Still the GOAT match ;)

[MichaelNadal]

Just a friendly reminder about the peak of the modern era of tennis also a poll.

 

[UnforcedTerror]

Overrated match. Mono Fed played at 40% of his level.

 

[Nadal_Django]

Fed playing like a zombie. Still bothered that he lost a grass match to a guy with no serve and no net game until this day most probably. Lol

 

[Nadal15thslam]

AO 12 final was very good as well but I didn't like the result

 

[MichaelNadal]

Overrated match. Mono Fed played at 40% of his level.

Fed playing like a zombie. Still bothered that he lost a grass match to a guy with no serve and no net game until this day most probably. Lol

 

[Biotic]

Drama: 10/10
Quality: 8/10
Overall: 7/10

And I say this as a Federer and Nadal fan.

 

[Subway Tennis]

Yeah, I saw it live. And it was everything people make it out to be. From the first point both players were locked in.

These were matches where the world tuned in and just had their jaws on the floor the whole time.

Pure entertainment, everything about it.... the level of play, two likeable guys but two contrasting personalities, the difference in playing style and combative approaches, the raw court speed of both players. The mixture of outrageous shotmaking while still maintaining a very high level of consistency for hours at a time.

The only thing i would say is slightly overplayed with the passing of time is Fed's imperiousness on grass at this time. He was vulnerable going into the final and the mood was that Nadal was a very good chance to win.

 

[NatF]

Drama: 10/10
Quality: 8/10
Overall: 7/10

And I say this as a Federer and Nadal fan.

How does 10 drama and 8 quality average out for 7? lol

 

[MichaelNadal]

And in the number 2 slot:

Incredible scenes!
If this match had a crazy 5th, it would have no chance of ever being surpassed imo. To me it's still right there, and I don't care TOO much about the 5th as some do, bc the first 4 sets are really that insane.... but the drama that came with waiting on and off during Wimby 08 and the 5th coming down to the wire push it to the top. No one should ever be able to play the way Nadal did on this day after the Verdasco match, especially against the ridiculous crispiness and intention Fed had on his shots.

 

[RS]

How does 10 drama and 8 quality average out for 7? lol

It was a joke

 

[Subway Tennis]

And in the number 2 slot:

Incredible scenes!
If this match had a crazy 5th, it would have no chance of ever being surpassed imo. To me it's still right there, and I don't care TOO much about the 5th as some do, bc the first 4 sets are really that insane.... but the drama that came with waiting on and off during Wimby 08 and the 5th coming down to the wire push it to the top. No one should ever be able to play the way Nadal did on this day after the Verdasco match, especially against the ridiculous crispiness and intention Fed had on his shots.

Where do you place 2012 AO?

 

[RS]

Just a friendly reminder about the peak of the modern era of tennis also a poll.

AO 2005 SF between Fed and Safin has to be a contender?

 

[MichaelNadal]

Where do you place 2012 AO?

I loved it when watching it live, but it's not a match I rate that highly now. Nadal choked leads, the surface was so slow it was ridiculous, and it's just tedious to watch. I would put it under Wimby 18 semi, and under Djokovic/Wawrinka 2013 which are far more exciting matches to me. If I have 5 hours to spend watching a tennis match, it's not going to be AO12 lol.

 

[fishpiefriday]

Yeah, one of the best matches I've watched and one of the few matches I'll go back to to watch again.

 

[NatF]

It was a joke

It didn't make sense though.

 

[Bambooman]

It didn't make sense though.

You were lobbed by the joke.

 

[ForehandRF]

Fed playing like a zombie. Still bothered that he lost a grass match to a guy with no serve and no net game until this day most probably. Lol

Nadal was peaking plus he had the mental edge and all the momentum to his side and he still barely won deep in the 5th set.On the other side, when Nadal was peaking and he also had the momentum and mental edge at the 2013 USO, Djokovic went down easier, in 4 sets.Think about it

 

[Sunny014]

Overrated match. Mono Fed played at 40% of his level.

Yes, Federer was indeed plagued by Mono and not yet back to his best and was down on confidence too after the FO defeat, thats why he went 2 sets down quickly and then tried his best to heavylift the match but fell short.

Wimbledon 2008 is not in my top 5 matches ever where 2 champions were at their peak or very close to their best and clashed.

Top 5 Slam matches of this century where both ATGs were physically at their peak would be

01. Djokovic vs Nadal 2013 French Open Semi Final (Both were at their best, Nadal wasn't as good as he was in 08-10 but very close)
02. Federer vs Safin 2005 Aus Open Semi Final (Safin at his best took out GOATerer in a close match)
03. Djokovic vs Nadal 2012 Aus Open final (Nadal was close to his 2009 AO level and Novak beat him still)
04. Federer vs Nadal 2007 Wimbledon Final (Nadal was at his 2008 level it self and Federer still beat him anyway)
05. Federer vs Nadal 2006 French Open Final (Federer was at his best year ala Mcenroe 84 but Nadal still won like Lendl won, maybe in a more convincing way than Lendl but still a masterpiece)

If this is not a slams list then Rome 2006 can be included too.,

 

[Standaa]

started following tennis in late 2008, only missed it by a bit

 

[Nadal_Django]

Nadal was peaking plus he had the mental edge and all the momentum to his side and he still barely won deep in the 5th set.On the other side, when Nadal was peaking and he also had the momentum and mental edge at the 2013 USO, Djokovic went down easier, in 4 sets.Think about it

Djokovic playing like a zombie himself doesn't absolve Federer of losing a grass match to an guy with no serve, no net game and moonball as a main strategy, on a fricking grass court... At least Djokovic lost on high bouncing slow HC, while mentally being in in one of the worst moments of his career, big match wise... Federer lost on a grass court FGS...

 

[MichaelNadal]

Djokovic playing like a zombie himself doesn't absolve Federer of losing a grass match to an guy with no serve, no net game and moonball as a main strategy, on a fricking grass court... At least Djokovic lost on high bouncing slow HC, while mentally being in in one of the worst moments of his career, big match wise... Federer lost on a grass court FGS...

This guy you speak of made 5 straight Wimbledon finals bruh, (not including 09 of course bc he didn't play) let's not get too caught up in bias Nadal would be looked at in a much higher light on grass had it not been for the GOAT grass player stopping him in 2 of his best years 06 and 07. That would have been 3 straight for Rafa.

 

[NatF]

You were lobbed by the joke.

My achilles heel.

 

[junior74]

I still remember how dark it was when they switched to cameras that didn't compensate.

A çapybara has better night vision than an eagle, I guess

What intense drama...

 

[rUDin 21]

This guy you speak of made 5 straight Wimbledon finals bruh, (not including 09 of course bc he didn't play) let's not get too caught up in bias Nadal would be looked at in a much higher light on grass had it not been for the GOAT grass player stopping him in 2 of his best years 06 and 07. That would have been 3 straight for Rafa.

That ship has sailed with the OP.
It reeks of bias.

 

[ForehandRF]

Djokovic playing like a zombie himself doesn't absolve Federer of losing a grass match to an guy with no serve, no net game and moonball as a main strategy, on a fricking grass court... At least Djokovic lost on high bouncing slow HC, while mentally being in in one of the worst moments of his career, big match wise... Federer lost on a grass court FGS...

Federer was also in the same place.

By the way, you should remember how bouncy were the conditions in that Wimbledon Final.You are blaming Federer as if he lost on the fresh grass of the first week.I don't like the outcome of that match either and it's not like Federer has an excuse, but you are making it sound like Nadal's level wasn't impressive at all.

 

[Nadal15thslam]

Djokovic playing like a zombie himself doesn't absolve Federer of losing a grass match to an guy with no serve, no net game and moonball as a main strategy, on a fricking grass court... At least Djokovic lost on high bouncing slow HC, while mentally being in in one of the worst moments of his career, big match wise... Federer lost on a grass court FGS...

A Djokovic fan complaining about "moonballs" when Djokovic won all the important points in his career playing in pusher mode. That's funny. Also, Nadal has better volleys than Djokovic and let's not even talk about the overhead.

 

[beltsman]

And in the number 2 slot:

Incredible scenes!
If this match had a crazy 5th, it would have no chance of ever being surpassed imo. To me it's still right there, and I don't care TOO much about the 5th as some do, bc the first 4 sets are really that insane.... but the drama that came with waiting on and off during Wimby 08 and the 5th coming down to the wire push it to the top. No one should ever be able to play the way Nadal did on this day after the Verdasco match, especially against the ridiculous crispiness and intention Fed had on his shots.

AO17 was the sequel that provided the 5th set fireworks! AO 09+17 = greatest match.

 

[goldengate14]

Fed playing like a zombie. Still bothered that he lost a grass match to a guy with no serve and no net game until this day most probably. Lol

Federer got complacent on grass and felt he could beat Nadal at his own game on grass. So no excuses. It was a GOaT match stake wise and a huge match legacy wide but one Federer should never have lost had he played like used to on grass. However this is he problem when a player totally dominates his peer group. They get complscet and stop improving. At the time Nadal was not a huge rival for him off clay. Nadal and Djokovic have had each other all their careers plus Federer records to chase.
totally different mindsets. So we can blame Roddick and Safin and Hewitt for that loss albeit Hewitt had injury issues so maybe let him off but Roddick and Safin never pushed Roger consistently.

 

[Turning Pro]

Well to people who said Fed shouldn't have lost need to have a look at Wimby 07 which Nadal should have won barring that leg slip/injury he suffered in the 4th when he was blowing Fed away

 

[Doctor/Lawyer Red Devil]

AO 2005 SF between Fed and Safin has to be a contender?

 

[mike danny]

Well to people who said Fed shouldn't have lost need to have a look at Wimby 07 which Nadal should have won barring that leg slip/injury he suffered in the 4th when he was blowing Fed away

LOL at should have won. Fed edged out sets 1 and 3 and was too good in the 5th.

Federer played way too good in the 5th. If Nadal had converted one of those BPs, things may have changed.

 

[NatF]

Both those guys have passed away now

 

[Krish0608]

Djokovic playing like a zombie himself doesn't absolve Federer of losing a grass match to an guy with no serve, no net game and moonball as a main strategy, on a fricking grass court... At least Djokovic lost on high bouncing slow HC, while mentally being in in one of the worst moments of his career, big match wise... Federer lost on a grass court FGS...

Know your history.

 

[RelentlessAttack]

As a Nadal fan, the quality was better in 07 but the drama better in 08. Wimbledon 07 remains Nadal’s toughest loss. The guy played one of his best matches ever and still lost

 

[aldeayeah]

Fed had a slow start, but the final two sets were the truth

Not unlike 2013 RG SF now that I think of it

AO 2009 is still my favorite Fedal match though

 

[Doctor/Lawyer Red Devil]

Both those guys have passed away now

I feel like with every new year we lose more childhood legends than in the one before. That's at least my impression when looking at local and foreign actors...

 

[RS]

I fully agree.

 

[TearTheRoofOff]

Pick a GOAT match with Federer in it.

Federer loses.

 

[SonnyT]

Since then Djokovic beat one 3 times, and the other twice, in the same stadium.

So yes, it was overrated.

 

[Subway Tennis]

I loved it when watching it live, but it's not a match I rate that highly now. Nadal choked leads, the surface was so slow it was ridiculous, and it's just tedious to watch. I would put it under Wimby 18 semi, and under Djokovic/Wawrinka 2013 which are far more exciting matches to me. If I have 5 hours to spend watching a tennis match, it's not going to be AO12 lol.

Fair. That 2009 AO final looked more like someone playing Topsin Tennis at 2.5 speed than regular humans hitting a tennis ball. Just supersonic stuff.

What a thrillride Nadal took us on all through 2008 into 2009 where it seemed like if he had full power no one could beat him. He is/was a complete maniac

 

[Deleted member 771911]

I did. But I was living in Japan and the delay meant I fell asleep about 5 am and so I missed the last half a set. I would love to have seen the final points, and I ended up buying the DVD and watching it several times.

 

[augustobt]

And in the number 2 slot:

Incredible scenes!
If this match had a crazy 5th, it would have no chance of ever being surpassed imo. To me it's still right there, and I don't care TOO much about the 5th as some do, bc the first 4 sets are really that insane.... but the drama that came with waiting on and off during Wimby 08 and the 5th coming down to the wire push it to the top. No one should ever be able to play the way Nadal did on this day after the Verdasco match, especially against the ridiculous crispiness and intention Fed had on his shots.

Absolutely. I usually say that this match with the 5th set of 2017 would've been untouchable.

 

[MichaelNadal]

Absolutely. I usually say that this match with the 5th set of 2017 would've been untouchable.

Some of the best rallies of all time, one after another after another. Just silliness.

 

[The Blond Blur]

How does 10 drama and 8 quality average out for 7? lol

Because ********* can’t math They were programmed by Lew

 

[Bubcay]

Some really epic matches indeed. Love revisiting the classics. I am just re-watching US Open 2011 semis now. Djokovic's stunning return from two sets down.

 

[ibbi]

Drama: 10/10
Quality: 8/10
Overall: 7/10

What kind of math is this?

 

[The Blond Blur]

And in the number 2 slot:

Incredible scenes!
If this match had a crazy 5th, it would have no chance of ever being surpassed imo. To me it's still right there, and I don't care TOO much about the 5th as some do, bc the first 4 sets are really that insane.... but the drama that came with waiting on and off during Wimby 08 and the 5th coming down to the wire push it to the top. No one should ever be able to play the way Nadal did on this day after the Verdasco match, especially against the ridiculous crispiness and intention Fed had on his shots.

I have the SF vs Godasco above the F and Wimby 08, but I love them all. 3 matches of the good tennis

 

[ChaelAZ]

Some great ones mentioned, but I remember watching this one live and it was an instant classic in my mind!

 

[NatF]

I feel like with every new year we lose more childhood legends than in the one before. That's at least my impression when looking at local and foreign actors...

Yeah, I think our gen is going to notice it more and more as the years go by. All those people I saw on TV growing up in the 90's and early 00's are starting to age. Feels bad

 

[Amen786]

Overrated match. Mono Fed played at 40% of his level.

This, and even the crap version of fed could have won in 4 if not for the brain malfunctioning in first 2 sets