Was Nadal-Verdasco AO 2009 semifinal the highest quality match of the last 15-20 years?

StrongRule

Talk Tennis Guru
A few days ago there was a thread about the best between 3 AO matches, I decided to rewatch the highlights of AO 2009 semifinal after that. I must admit I already forgot how amazing that match was. Some crazy hitting from both players which lasted longer than 5 hours. And believe it or not, Nadal hit only 25 unforced errors in that thriller. Now THAT was peak Nadal. Without doubt one of the highest quality matches of all time. Here are some extended highlights:

 

The Blond Blur

G.O.A.T.
It's up there for sure. Here's the match stats. One of the first things I do in assessing the overall quality of a match is to look at the W/UFE ratio. Fiasco hit a staggering 101 winner to 69 UFE, +32 overall. RAFA hit 54 winners to 30 UFE, +24 overall.
STATS OVERVIEW​
A%​
DF%​
1stIn​
1st%​
2nd%​
BPSaved​
RPW%​
Winners (FH/BH)​
UFE (FH/BH)​
Fernando Verdasco​
9.4%​
1.9%​
70.3%​
69.8%​
55.6%​
16/20​
30.6%​
101 (46/26)​
69 (33/32)​
Rafael Nadal​
8.1%​
1.7%​
74.0%​
72.7%​
60.0%​
2/4​
34.4%​
54 (32/6)​
30 (18/9)​
SET 1
Fernando Verdasco​
10.2%​
0.0%​
75.5%​
75.7%​
50.0%​
2/2​
36.2%​
27 (12/7)​
20 (9/11)​
Rafael Nadal​
10.6%​
0.0%​
72.3%​
67.6%​
53.8%​
1/1​
30.6%​
10 (4/0)​
6 (4/2)​
SET 2
Fernando Verdasco​
11.8%​
0.0%​
67.6%​
60.9%​
81.8%​
4/5​
25.9%​
19 (7/6)​
9 (7/2)​
Rafael Nadal​
18.5%​
3.7%​
88.9%​
75.0%​
66.7%​
0/0​
32.4%​
12 (7/0)​
5 (3/1)​
SET 3
Fernando Verdasco​
5.7%​
0.0%​
73.6%​
61.5%​
35.7%​
3/5​
39.0%​
26 (12/8)​
18 (9/9)​
Rafael Nadal​
4.9%​
2.4%​
63.4%​
61.5%​
60.0%​
1/3​
45.3%​
11 (7/2)​
5 (4/0)​
SET 4
Fernando Verdasco​
13.5%​
2.7%​
75.7%​
82.1%​
77.8%​
0/0​
28.6%​
22 (12/4)​
9 (4/4)​
Rafael Nadal​
5.7%​
2.9%​
77.1%​
81.5%​
37.5%​
0/0​
18.9%​
8 (5/1)​
7 (3/3)​
SET 5
Fernando Verdasco​
7.7%​
7.7%​
56.4%​
68.2%​
47.1%​
7/8​
13.0%​
7 (3/1)​
13 (4/6)​
Rafael Nadal​
0.0%​
0.0%​
73.9%​
82.4%​
100.0%​
0/0​
41.0%​
13 (9/3)​
7 (4/3)​
 

StrongRule

Talk Tennis Guru
It's up there for sure. Here's the match stats. One of the first things I do in assessing the overall quality of a match is to look at the W/UFE ratio. Fiasco hit a staggering 101 winner to 69 UFE, +32 overall. RAFA hit 54 winners to 30 UFE, +24 overall.
STATS OVERVIEW​
A%​
DF%​
1stIn​
1st%​
2nd%​
BPSaved​
RPW%​
Winners (FH/BH)​
UFE (FH/BH)​
Fernando Verdasco​
9.4%​
1.9%​
70.3%​
69.8%​
55.6%​
16/20​
30.6%​
101 (46/26)​
69 (33/32)​
Rafael Nadal​
8.1%​
1.7%​
74.0%​
72.7%​
60.0%​
2/4​
34.4%​
54 (32/6)​
30 (18/9)​
SET 1
Fernando Verdasco​
10.2%​
0.0%​
75.5%​
75.7%​
50.0%​
2/2​
36.2%​
27 (12/7)​
20 (9/11)​
Rafael Nadal​
10.6%​
0.0%​
72.3%​
67.6%​
53.8%​
1/1​
30.6%​
10 (4/0)​
6 (4/2)​
SET 2
Fernando Verdasco​
11.8%​
0.0%​
67.6%​
60.9%​
81.8%​
4/5​
25.9%​
19 (7/6)​
9 (7/2)​
Rafael Nadal​
18.5%​
3.7%​
88.9%​
75.0%​
66.7%​
0/0​
32.4%​
12 (7/0)​
5 (3/1)​
SET 3
Fernando Verdasco​
5.7%​
0.0%​
73.6%​
61.5%​
35.7%​
3/5​
39.0%​
26 (12/8)​
18 (9/9)​
Rafael Nadal​
4.9%​
2.4%​
63.4%​
61.5%​
60.0%​
1/3​
45.3%​
11 (7/2)​
5 (4/0)​
SET 4
Fernando Verdasco​
13.5%​
2.7%​
75.7%​
82.1%​
77.8%​
0/0​
28.6%​
22 (12/4)​
9 (4/4)​
Rafael Nadal​
5.7%​
2.9%​
77.1%​
81.5%​
37.5%​
0/0​
18.9%​
8 (5/1)​
7 (3/3)​
SET 5
Fernando Verdasco​
7.7%​
7.7%​
56.4%​
68.2%​
47.1%​
7/8​
13.0%​
7 (3/1)​
13 (4/6)​
Rafael Nadal​
0.0%​
0.0%​
73.9%​
82.4%​
100.0%​
0/0​
41.0%​
13 (9/3)​
7 (4/3)​
Strange, there is a full match on youtube and according to the statistics which they show in the end it is 95-76 to Verdasco and 52-25 to Nadal.
 

NoleFam

Bionic Poster
It's up there for sure. Here's the match stats. One of the first things I do in assessing the overall quality of a match is to look at the W/UFE ratio. Fiasco hit a staggering 101 winner to 69 UFE, +32 overall. RAFA hit 54 winners to 30 UFE, +24 overall.
STATS OVERVIEW​
A%​
DF%​
1stIn​
1st%​
2nd%​
BPSaved​
RPW%​
Winners (FH/BH)​
UFE (FH/BH)​
Fernando Verdasco​
9.4%​
1.9%​
70.3%​
69.8%​
55.6%​
16/20​
30.6%​
101 (46/26)​
69 (33/32)​
Rafael Nadal​
8.1%​
1.7%​
74.0%​
72.7%​
60.0%​
2/4​
34.4%​
54 (32/6)​
30 (18/9)​
SET 1
Fernando Verdasco​
10.2%​
0.0%​
75.5%​
75.7%​
50.0%​
2/2​
36.2%​
27 (12/7)​
20 (9/11)​
Rafael Nadal​
10.6%​
0.0%​
72.3%​
67.6%​
53.8%​
1/1​
30.6%​
10 (4/0)​
6 (4/2)​
SET 2
Fernando Verdasco​
11.8%​
0.0%​
67.6%​
60.9%​
81.8%​
4/5​
25.9%​
19 (7/6)​
9 (7/2)​
Rafael Nadal​
18.5%​
3.7%​
88.9%​
75.0%​
66.7%​
0/0​
32.4%​
12 (7/0)​
5 (3/1)​
SET 3
Fernando Verdasco​
5.7%​
0.0%​
73.6%​
61.5%​
35.7%​
3/5​
39.0%​
26 (12/8)​
18 (9/9)​
Rafael Nadal​
4.9%​
2.4%​
63.4%​
61.5%​
60.0%​
1/3​
45.3%​
11 (7/2)​
5 (4/0)​
SET 4
Fernando Verdasco​
13.5%​
2.7%​
75.7%​
82.1%​
77.8%​
0/0​
28.6%​
22 (12/4)​
9 (4/4)​
Rafael Nadal​
5.7%​
2.9%​
77.1%​
81.5%​
37.5%​
0/0​
18.9%​
8 (5/1)​
7 (3/3)​
SET 5
Fernando Verdasco​
7.7%​
7.7%​
56.4%​
68.2%​
47.1%​
7/8​
13.0%​
7 (3/1)​
13 (4/6)​
Rafael Nadal​
0.0%​
0.0%​
73.9%​
82.4%​
100.0%​
0/0​
41.0%​
13 (9/3)​
7 (4/3)​

Based on this, you can see Nadal had to win this match by counter punching Verdasco's attacks. Verdasco hit more winners in 4/5 sets and seemed to back off in that last set, which was probably mental, and has plagued him in much of his career. This was one of the very few times I've seen a lefty on court with Nadal whose forehand was more impressive. A very good match and extremely high quality as well.
 

tonylg

Legend
I remember the match, endless baseline bashing. That belongs at the FO, not the AO.

As for the stats, Nadal's break point conversion rate rivals that of Federer.
 

King No1e

G.O.A.T.
It's up there for sure. I'd still put the Djoko-Stan 2013 match ahead of it. Even the one-sided opening set was full of quality tennis.
 

StrongRule

Talk Tennis Guru
Based on this, you can see Nadal had to win this match by counter punching Verdasco's attacks. Verdasco hit more winners in 4/5 sets and seemed to back off in that last set, which was probably mental, and has plagued him in much of his career. This was one of the very few times I've seen a lefty on court with Nadal whose forehand was more impressive. A very good match and extremely high quality as well.
Have to agree, Verdasco's forehand was probably more impressive than Nadal's in that one, and the fourth set tie break was the best performance in a tie break I have ever seen. That being said, Nadal won the two best points of the match with his forehand. (in the highlights they are at 17:33 and 31:46)
 

King No1e

G.O.A.T.
A few days ago there was a thread about the best between 3 AO matches, I decided to rewatch the highlights of AO 2009 semifinal after that. I must admit I already forgot how amazing that match was. Some crazy hitting from both players which lasted longer than 5 hours. And believe it or not, Nadal hit only 25 unforced errors in that thriller. Now THAT was peak Nadal. Without doubt one of the highest quality matches of all time. Here are some extended highlights:

Nadal just never misses. 25 UEs in 5 hours is just unreal.
 

StrongRule

Talk Tennis Guru
It's up there for sure. I'd still put the Djoko-Stan 2013 match ahead of it. Even the one-sided opening set was full of quality tennis.
That one was also very high quality, though I think there were a bit more ups and downs from both players there. IMO what makes that AO 2009 match scary is that there wasn't even one moment when Verdasco stopped hitting these bombs.
 

King No1e

G.O.A.T.
That one was also very high quality, though I think there were a bit more ups and downs from both players there. IMO what makes that AO 2009 match scary is that there wasn't even one moment when Verdasco stopped hitting these bombs.
Verdasco's forehand is the standard for technique, flow, and precision. No forehand other than Federer's comes close to that level of technical perfection. No ugly slapping like Delpo or loopy wrist action like Sock. Just pure flow and timing, like a whip cracking through the air.
 

MichaelNadal

Bionic Poster
YJ1D4I7.gif
 

RaulRamirez

Legend
Have to agree, Verdasco's forehand was probably more impressive than Nadal's in that one, and the fourth set tie break was the best performance in a tie break I have ever seen. That being said, Nadal won the two best points of the match with his forehand. (in the highlights they are at 17:33 and 31:46)
Remarkable points, both punctuated by classic (facial) reactions from Verdasco after losing those epic points. The only downside to the match is that it ended with a double-fault. I don't know that Verdasco ever played better, yet it was not quite enough.
 

Shaolin

Talk Tennis Guru
Verdasco's forehand is the standard for technique, flow, and precision. No forehand other than Federer's comes close to that level of technical perfection. No ugly slapping like Delpo or loopy wrist action like Sock. Just pure flow and timing, like a whip cracking through the air.

That was truly the best I've seen someone hit the forehand. Technically perfect IMO. I'm a coach and have told a lot of students to look at this match and the Verdasco fh. Just wish he could have come through with the W but you have to have the mind not just shots.
 

StrongRule

Talk Tennis Guru
Highest sustained quality probably, with an epic fifth set it could've been the singular best match ever, as it is it's on the list.
What would make the fifth set epic though? It was a close set and Nadal was 0-30 down on serve at 4-4 at one moment. Actually, all sets were either 7-6 or 6-4.
 

AnOctorokForDinner

Talk Tennis Guru
What would make the fifth set epic though? It was a close set and Nadal was 0-30 down on serve at 4-4 at one moment. Actually, all sets were either 7-6 or 6-4.

It wasn't a close set, look up the stats. The 4-4 0-30 moment was the only time Nadal had any difficulty on serve, which was dangerous of course, but the intrigue was killed harshly when he quickly won the next seven points (well there was one long rally, the rest was swift stuff), and then Verdasco saved two MPs only to double fault on the third one.
 
One of the most disappointing matches of all time, certainly. I didn’t even particularly have anything against Nadal at that time, other than it being gross to cheer for the favorite in such a match. But it would have been so awesome if Verdasco had won.

Yes, a very exciting and high quality match.
 
Last edited:

aldeayeah

G.O.A.T.
I remember watching the two fist sets of this match after breakfast, going shopping for a couple hours, came back and they were still at it. Crazy stuff.

TBH I couldn't fathom Nadal winning the final after that. Best Nadal Slam win by a mile.
 

Lew II

G.O.A.T.
Highest level by surface:

Hard - Djokovic-Federer US Open 2015
Clay - Nadal-Djokovic Roland Garros 2013
Grass - Djokovic-Federer Wimbledon 2019
 

Clay lover

Legend
I always go for Coria-Nadal Rome 2005. The aggression was too one-sided for my liking in 2009. In Cor Nad 2005 both natural counterpunchers were forced to be aggressive and utilize variety at crucial moments to overpower/outwit their opponents and the result was a very unpredictable, suspenseful match. Nadal's comeback in the fifth set by being ultra aggressive is one of the greatest comebacks of all time.
 
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