s pretty evident that, were it not for Djokovic, Nadal would’ve achieved basically the same in 2011 as he did in 2010.

 

[nolefam_2024]

Probably been posted before, but since Nadal’s days are probably numbered on tour, I decided to break down his best and worse years on each surface, both in terms of level of play and results. So, here we go.

Clay (Results):

1. 2010
2. 2006
3. 2012 = 2008
4. 2005
6. 2007 = 2013
7. 2017 = 2018
8. 2011
9. 2014
10. 2009
11. 2019
12. 2020
13. 2021
14. 2016
15. 2015

Clay (Level of play):

1. 2008
2. 2006
3. 2012
4. 2007 = 2005
5. 2010
6. 2013
7. 2011
8. 2009
10. 2017
11. 2014 = 2018
12. 2020 = 2019
13. 2021
14. 2022
15. 2016
16. 2015

Hard (Results):

1. 2013
2. 2009
3. 2010
4. 2019
5. 2011
6. 2017
7. 2012
8. 2008
9. 2014
10. 2022
11. 2018
12. 2007
13. 2006
14. 2005
15. 2021
16. 2020
17. 2015
18. 2016

Hard (Level of play):

1. 2013
2. 2009
3. 2010
4. 2011
5. 2012
6. 2008 = 2017
7. 2019
8. 2018
9. 2014
10. 2007
11. 2022
12. 2006 = 2005
13. 2020
14. 2021
15. 2015
16. 2016

Grass (Results):

1. 2008
2. 2010
3. 2007
4. 2011
5. 2006
6. 2018 = 2019 = 2022
7. 2005 = 2017
8. 2015
9. 2014
10. 2012
11. 2013
12. 2016 = 2009 = 2021 = 2020

Grass (Level of play):

1. 2008
2. 2007
3. 2010
4. 2019 = 2018
5. 2006
6. 2011
7. 2017
8. 2022
9. 2014 = 2005
10. 2015
11. 2012 = 2013
12. 2016 = 2009 = 2021 = 2020

Combining level of play and results, I came to the overall ranking of seasons by surface:

Clay (Overall):

1. 2008
2. 2006
3. 2010
4. 2012
5. 2005
6. 2007
7. 2013
8. 2011
9. 2017
10. 2009
11. 2014
12. 2018
13. 2019
15. 2022
14. 2020 = 2021
15. 2016
16. 2015

Hard (Overall):

1. 2013
2. 2009
3. 2010
4. 2011
5. 2019
6. 2017 = 2008
7. 2012
8. 2014
9. 2022
10. 2018
11. 2007
11. 2006 = 2005
12. 2020 = 2021
13. 2015
14. 2016

Grass (Overall):

1. 2008
2. 2010
3. 2007
4. 2011
5. 2006
6. 2019 = 2018
7. 2022
8. 2017
9. 2015
10. 2014
11. 2005
11. 2012
12. 2013
14. 2016 = 2009 = 2021 = 2020

So, when combining the rankings of his best seasons on each individual surface together, you can rank his overall best seasons (from best to worst):

Overall season ranking looks something like this (from best to worst):

1. 2008
2. 2010
3. 2013
4. 2011
5. 2019
6. 2007
7. 2017
8. 2012
9. 2005 = 2018
10. 2022
11. 2009 = 2014
12. 2006
13. 2020
14. 2021
15. 2015
16. 2016

What do y’all think?

If Nadal didn't suck so much on grass in 2013, this year he would be the best he had ever been.

Best on hc by a mile. Hc is the most of the tour.

5th or 6th on clay but that gave him 2 masters and RG. Not bad at all. He only lost once post March on clay. 4 titles overall.

Only on grass he had a big r1 upset.

Could have been the best year of his career if he had won Wimbledon.

For now I agree.

2008 > 2010 > 2013 and then the rest.

2008 was exactly opposite. Good on hc but not great, but untouchable on clay and grass. His best ever result on clay and grass.

Went 34-1 on clay plus grass between March to July. That's insane.

2010 is not too bad either..

All three years showed Nadal as undisputed number 1 (2013 could have gone other way if Nole had won Wimbledon but he lost).

I am not 100% sold on 2008 being so different than 2013 though. All three years were very close.



If I had to choose for Federer, I would say 2006 > 2005 > 2007 > 2004 without much issues.

And for Djokovic now

2015 > 2011 > 2023 > 2021

But for Nadal all three years are in same ballpark.

 

[The Blond Blur]

You also need to take into account that the competition was much stronger in 2011 than in 2010. Obviously Djokovic was miles better, Federer didn’t go awol during the middle of the season, Murray was better, Tsonga was better (arguably), even guys like Ferrer and Karlovic were better.

Despite this, his record against top 10 (despite losing to Djokovic all the time) was STILL superior in 2011.

Im not downplaying his 2010 season at all, it was great. But it’s pretty evident that, were it not for Djokovic, Nadal would’ve achieved basically the same in 2011 as he did in 2010.

The top 10 was more inconsistent in 2010 so he played them a lot less. Given his form in 2010 I wouldn’t be surprised if his numbers improved vs them to surpass 2011. Besides, that’s one statistic. I just went through all the major events for both years and in a majority of those events he demonstrated a higher level in 2010.

Even if RAFA did have better results in 2011 I would still think he played at a higher level in 2010. Heck, I think he showed a higher level in most of 08-09 before he got hurt in Madrid than he did in 2010. The same goes for Fed in 2006 vs 2005. He had better results in 2006 but I think he played at a higher level in 2005. 2011 RAFA was very consistent, but I don’t think he peaked particularly high at any event that year. He was less consistent in 2010 but his form during the CC season, 2-1 Open, and YEC was far too good for me to believe he played better in 2011 in those events. Besides, you even listed 2010 as a higher level of play on all surfaces in your OP…so why are you pushing back so much?

 

[nolefam_2024]

The top 10 was more inconsistent in 2010 so he played them a lot less. Given his form in 2010 I wouldn’t be surprised if his numbers improved vs them to surpass 2011. Besides, that’s one statistic. I just went through all the major events for both years and in a majority of those events he demonstrated a higher level in 2010.

Even if RAFA did have better results in 2011 I would still think he played at a higher level in 2010. Heck, I think he showed a higher level in most of 08-09 before he got hurt in Madrid than he did in 2010. The same goes for Fed in 2006 vs 2005. He had better results in 2006 but I think he played at a higher level in 2005. 2011 RAFA was very consistent, but I don’t think he peaked particularly high at any event that year. He was less consistent in 2010 but his form during the CC season, 2-1 Open, and YEC was far too good for me to believe he played better in 2011 in those events. Besides, you even listed 2010 as a higher level of play on all surfaces in your OP…so why are you pushing back so much?

I don't know if there is massive difference between 2008 2010 and 2013 level of Rafa.

He was hitting flatter in 2013 but was faster in 2008. He served best in 2010.

It's all very minute levels.

2011 is different. But even that will come close to these 3.

When Rafa is fully rested, as per the book Rafa, he HAD his chances. No matter the opponent. Yes surface matters but between 2009 to 2015 we had all surfaces slowed down. You can easily find the stats on UTS. The AO has been sped up by a big margin now. USOpen has been sped up. And even ATP finals and Paris have been sped up. Nadal would struggle in these conditions.

But apart from surfaces, if they weren't too quick, I think no matter the opponent, he had his chances if fully rested. Maybe in 2008 he was TOO young to actually dominate on hc unlike 2010 and 2013 though. He had 2 beatdowns on hc. But he didn't have ANY bad loss on hc.

2011 Nadal was not perfect. Yes in big tournaments it was Djokovic but in USO series he lost to no names.
2010 Nadal the worst player he lost to was Baghadatis on hc.

2011 is not same as 2010

 

[Phenomenal]

Ranking Nadal is really tough for 2 reason mainly. His grass-HC peak is seperate and many of his seasons shortened by injury. He didn't complete the season most of the time.

2006 is is not even in top 5 on clay by level of play for me.

For instance his level of play in 2012 for me is on par with 2008-2010-2013. 2012 might have been his best clay/hard combo. But just missed the second half. Also in 2013 he didn't played AO so it's not easy to rank.

 

[vive le beau jeu !]

2023 was great

 

[DSH]

But even higher level of 2011 Rafa smoked by Nole

That is a big lie.
Only in Indian Wells and Miami 2011 Nadal played at a higher level than what he had shown in the same tournaments the previous year.
Otherwise, the Spanish player reached his peak of performance in 2010 on the clay court circuit including Roland Garros, Wimbledon and the US Open.

 

[ADuck]

2022 clay >> 2021 clay by level of play and results

 

[Sport]

Probably been posted before, but since Nadal’s days are probably numbered on tour, I decided to break down his best and worse years on each surface, both in terms of level of play and results. So, here we go.

Clay (Results):

1. 2010
2. 2006
3. 2012 = 2008
4. 2005
6. 2007 = 2013
7. 2017 = 2018
8. 2011
9. 2014
10. 2009
11. 2019
12. 2020
13. 2021
14. 2016
15. 2015

Clay (Level of play):

1. 2008
2. 2006
3. 2012
4. 2007 = 2005
5. 2010
6. 2013
7. 2011
8. 2009
10. 2017
11. 2014 = 2018
12. 2020 = 2019
13. 2021
14. 2022
15. 2016
16. 2015

Hard (Results):

1. 2013
2. 2009
3. 2010
4. 2019
5. 2011
6. 2017
7. 2012
8. 2008
9. 2014
10. 2022
11. 2018
12. 2007
13. 2006
14. 2005
15. 2021
16. 2020
17. 2015
18. 2016

Hard (Level of play):

1. 2013
2. 2009
3. 2010
4. 2011
5. 2012
6. 2008 = 2017
7. 2019
8. 2018
9. 2014
10. 2007
11. 2022
12. 2006 = 2005
13. 2020
14. 2021
15. 2015
16. 2016

Grass (Results):

1. 2008
2. 2010
3. 2007
4. 2011
5. 2006
6. 2018 = 2019 = 2022
7. 2005 = 2017
8. 2015
9. 2014
10. 2012
11. 2013
12. 2016 = 2009 = 2021 = 2020

Grass (Level of play):

1. 2008
2. 2007
3. 2010
4. 2019 = 2018
5. 2006
6. 2011
7. 2017
8. 2022
9. 2014 = 2005
10. 2015
11. 2012 = 2013
12. 2016 = 2009 = 2021 = 2020

Combining level of play and results, I came to the overall ranking of seasons by surface:

Clay (Overall):

1. 2008
2. 2006
3. 2010
4. 2012
5. 2005
6. 2007
7. 2013
8. 2011
9. 2017
10. 2009
11. 2014
12. 2018
13. 2019
15. 2022
14. 2020 = 2021
15. 2016
16. 2015

Hard (Overall):

1. 2013
2. 2009
3. 2010
4. 2011
5. 2019
6. 2017 = 2008
7. 2012
8. 2014
9. 2022
10. 2018
11. 2007
11. 2006 = 2005
12. 2020 = 2021
13. 2015
14. 2016

Grass (Overall):

1. 2008
2. 2010
3. 2007
4. 2011
5. 2006
6. 2019 = 2018
7. 2022
8. 2017
9. 2015
10. 2014
11. 2005
11. 2012
12. 2013
14. 2016 = 2009 = 2021 = 2020

So, when combining the rankings of his best seasons on each individual surface together, you can rank his overall best seasons (from best to worst):

Overall season ranking looks something like this (from best to worst):

1. 2008
2. 2010
3. 2013
4. 2011
5. 2019
6. 2007
7. 2017
8. 2012
9. 2005 = 2018
10. 2022
11. 2009 = 2014
12. 2006
13. 2020
14. 2021
15. 2015
16. 2016

What do y’all think?

LOL at 2009 Nadal having a superior level of play than 2017 Nadal on clay. The simple premise is laughable. You're comparing arguably the most dominant version of Nadal ever at RG with an injured one who lost to Soderling.

2009 Nadal had tendinitis at RG and was injured, to the point that he subsequentky skipped both Queens and WB despite of being the defending champion. Why would he skip both Queens abs WB right after RG if he wasn't injured?