The best Match Nadal has played but lost??

which one, folks??


  • Total voters
    102

The Big Foe fan

Hall of Fame
Wimbledon 07 was an eye-opener for me. Nadal looked really determined and played with belief that he can dethrone Federer on grass. Little did I know, then, that this match was foreshadowing what will happen a year later.
Though tbf it required fed's level to dip quite lower.
And nadal played a better match for the most part in 2007, especially off the shotmaking front.
 

RaulRamirez

Legend
I narrowly will go with Wim18.
Of course, it was a very high level from both. Maybe, I elevate it because it was unexpected - at the time - for Novak to return to great tennis, and for Rafa to return to a very high level on grass.
 
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AnOctorokForDinner

Talk Tennis Guru
2010 Doha final loss to Davydenko, yep. Goated with a bagel, had MPs in the TB, even was up a break in the third but Denko was relentless.
2011 Miami final comes second and 2007 Wimbledon third as far as I can remember.
 

RS

Bionic Poster
The 18 SF has a case because Nadal did what he did indoors were he is considered mediocre.
 

Russeljones

Talk Tennis Guru
Though tbf it required fed's level to dip quite lower.
And nadal played a better match for the most part in 2007, especially off the shotmaking front.
2008 was very weird. It was obvious that Nadal's shots are much safer in the encroaching darkness and the frustration was getting the better of Federer. Nadal stalling was working for him (200+ seconds on one of the changeovers). I always put the result down to Roger's stubbornness more than anything.
 

ibbi

G.O.A.T.
Wimbledon '18 the easy winner for me.

The way he rebounded in the second after Novak looked borderline unplayable a lot of the time in the first (the way that first was close in spite of that fact). The epic nose-to-nose battle that was the third, the way he came out swinging on the Saturday in the 4th after the heartbreak of losing the third, and whack-ass decision about the roof, and then the second epic battle of the fifth.

Like, that's an all-timer from both of them pretty much the whole way through with Djokovic's performance in the second being maybe the only 'low' point.
 

Rafa24

Hall of Fame
2012 AO was an amazing match and felt gutted the most as a fan by the loss. Not sure he played his best tho. That little dink backhand he missed to a wide open court likely cost him that match. 2018 was a great match and he should have won it but novaxx made them play under a roof the next day on a bright sunny day because of some obscure rule that is now changed.
 

RS

Bionic Poster
Who wins these matchups?

1. Nadal Wim 07 final vs Djokovic Wim 18 SF (indoors)
2. Federer Wim 07 final vs Djokovic Wim 18 SF (indoors)
3. Federer Miami 05 final vs Nadal Miami 11 final
4. Nadal AO 12 final vs Djokovic AO 16 final
5. Djokovic AO 12 final vs Djokovic AO 15 final
6. Federer Rome 06 final vs Djokovic Rome 15 final
7. Roddick Wim 04 vs Nadal Wim 18
 

Biotic

Hall of Fame
Who wins these matchups?

1. Nadal Wim 07 final vs Djokovic Wim 18 SF (indoors)
2. Federer Wim 07 final vs Djokovic Wim 18 SF (indoors)
3. Federer Miami 05 final vs Nadal Miami 11 final
4. Nadal AO 12 final vs Djokovic AO 16 final
5. Djokovic AO 12 final vs Djokovic AO 15 final; both lose
6. Federer Rome 06 final vs Djokovic Rome 15 final
7. Roddick Wim 04 vs Nadal Wim 18
 

ghostofMecir

Hall of Fame
Wimbledon 07, Fed was clutched and that saved him big time

Fed was pretty clutch in this match. Nadal returned really well on the BH side, enter than he usually does on Fed’s serve, but Fed returned Nadal’s serve well, also.

Nadal’s CC BH was really, really good in this match.
 

Rafa24

Hall of Fame
I narrowly will go with Wim18.
Of course, it was a very high level from both. Maybe, I elevate it because it was unexpected - at the time - for Novak to return to great tennis, and for Rafa to return to a very high level on grass.
that one stung as much as 2012 AO as a rafa fan. rafa was playing such great tennis there. djoker almost didn't even go to the tournament and then the roof debacle. rafa wanted it open the next day and it was left up to the players and both had to say yes to opening it because of the obscure rule wimby had in that is now changed.
 

NatF

Bionic Poster
Who wins these matchups?

1. Nadal Wim 07 final vs Djokovic Wim 18 SF (indoors)
2. Federer Wim 07 final vs Djokovic Wim 18 SF (indoors)
3. Federer Miami 05 final vs Nadal Miami 11 final
4. Nadal AO 12 final vs Djokovic AO 16 final
5. Djokovic AO 12 final vs Djokovic AO 15 final
6. Federer Rome 06 final vs Djokovic Rome 15 final
7. Roddick Wim 04 vs Nadal Wim 18

Italics are toss ups.
 

Aabye5

G.O.A.T.
Lol, Fedfans stop trying to be relevant and answer the poll honestly. :p

2007 Wimbledon, indeed.
 

NAS

Hall of Fame
How can both loose or they will be disqualified same time or arrested same time lol
 

Biotic

Hall of Fame
Who wins these matchups?

1. Nadal Wim 07 final vs Djokovic Wim 18 SF (indoors)
2. Federer Wim 07 final vs Djokovic Wim 18 SF (indoors)
3. Federer Miami 05 final vs Nadal Miami 11 final
4. Nadal AO 12 final vs Djokovic AO 16 final
5. Djokovic AO 12 final vs Djokovic AO 15 final; both win
6. Federer Rome 06 final vs Djokovic Rome 15 final
7. Roddick Wim 04 vs Nadal Wim 18

Looks genuine now?
 
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The Big Foe fan

Hall of Fame
Who wins these matchups?

1. Nadal Wim 07 final vs Djokovic Wim 18 SF (indoors)
2. Federer Wim 07 final vs Djokovic Wim 18 SF (indoors)
3. Federer Miami 05 final vs Nadal Miami 11 final
4. Nadal AO 12 final vs Djokovic AO 16 final
5. Djokovic AO 12 final vs Djokovic AO 15 final
6. Federer Rome 06 final vs Djokovic Rome 15 final
7. Roddick Wim 04 vs Nadal Wim 18
Clickbait-ish
 
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abmk

Bionic Poster
Wimbledon 2018 - The best match Djokodal ever played.

The physicality(esp. movement) and return of Nadal were at a different level in Wim 07 final compared to Wim 18 semi. better serving in Wim 18 semi cannot make up for that.

While Wim 18 semi was more even than AO 12 F/RG 13 SF, I'd rate the other 2 a bit higher because they hit higher highs and were physically better.
 
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Hitman

Bionic Poster
The physicality(esp. movement) and return of Nadal were at a different level in Wim 07 final compared to Wim 18 semi. better serving in Wim 18 semi cannot make up for that.

While Wim 18 semi was more even than AO 12 F/RG 13 SF, I'd rate the other 2 a bit higher because they hit higher highs and were physically better.

We will agree to disagree here. No problems.
 

abmk

Bionic Poster
We will agree to disagree here. No problems.

I can understand the ratings b/w the 3 Djokodal matches in any order.
But strong disagreement on the first part from me. No way is Wim 18 SF a better perf from Nadal than Wim 07 final.

So yeah, agree to disagree.
 

Hitman

Bionic Poster
I can understand the ratings b/w the 3 Djokodal matches in any order.
But strong disagreement on the first part from me. No way is Wim 18 SF a better perf from Nadal than Wim 07 final.

So yeah, agree to disagree.

That's fine, and that is all that really matters in such discussions.
 
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