Your definitive top ten winning performances of Big Match Rafa

Hitman

Hitman

Bionic Poster
Unquestionably for me, Rafa is the best big match player his era, and arguably only Pete rivals him as best big match player of all time. Again IMO.

What are your top ten winning big match Rafa performances, they don't need to be order. Here are mine, not any specific order.

1 - Wimbledon 2008 v Federer - One of the most dramatic conclusions to match you'll ever see, in a match that will always be remembered. Nadal's finest hour IMO.
2 - USO 2013 v Djokovic - Incredible defiance when his back was against the wall in the third, to turn it around and run away with fantastic win
3 - Rome 2005 v Coria - Arguably the greatest pure clay court tennis match of all time, between two players designed to dominate on the dirt, this being his first true big match win
4 - AO 2009 v Verdasco - IMO the greatest HC match Rafa has been a part of due his opponent being in absolute God mode, the best match of the strongest season in the strong era of tennis
5 - Rome 2006 v Federer - This was the highest quality match between Federer and Nadal, spectacular tennis for a near five hours of perfection and outlasting Federer's best clay form
6 - Madrid 2009 v Djokovic - The insane conclusion to the legendary clay trilogy of 2009, in a match that is the best three set clay court match I have ever seen, Nadal's supreme clutch winning it
7 - RG 2013 v Djokovic - Back against the wall in the fifth, coming out and blasting 23 winners to snatch away victory in one of his most explosive set of tennis at RG
8 - AO 2009 v Federer - Some of the most purest and cleanest ball striking you'll ever see that at times resembled a video game, for me, the AO 09 goes down as Nadal's best slam win overall
9 - Olympics 2008 v Djokovic - The key match of the 2008 tournament, Nadal's insane ability to keep getting the ball back pushed him over the finish line in a dramatic ending.
10 - Wimbledon 2018 v Del Potro - The level continued to get better and better with each passing set, with the fifth set epic enough to be it's own match as far as quality was concerned

There are of course others, but these 10 stick out for me. What are your lists for Big Match Rafa?
 
how do I get bicpes like this ? I have been working with 10 lbs weight and it hasn't gotten that much bigger in 3 weeks

2066632dfb0ba340c21df417c6ebd826
 
Wimbledon 2008 final is overrated.
Federer was old and diagnosed with mono. It was a miracle he could even reach the final, let alone play a 5 set match. Nothing but sheer willpower carried him through the 4 and half hours match.
 
I would put US open final 2019 for me, mainly because I absolutely loved the true battle of how long can either last, and plus it was just awesome. But compared to the other matches, the 2019 final wasn’t that amazing.
 
StrongRule said:
The first 8 matches are definitely in the top-10. Not sure about the last 2 though.
Click to expand...

Interested to know what your two replacements would be for those matches.

Sabrina said:
Nadal should have finished off Del Potro in 4 at most at Wimbledon 2018. He just choked the 2nd set tiebreak but that was the story of Rafa career in his recent years....
Click to expand...

Yes, but that shouldn't really take away from the overall match as a whole, which was spectacular. Rafa should have won RG 2013 in four sets also, and choked when serving it out, but had a legendary fifth set, which was that big match Rafa fighting against the odds. W 2018 was a similar thing, Del Potro was zoning, had the momentum, blasting monster forehands, but big match Rafa stepped up to stop him.
 
I maybe replace the Olympics match with the Dimitrov-Australia match, but otherwise I think this list is pretty definitive. I'll tell you another one I love. That Kyrgios-Wimbledon match last year. I don't know that I've ever see a second rounder or whatever it was hyped like that, and the genuine animosity between them, and the buzz in Centre Court, and the memories of 2014, and the under arm serving, and the boy pulled it out in tie breakers of all things :laughing: Big Match Rafa indeed.
 
Hitman said:
Interested to know what your two replacements would be for those matches.



Yes, but that shouldn't really take away from the overall match as a whole, which was spectacular. Rafa should have won RG 2013 in four sets also, and choked when serving it out, but had a legendary fifth set, which was that big match Rafa fighting against the odds. W 2018 was a similar thing, Del Potro was zoning, had the momentum, blasting monster forehands, but big match Rafa stepped up to stop him.
Click to expand...
There are many candidates. AO 2017 semifinal against Dimitrov obviously comes to mind. Other options: MC 2005 vs Coria, USO 2010 final, USO 2019 final, RG 2012 final, RG 2008 semifinal. I don't know if the last match can be called a big match since the outcome wasn't really in doubt (Nadal was not losing that tournament to anyone, that was the best run in his career), but Djokovic was in good form and I was really worried in that third set. One of the best ever sets in their clay rivalry. And of course there were lots of great wins in BO3 matches as well.
 
ibbi said:
Oops. Yes, that should be on there too, for sure. I have no idea what I would kick off... Maybe Madrid? :oops:
Click to expand...

Depends what you mean by big match, I have a hard time putting a masters SF over a five set win in a major final - even if the masters SF was a better match.
 
NatF said:
Depends what you mean by big match, I have a hard time putting a masters SF over a five set win in a major final - even if the masters SF was a better match.
Click to expand...

Its how you as a tennis fan would see it. And this is different for different people, hence why I am asking everyone for their own versions and the reasoning behind it. Aim is to really see how many we all have in our personal lists.
 
Tennis sprew said:
I would put US open final 2019 for me, mainly because I absolutely loved the true battle of how long can either last, and plus it was just awesome. But compared to the other matches, the 2019 final wasn’t that amazing.
Click to expand...
Amazed how gassed Rafa was in the 5th set, but he was not letting go of this one. Also, the shot clock is an utter travesty.
 
BenC said:
Amazed how gassed Rafa was in the 5th set, but he was not letting go of this one. Also, the shot clock is an utter travesty.
Click to expand...
I think I saw one where it takes him 28 seconds to get ready, I mean sheesh I could read a whole page of a book in that time!
 
Sabrina said:
Nadal should have finished off Del Potro in 4 at most at Wimbledon 2018. He just choked the 2nd set tiebreak but that was the story of Rafa career in his recent years....
Click to expand...
Nadal also had a major choke at Wimbledon 08, which he admitted in his book. At the end of that TB, he wrote that he was already thinking about winning, lost focus and let Federer back in the match, which almost cost him the title.
 
Tennis sprew said:
I think I saw one where it takes him 28 seconds to get ready, I mean sheesh I could read a whole page of a book in that time!
Click to expand...
I'm not a Rafa fan and agree that the points need to be sped up, but watching him lose a 1st serve to a time violation and DF on the 2nd in the 5th set felt wrong somehow. That's not what we came to watch, is it?
 
BenC said:
I'm not a Rafa fan and agree that the points need to be sped up, but watching him lose a 1st serve to a time violation and DF on the 2nd in the 5th set felt wrong somehow. That's not what we came to watch, is it?
Click to expand...
No, it’s not. I think during 2013(?) or around the time he wore lunar ballistics that he got a time violation, got mad and told the referee “do you think this is good for the show?” I mean, no, but Nadal isn’t exactly running the ATP tour and the isn’t the guy’s boss lol
 
Hitman said:
Unquestionably for me, Rafa is the best big match player his era, and arguably only Pete rivals him as best big match player of all time. Again IMO.

What are your top ten winning big match Rafa performances, they don't need to be order. Here are mine, not any specific order.

1 - Wimbledon 2008 v Federer - One of the most dramatic conclusions to match you'll ever see, in a match that will always be remembered. Nadal's finest hour IMO.
2 - USO 2013 v Djokovic - Incredible defiance when his back was against the wall in the third, to turn it around and run away with fantastic win
3 - Rome 2005 v Coria - Arguably the greatest pure clay court tennis match of all time, between two players designed to dominate on the dirt, this being his first true big match win
4 - AO 2009 v Verdasco - IMO the greatest HC match Rafa has been a part of due his opponent being in absolute God mode, the best match of the strongest season in the strong era of tennis
5 - Rome 2006 v Federer - This was the highest quality match between Federer and Nadal, spectacular tennis for a near five hours of perfection and outlasting Federer's best clay form
6 - Madrid 2009 v Djokovic - The insane conclusion to the legendary clay trilogy of 2009, in a match that is the best three set clay court match I have ever seen, Nadal's supreme clutch winning it
7 - RG 2013 v Djokovic - Back against the wall in the fifth, coming out and blasting 23 winners to snatch away victory in one of his most explosive set of tennis at RG
8 - AO 2009 v Federer - Some of the most purest and cleanest ball striking you'll ever see that at times resembled a video game, for me, the AO 09 goes down as Nadal's best slam win overall
9 - Olympics 2008 v Djokovic - The key match of the 2008 tournament, Nadal's insane ability to keep getting the ball back pushed him over the finish line in a dramatic ending.
10 - Wimbledon 2018 v Del Potro - The level continued to get better and better with each passing set, with the fifth set epic enough to be it's own match as far as quality was concerned

There are of course others, but these 10 stick out for me. What are your lists for Big Match Rafa?
Click to expand...
The only thing I would replace would be Wimby 2018 QF to USO 2019 F. Mostly cuz I prefer the end result :X3:
 
1. Wimbledon 2008 vs Federer (best grass court match of all time, among the GOAT matches in general)
2. AO 2009 vs Federer (Not as much for the match itself, but for the end result. No player has had to suffer for a title quite the way Nadal did at AO09. He was completely physically spent, even considered pulling out from the final, and dealing with his parents' recent divorce. Defining moment in his career.)
3. RG 2013 vs Djokovic (GOAT clay court match, heartbreaking loss for Djoker. Nadal was just too steady in the end and waited for Nole to bite the dust in the last game.)
4. Rome 2006 vs Federer (Held off the Federer charge, once again remained steady enough to let Federer self-destruct when he had MP's)
5. RG 2012 vs Djokovic (Underrated win IMO, because Djokovic was red-hot and still showed his 2011 form through much of the match. A true peak vs peak battle where Nadal asserted his authority back on the rivalry....temporarily :cool:)
6. AO 2009 vs Verdasco (One of the best matches in history. Held off a GOATing Verdasco with 5 hours of quality tennis. Nadal at his defensive best.)
7. Madrid 2009 vs Djokovic (Had to save MP's in the most clutch way possible. GOAT BO3 match)
8. Rome 2005 vs Coria (Underrated clay-court tennis. The beginning of a legend.)
9. AO17 vs Dimitrov (Nadal said in his press conference IIRC that he thought during the 5th set "If Grigor won this, he deserves it and I'd be happy for him." Speaks volumes about his mentality.)
10. USO 2013 vs Djokovic (Ultimate Big-Match performance. It's Nadal's greatness in a nutshell - remaining unwaveringly steady throughout the match against an opponent playing better than him in patches. Djokovic was on a roll in the middle of that match but Nadal wrested the momentum back just in time, then cruised when Djokovic's level fell off a cliff again.)
 
Not sure about 9th, maybe because I haven't even watched the highlights

Remaining 9 are all awesome wins..

Rome 2006, IMO, was the best match Roger and Rafa played. Wish it were in one of the RGs. Even if you were a Rafa fan, you would certainly feel for Roger

AO 2009, like @Hitman said, it was a video game. Pity that the fifth set was lopsided, else it would have been probably the best match ever

US 2013 end of third set was pure magic
 
Backspin1183 said:
Wimbledon 2008 final is overrated.
Federer was old and diagnosed with mono. It was a miracle he could even reach the final, let alone play a 5 set match. Nothing but sheer willpower carried him through the 4 and half hours match.
Click to expand...
Federer was not playing his absolute best, but he was pretty darn close. It is, without a doubt, one of the greatest matches ever. Trust me, I was there live.
 
In specific order.

1. Wimbledon 2008 Final – Recognized as the GOAT match, took 3 years of rivalry to properly set it up.

2. Roland Garros 2013 SF – One shouldn’t underrate how important this match is for Nadal’s legacy. Imo, Djokovic would’ve had a much better 2013 if he won there, and would probably already overtake Nadal in Slam race.

3. USO 2019 F – Another case of a match, that if Nadal losses, his legacy hurts immensely. No 5th YE#1, no 4th US Open and a lot of talk that Nadal is finished on TTW.

4. AO 2009 SF

5. Rome 2006 Final

6. AO 2017 SF

7. USO 2013 Final

8. AO 2009 Final

9. Montreal 2013 SF

10. Wimbledon 2018 QF = USO 2018 QF
 
Yugram said:
In specific order.

1. Wimbledon 2008 Final – Recognized as the GOAT match, took 3 years of rivalry to properly set it up.

2. Roland Garros 2013 SF – One shouldn’t underrate how important this match is for Nadal’s legacy. Imo, Djokovic would’ve had a much better 2013 if he won there, and would probably already overtake Nadal in Slam race.

3. USO 2019 F – Another case of a match, that if Nadal losses, his legacy hurts immensely. No 5th YE#1, no 4th US Open and a lot of talk that Nadal is finished on TTW.

4. AO 2009 SF

5. Rome 2006 Final

6. AO 2017 SF

7. USO 2013 Final

8. AO 2009 Final

9. Montreal 2013 SF

10. Wimbledon 2018 QF = USO 2018 QF
Click to expand...
Totally forgot about USO 2018 1/4 final. Though I wouldn't call that a big match win. This match was a total waste of energy and the "reward" Nadal got for it is ending the season.
 
Hitman said:
Unquestionably for me, Rafa is the best big match player his era, and arguably only Pete rivals him as best big match player of all time. Again IMO.

What are your top ten winning big match Rafa performances, they don't need to be order. Here are mine, not any specific order.

1 - Wimbledon 2008 v Federer - One of the most dramatic conclusions to match you'll ever see, in a match that will always be remembered. Nadal's finest hour IMO.
2 - USO 2013 v Djokovic - Incredible defiance when his back was against the wall in the third, to turn it around and run away with fantastic win
3 - Rome 2005 v Coria - Arguably the greatest pure clay court tennis match of all time, between two players designed to dominate on the dirt, this being his first true big match win
4 - AO 2009 v Verdasco - IMO the greatest HC match Rafa has been a part of due his opponent being in absolute God mode, the best match of the strongest season in the strong era of tennis
5 - Rome 2006 v Federer - This was the highest quality match between Federer and Nadal, spectacular tennis for a near five hours of perfection and outlasting Federer's best clay form
6 - Madrid 2009 v Djokovic - The insane conclusion to the legendary clay trilogy of 2009, in a match that is the best three set clay court match I have ever seen, Nadal's supreme clutch winning it
7 - RG 2013 v Djokovic - Back against the wall in the fifth, coming out and blasting 23 winners to snatch away victory in one of his most explosive set of tennis at RG
8 - AO 2009 v Federer - Some of the most purest and cleanest ball striking you'll ever see that at times resembled a video game, for me, the AO 09 goes down as Nadal's best slam win overall
9 - Olympics 2008 v Djokovic - The key match of the 2008 tournament, Nadal's insane ability to keep getting the ball back pushed him over the finish line in a dramatic ending.
10 - Wimbledon 2018 v Del Potro - The level continued to get better and better with each passing set, with the fifth set epic enough to be it's own match as far as quality was concerned

There are of course others, but these 10 stick out for me. What are your lists for Big Match Rafa?
Click to expand...
Great list. I think that any changes I may propose - a la AO 17 semi - have been mentioned. I'd have to rewatch ...I think you posted, thanks...#9.
 
I think your list is great, though there's something to be said for the 2006 RG final, in which Nadal rallied from a first set breadstick to deny Rog 4 straight majors b/w 2005-06 (and probably halted what would've turned out to be a Martina-esque 7 straight majors b/w 2005-07 or something similar had Rog prevailed in that final). Quite a lot of pressure on a kid who just turned 20.

I think the 2019 Open final will grow in stature as Medvedev's star continues to rise.
 
Hitman said:
Its how you as a tennis fan would see it. And this is different for different people, hence why I am asking everyone for their own versions and the reasoning behind it. Aim is to really see how many we all have in our personal lists.
Click to expand...

That's cool, just giving my own definition.
 
eldanger25 said:
I think your list is great, though there's something to be said for the 2006 RG final, in which Nadal rallied from a first set breadstick to deny Rog 4 straight majors b/w 2005-06 (and probably halted what would've turned out to be a Martina-esque 7 straight majors b/w 2005-07 or something similar had Rog prevailed in that final). Quite a lot of pressure on a kid who just turned 20.

I think the 2019 Open final will grow in stature as Medvedev's star continues to rise.
Click to expand...

06 Fed was epic indeed :) #OnlyRafa :p

maxresdefault.jpg

utssprimary.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Underdog
Most epic match of every year this century
2
Replies
74
Views
3K
vokazu
V
V
MOST DOMINANT nadal MATCH of 2008
Replies
36
Views
2K
SempreSami
S
D
The final prime match of the big 3
2
Replies
63
Views
2K
Deleted member 77403
D
vanioMan
Top 3 performances in the big events
Replies
9
Views
962
vanioMan
vanioMan
F
10 Best matches of the decade
Replies
4
Views
758
<3tennis!!!
<3tennis!!!
Back
Top