USO 2013 Men's Final - Nadal v. Djokovic (with poll!)

[tofast4u05]

Agree with mental part but disagree with Nadal confidence,

after set 2 was completed and Djokovic broke in third on first game you can't tell me Nadal had confidence there getting broken 3 games in row.

Djokovic beat himself.

Everyone's entitled to their opinions but I have to disagree with you on the confidence part. How can you say Nadal is not confident? I mean he is only undefeated on hard courts and beat Djokovic last month. Djokovic was riding a wave and Nadal knocked him off his surf board to get it back on track. What a troll.

 

[kalyan4fedever]

LoL, missed the last set , but this was a surprising result, I guess Novak is not Novak we came to know afterall. The usual Nole is clutch...I thought its gonna be a 4 set beatdown after watching that second set. I am thinking now djoker mentally lost it after having 3 break points in the third set and lost all of them..Fourth set 6-1? really

 

[Clarky21]

HOW did Steve Darcis beat this guy ?

Nadal's busted knees, that's how.

 

[ashitaka2010]

I missed it but will see the highlights, hopefully it's good quality.
Congratulations Rafa!

 

[PrinceMoron]

Were you asleep during Wimbledon?

I was, lining up for tickets.

 

[ilovetennis212]

This is what I want to see late on Monday:

Smart mustard!!!

 

[granddog29]

baseline rallying, serve, serve return, backhand Novak is still better.

2011 is the only year Djokovic was ever better in baseline rallying. Definitely not right now. Serve? Nadal is serving better than Djokovic these days.

 

[aldeayeah]

Djokovic's inside out forehand nearly won him this match, but Nadal's DTL forehand also won many points.

It became a duel of patterns, and mental strength. Djokovic proved he still has the tools to beat Nadal everywhere, but Nadal's great form and consistency was too much for him yesterday.

 

[feared69]

He means winning all the 4 majors at least twice each.

I was well awake mustard, its you that may need glasses lol Nasal has only won the AO once. History to be made

 

[feared69]

I was well awake mustard, its you that may need glasses lol Nasal has only won the AO once. History to be made

Nadal even

 

[feared69]

I was well awake mustard, its you that may need glasses lol Nasal has only won the AO once. History to be made

I meant overdrive, not mustard!!! Its me that needs the glasses!

 

[paolo2143]

"Nadal is just extraordinary. He has pretty much crushed Djokovic completely now. It's crazy how quickly things change. In January people were discussing that Djokovic will catch Nadal's slam record before Nadal catches Federer. Now, that just seems so silly. "

I think it is way too early to say he has crushed djokovic completely as there was a time during 2011-2102 where novak beat nadal 7 times on the trot including 3 consecutive GS finals and just look at things now.

I think Novak shoud take a leaf out of Rafa's book and take a couple of months out to recover mentally and physically before the start of 2014,we need a fully fit Novak as he is the 1 player that can still make rafa sweat and work so hard for the win.

 

[Chico]

If novak closes up this set, I wil buy everyone new tennis racquet

Tecnifibre TFight 315 Special Edition 16 Mains, grip 4, please. I will send you my shipping address.

Just want to remind this poster (steenkash) about the promise he made last night.

 

[Michael Essien]

Well he's obviously not going to do that is he.

 

[Nostradamus]

Nadal's busted knees, that's how.

Busted knees ?? his knees looked like knees of Steve Austin the bionic man during this US open. I find this hard to believe. I have knee problems too and even on the best day, it is not normal.

 

[Nostradamus]

The grass was slippery. Nadal didn't want to take a chance.

so you are saying, Nadal just tanked it ? He could have just pulled out and save the trip over there. after French open, he had a legit excuse saying that his knees are hurting him

 

[clayqueen]

"Nadal is just extraordinary. He has pretty much crushed Djokovic completely now. It's crazy how quickly things change. In January people were discussing that Djokovic will catch Nadal's slam record before Nadal catches Federer. Now, that just seems so silly. "

I think it is way too early to say he has crushed djokovic completely as there was a time during 2011-2102 where novak beat nadal 7 times on the trot including 3 consecutive GS finals and just look at things now.

I think Novak shoud take a leaf out of Rafa's book and take a couple of months out to recover mentally and physically before the start of 2014,we need a fully fit Novak as he is the 1 player that can still make rafa sweat and work so hard for the win.

Only for another couple of weeks.

 

[oscar_2424]

Nadal won, because he wanted it more he show the heart of a true champion.

 

[6-1 6-3 6-0]

Summary? Didn't know you had to create an account to read the forums there.

Masses of bitter posts accusing Nadal of PED usage coupled with a barrage of insults. In other words, all the nastiness from Talk Tennis in almost every single post.

 

[Blinkism]

Amazing win for Nadal. A second US Open title for a guy no one thought would even last into 2013, nevermind even sniff a USO final in his career keeps surpassing expectations.

Fantastic summer for Nadal winning the North American Hardcourt Treble (Canada-Cincinnati-US Open)!!!

 

[tipsa...don'tlikehim!]

Nadal showed real character yesterday.

Novak was playing good, to be honest Novak was playing better tennis, but mentally and physically Nadal was the best !

 

[tipsa...don'tlikehim!]

Catching a 2nd AO would be perfect to make it 2 victories in each GS

 

[6-1 6-3 6-0]

Catching a 2nd AO would be perfect to make it 2 victories in each GS

Yep. And Nadal is just one Wimbledon away from being the first player in world history to win THREE slams on clay, grass and hard-courts.

 

[marc45]

as if things weren't going bad enough for Novak, Deadspin had to report that his book has sold only 1,500 copies in three weeks after release...obviously gluten-free doesn't equal sales http://deadspin.com/heres-what-led-rafa-nadal-to-his-second-u-s-open-titl-1281001710

interesting to see the CBS ratings for this..went into football of course but this was entertaining, would like to think a few casuals stay tuned after surfing

 

[paolo2143]

"But all of that doesn't matter anyway. Fact is he didn't play a great match. On the other hand, Rafa didn't either, but he fight like a monster out there."

I think a lot of fans are either in dreamland or are spolit rotten by standard of these 2 great players and their previous matches .

You ask nadal if he thought he did not play a great match or any serious tennis watcher,he was outstanding for most of the match and was probably his greatest ever hardcourt performance at us open and it had to be because during middle part of match novak was playing unbelievable tennis.

 

[Steve0904]

Congrats to Rafa! Clearly the better player in the match and deserving of the #1 spot which will soon be his again.

 

[mike84]

2011 is the only year Djokovic was ever better in baseline rallying. Definitely not right now. Serve? Nadal is serving better than Djokovic these days.

Where was that?

Djokovic had 61 unforced errors.

Nadal in third set had only 2 winners.

Its more like case of Nadal just grinding Djokovic making him hit extra shot so Novak can beat himself.

Novak was making Nadal look like lap dog Ferrer in second and third set just what he did in 2011.

Once he blew it in third he gave up completely.

I have nothing against Nadal but the better hitter is Novak.

 

[sunof tennis]

Felt like Nadal was playing better coming in to the match and the results simoly confirmed it. Felt Novak was a little lucky to beat Wawrinka who outplayed him much of the match, but didn't have enought in the tank to close it out.
Felt Novak played poorly in the first and fourth set. Rafa played well throughout. Looked like Novak was playing the right strategy of mixing it up by immediately going to Rafa's backhand or initially going very wide to the forehand to open up the backhand, but in the first and fourth sets, Novak missed too many shot, some fairly easy.
I haven't gone through this whole thread but I am sure there are also comments about missed overheads (or at least overheads that should have been put away that weren't) and missed easy volleys.
All in all, dissappointing night for Novak.

 

[granddog29]

Where was that?

Djokovic had 61 unforced errors.

So the better baseline rallyer was pushed to make 61 unforced errors in 4 sets. Sorry that is an epic contradiction.

As for grinding, Novak is mostly a grinder too. By your logic Wawrinka is a way better hitter than Novak then, as he had many more winners and dominated all play in their semifinal match despite Novak's "grinding" win. So if Nadal outgrinds him he simply beats Novak at his own game, and the only way Novak generally wins his other matches vs decent opponents. Nadal wasnt even on his game really or hitting with the power and conviction he had all summer, and still won.

 

[Chico]

Where was that?

Djokovic had 61 unforced errors.

Nadal in third set had only 2 winners.

Its more like case of Nadal just grinding Djokovic making him hit extra shot so Novak can beat himself.

Novak was making Nadal look like lap dog Ferrer in second and third set just what he did in 2011.

Once he blew it in third he gave up completely.

I have nothing against Nadal but the better hitter is Novak.

+1 and it was proven one again yesterday.

 

[Top Jimmy]

Not to take anything away from Rafa but Novak plain and simply lost this match. I don't know if it was a choke, nerves, tired or just bad tennis but he gave that match away too many times to count.

He didn't move forward because he lacked confidence and missed some easy volleys. He made bad decisions over and over.

Glad Rafa is back, rather have him and Novak battling than Murray, yuck.

 

[DRII]

Not to take anything away from Rafa but Novak plain and simply lost this match. I don't know if it was a choke, nerves, tired or just bad tennis but he gave that match away too many times to count.

He didn't move forward because he lacked confidence and missed some easy volleys. He made bad decisions over and over.

Glad Rafa is back, rather have him and Novak battling than Murray, yuck.

uhm, i guessed you completely missed the first and alot of the 2nd sets!

Nadal was outplaying Nole, easily! Nole held on and won the 2nd and should have won the 3rd, but playing Nadal requires the mental stregnth of a rhino and Nole eventually collapsed...

 

[Top Jimmy]

uhm, i guessed you completely missed the first and alot of the 2nd sets!

Nadal was outplaying Nole, easily! Nole held on and won the 2nd and should have won the 3rd, but playing Nadal requires the mental stregnth of a rhino and Nole eventually collapsed...

No, I watched the whole match. Nadal dominated the first obviously, the second was a draw till the second half which Novak owned, Novak dominated the third. Nadal was not dictating like he does against everyone else.

I have no bias with these two, I like them both...I'm a Murray hater

 

[-RF-]

Tennis is dead.

 

[Top Jimmy]

Tennis is dead.

Honestly, I found it kind of boring. I think it was more the wind than anything.

 

[ilovetennis212]

I want to see lightning sword fight not slow marathon game.

 

[GhostDog]

Congrats to Nadal. I picked him to win this years US Open, and he didn't let me down.

Match wasn't the highest quality, especially after Novak's game went south after failing to convert the break at 4-4 in the 3rd set.

There were awesome insane rallies.

Never seen a male tennis player as relentless as Nadal.

 

[abmk]

The first and final sets were pitiful from nole, but the worst was how he let go off the 3rd set , he had no business losing that set, with all respect to nadal's fh winner and ace to save 2 BPs ( another one was a djokovic FH UE ).

The fh ue to give nadal SP was one of the worst misses I've seen.

Congrats to Nadal. Not his best level, but djokovic's play ensured he didn't have to. Just had to hold his own mentally, which he did very well.

 

[oscar_2424]

+1 and it was proven one again yesterday.

The better player is Nadal and will always be get over it

 

[The_Order]

The first and final sets were pitiful from nole, but the worst was how he let go off the 3rd set , he had no business losing that set, with all respect to nadal's fh winner and ace to save 2 BPs ( another one was a djokovic FH UE ).

The fh ue to give nadal SP was one of the worst misses I've seen.

Congrats to Nadal. Not his best level, but djokovic's play ensured he didn't have to. Just had to hold his own mentally, which he did very well.

I'm pretty sure you said that Novak doesn't have to play his best to beat Nadal on HC.

Nadal was playing pitiful in the second and third sets yet, despite his pitiful play in the third set (hit something like only 2 winners until down 0-40 at 4 all), he was able to find a way to win it.

The UE FH into the net at 15-40 was an attempt to play an aggressive, short FH over the high part of the net. Not really a percentage shot to play in a long rally.

As for Novak's FH UE to give Nadal SP being one of the worst you've seen, might I remind you of a certain somebody hitting fresh air when down MP?

 

[abmk]

I'm pretty sure you said that Novak doesn't have to play his best to beat Nadal on HC.

yes, but he has to be still playing well, which he didn't.

Nadal was playing pitiful in the second and third sets yet, despite his pitiful play in the third set (hit something like only 2 winners until down 0-40 at 4 all), he was able to find a way to win it.

Nadal was still playing pretty decent in the 2nd set. It was the 3rd set where he was below par and like I said, he had no business of winning it/Nole had no business losing it. It was a combination of Nole's carelessness and nadal holding on strong that lead to nadal winning that set.

The UE FH into the net at 15-40 was an attempt to play an aggressive, short FH over the high part of the net. Not really a percentage shot to play in a long rally.

yeah, so ? When did I say anything to indicate otherwise ? doesn't mean it wasn't a costly miss ; it wasn't a very tough shot, though not easy either.

As for Novak's FH UE to give Nadal SP being one of the worst you've seen, might I remind you of a certain somebody hitting fresh air when down MP?

bad bounce and obviously I meant considering the situation . Otherwise, in normal circumstances, you'll find lots of worse shots.

 

[The_Order]

yes, but he has to be still playing well, which he didn't.

Oh ok, back to your favourite tactic of back pedalling I see...

Nadal was still playing pretty decent in the 2nd set. It was the 3rd set where he was below par and like I said, he had no business of winning it/Nole had no business losing it. It was a combination of Nole's carelessness and nadal holding on strong that lead to nadal winning that set.

LOL Nadal was struggling on almost every service game in that second set. At the half way point, Novak was killing him because he was playing very weak, short groundstrokes.

Nadal played PITIFUL in that third set, If Novak doesn't need to be at his best to beat Rafa on HC, tell me how the hell is it possible that Rafa can win a set against him playing pitiful tennis? Doesn't make much sense now does it, or are you finally going to grow a pair and admit you were wrong?

yeah, so ? When did I say anything to indicate otherwise ? doesn't mean it wasn't a costly miss ; it wasn't a very tough shot, though not easy either.

I didn't say you indicated otherwise, I just gave my valuable insight...

bad bounce and obviously I meant considering the situation . Otherwise, in normal circumstances, you'll find lots of worse shots.

Maybe you're forgetting Roddick's easy BH volley miss in that second set TB...

 

[pds999]

God the way people are talking you would think Rafa lost in straights? He only lost 13 games I think?

 

[tipsa...don'tlikehim!]

God the way people are talking you would think Rafa lost in straights? He only lost 13 games I think?

because people can not be objective on this forum (most of them)

 

[robin7]

The match will probably go into a 5th set if Novak won the 3rd. A great champion doesn't need to play at his best but still manage to win the match. Novak didn't play well and mentally weaker by giving up the match after losing the 3rd set. Rafa, on the other hand, just played the crucial points better, mentally tougher and that's enough to win the whole match.

Rafa won partially and Novak lost partially.

 

[The_Order]

I want to see lightning sword fight not slow marathon game.

Go and watch Star Wars then.

 

[THUNDERVOLLEY]

Tennis is dead.

Days later, the bitter tears are still flowing.....

 

[THUNDERVOLLEY]

Go and watch Star Wars then.

heh!!!!!!!!

 

[CCNM]

Congratulations Rafa. Were both men huffing and puffing during the award ceremony like they were in Australia that one year?

 

[Mustard]

Congratulations Rafa. Were both men huffing and puffing during the award ceremony like they were in Australia that one year?

No, nothing like that.