So what changes did Nadal transform in his game to beat Joker?

Praised for his physical style of play, Nadal is as much brain as brawn. His comeback underscores his unique ability to adapt.

During his seventh-month layoff following Wimbledon, Nadal and his uncle/coach Toni Nadal went to work trying to figure out how to play more efficiently and challenge Djokovic, who entering the final trailed Nadal 21-15 in overall meetings but led 11-6 on hardcourts.

When Nadal won the 2009 Australian Open and 2010 U.S. Open, he did so with grip changes and power, especially on his serve. But realizing he had to shorten points to ease the wear-and-tear on his knees, he and his uncle decided instead to focus on court positioning.

Toni likened the tactical decision to move closer to the baseline and force the issue earlier in rallies to expanded aural abilities when sight is impaired.

"When you are blind, you hear so much more," he said Monday.

He moved closer to the baseline to take away time, pounced on short balls, approached the net more frequently and used his devastating forehand to take control of rallies early in the point.

[b_He also improved his serve by changing direction, location and spins to elicit weak returns he could punish with his forehand.

He proved again that as the game's best problem solver.[/b]

"For me it's unbelievable that people talk about his body because he is so much better in his mind," said Uncle Toni, Nadal's only coach since childhood.

Mats Wilander, who comments for Eurosport, said he had never seen a player with Nadal's ability to problem solve, adapt and fight.

"I don't think anyone has played the game with the same kind positive energy and emotion as Rafa Nadal," said Wilander, comparing him to do-or-die competitors such as Lleyton Hewitt and Jimmy Connors. "He's a new breed, and we've never seen anything like it."
 

SQA333

Hall of Fame
Praised for his physical style of play, Nadal is as much brain as brawn. His comeback underscores his unique ability to adapt.

During his seventh-month layoff following Wimbledon, Nadal and his uncle/coach Toni Nadal went to work trying to figure out how to play more efficiently and challenge Djokovic, who entering the final trailed Nadal 21-15 in overall meetings but led 11-6 on hardcourts.

When Nadal won the 2009 Australian Open and 2010 U.S. Open, he did so with grip changes and power, especially on his serve. But realizing he had to shorten points to ease the wear-and-tear on his knees, he and his uncle decided instead to focus on court positioning.

Toni likened the tactical decision to move closer to the baseline and force the issue earlier in rallies to expanded aural abilities when sight is impaired.

"When you are blind, you hear so much more," he said Monday.

He moved closer to the baseline to take away time, pounced on short balls, approached the net more frequently and used his devastating forehand to take control of rallies early in the point.

[b_He also improved his serve by changing direction, location and spins to elicit weak returns he could punish with his forehand.

He proved again that as the game's best problem solver.[/b]

"For me it's unbelievable that people talk about his body because he is so much better in his mind," said Uncle Toni, Nadal's only coach since childhood.

Mats Wilander, who comments for Eurosport, said he had never seen a player with Nadal's ability to problem solve, adapt and fight.

"I don't think anyone has played the game with the same kind positive energy and emotion as Rafa Nadal," said Wilander, comparing him to do-or-die competitors such as Lleyton Hewitt and Jimmy Connors. "He's a new breed, and we've never seen anything like it."

Forehand down-the-line.
 

Finesse4sum

Semi-Pro
The only thing I've seen that Nadal does better is hes more clutch in service games with quite a bit of slicing thrown in.

The DTL forehand has always been there. I actually think the frequency of the IO forehand has declined a lot.
 

Kenshin

Semi-Pro
At USOPEN Nadal hit many servers to Novak's forehand. He hit many down the line forehands too. And place the ball in the middle of the court deep so Djokovic can't find an angle.
 
Top