The best Match Nadal has played but lost??

which one, folks??


  • Total voters
    102

The Big Foe fan

Hall of Fame
Yeah you read it right.

Which was the best match that nadal played, was playing at the best of his powers but yet lost?

There are a few options.

1) Australian open 2012 final v/s Djokovic
2) Wimbledon 2007 final v/s Federer
3) Wimbledon 2018 semi final v/s Djokovic
4) Australian open 2017 final v/s Federer
5) Miami masters 2005 final v/s Federer
6) Miami masters 2011 final v/s Djokovic

Express your opinions.
 

The Big Foe fan

Hall of Fame
I haven't liked any of the matches he has lost.
Yes I mean its very difficult for a fan to digest loss of the player. Though I'm not asking here whether you liked the loss or not, because I know for certain you would not, or rather any fan would not like.

What I've asked is a different question altogether, my friend.
 

NAS

Hall of Fame
Miami masters...
And whom did I remind you of?
Mia khalifa
images
 

The Big Foe fan

Hall of Fame
Miami 2011. Awesome quality from first point to last.

Wimbledon 2007 could have focused more in 5th.
AO 2012 could have been more aggressive there.
Yes indeed great quality in Miami 2011. Nadal came within millimetres of defeating his worst matchup on hard court, who was playing at his best level that season.
 

weakera

Talk Tennis Guru
Yes that's true.
But also lack of clutch on Novak's part to have it dragged to a 5th set.
He had so many chances early on in set4.

It could really go both ways, Nadal deserves credit for saving the break points. But with Novak's serve it was just the same story all match long, Rafa did not get into enough service games. When he got second serves and created neutral rallies he was able to take control far more often than not.
 

The Big Foe fan

Hall of Fame
It could really go both ways, Nadal deserves credit for saving the break points. But with Novak's serve it was just the same story all match long, Rafa did not get into enough service games. When he got second serves and created neutral rallies he was able to take control far more often than not.
Yes, we can say that too..
Also, he blew the 3rd set while he had multiple set points in the tiebreaker, including one on his own serve..
I think its safe to say that the 3rd set was more important for nole than it was for rafa, considering the physical conditions.
 

weakera

Talk Tennis Guru
Yes, we can say that too..
Also, he blew the 3rd set while he had multiple set points in the tiebreaker, including one on his own serve..
I think its safe to say that the 3rd set was more important for nole than it was for rafa, considering the physical conditions.

The 3rd set really decided the match in retrospect even if Rafa then had the 5th set bp late. Also, roof.
 

sredna42

Hall of Fame
Yeah you read it right.

Which was the best match that nadal played, was playing at the best of his powers but yet lost?

There are a few options.

1) Australian open 2012 final v/s Djokovic
2) Wimbledon 2007 final v/s Federer
3) Wimbledon 2018 semi final v/s Djokovic
4) Australian open 2017 final v/s Federer
5) Miami masters 2005 final v/s Federer
6) Miami masters 2011 final v/s Djokovic

Express your opinions.
Not a fair thread as he was injured in all those losses. He was injured in every loss he's had actually. Fully fit Nadal has never even lost a set.
 

Kralingen

Talk Tennis Guru
No one wants go to bat for AO 12? But it is commonly referred to as “the greatest match ever”, or at least “the greatest HC match ever”, no?
 

El_Yotamo

Hall of Fame
I think Wimbledon '07 takes it. Nadal actually played better than he did when he won in 2010 IMO. In the other matches listed he could've likely lost to other versions/opoonents but in W07 I think only the guy he played on the day cut it.
 

The Big Foe fan

Hall of Fame
The 3rd set really decided the match in retrospect even if Rafa then had the 5th set bp late. Also, roof.
Ralph was the better player for the large part of the set5. Its safe to say that the 3rd set wasn't as important for him to win as it was for Djokovic, because the serb's energy levels were going down at the end of set3 and he started slowly at the beginning of set4, failing to grab any opportunity while nadal grabbed his.

Imho, if nadal wins set3 he wins in 4 sets.
 

Russeljones

Talk Tennis Guru
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.
 
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