Im so glad that was my childhood growing up. I reall think about it and there is no one right now who play at that level. People say carlos and sinner. Nah, that level cannot be found. Fedal in their prime cannot be touched
This was the next-to-last match they played as the Big Two, followed by Wimbledon in July. By the end of the summer, Djokovic had become the clear #3 and a major threat to their dominance. But from mid-2005 to mid-2007, they were alone at the top. Only one could beat the other.
MAN! Early 2000's sports were something else. best football players best NBA players. best tennis players. ı think 80's generation is the last great generation of humanity
Federer actually played super well here. He was matching Nadal in the 1st 2 sets. This Federer would beat any clay court specialist in any era, except this version of Nadal. Probably if Federer played like this, post 2010, he would win maybe 2-3 FOs.
In 2007, Roger Federer was young, confident, Moving like feather across court, hitting lightening fast Back hand and hitting deep Forehand. In spite of all qualities, Federer was loosing 80% points on lengthy exchange of Rallies. Nadal was able to control the Rally with bouncing Top spin Federer was getting plenty of opportunity to approach the Net to cut short the Rallies. That would have increased the winning percentage of points compared long Rallies. Federer was literally playing into Nadal's hand by allowing him to play long Rallies. Nadal was good at playing Passing shot. However, Federer could have approached Net When Nadal was serving, Later on Nadal dented Federer's hope in Hard court also.
Probably the best I’ve ever seen Federer play Nadal at RG and yet it still wasn’t enough. The following year was a total massacre. No one does that to Federer on any surface except Nadal. 6-1 6-3 6-0. People mention Federer having mono that year but by the time RG and especially Wimbledon happened he was already over that according to him and his team. Nadal was just on a mission this year and especially 2008
Match shows how important it is to slide on hardcourts. Many shots would have been winners by RF but Rafa was sliding in the last second to reset the point. Amazing!!!
& yet Federer managed to bagel Nadal on clay once with his puny 90 Sq. Inch racket. When he thought about switching to a bigger racket, he was likely taking advice from Sampras and other pros, not us "mere mortal" fans
Estamos en una época de transición del tenis Federer retirado, Nadal a punto y Djokovic en vigencia pero los partidos memorables se fueron. Me queda la nostalgia
Watching this i can see how much better Federer's improved backhand was since 2017. He is a little faster here but too bad we was so damn stubborn and didn't get with the times and use a modern racket with a huge sweet spot like everyone else at the expense of a tiny bit of forehand peak power. He was basically dominant against Nadal after that and identical to Novak despite being much older.
2024, I'm comparing 21 years old alcaraz to 21 years old nadal on clay. Nadal is really the king on clay. But its seems like Alcaraz has the ability to reach the big 3's records on grand slams. 3 surfaces grand slams at 21 years old is something else.
Federer played a hell of a match to even make this competitive. He was flying around and making a concerted effort to hit through his backhand instead of slicing it, knowing that slicing against Rafa on clay is a death wish. Nontheless, Nadal peppered Fed’s backhand throughout the duration of the match, and had success doing it. With his style of play with the looping forehand to the opponent’s backhand (especially a 1 hander) combined with his speed, durability, and stamina, it seems like he would be impossible to beat on this surface. And, he virtually was. No weaknesses at all, and even when he is down in the point, he is never out, hitting winners from ridiculous positions that nobody else can. Not to mention his pure effort and hustle, he never ever gives up on point until the ball has bounced twice. Must be so damn frustrating, and exhausting, to play against. Looking at Federer’s level of play, he would have beaten probably everyone else in tennis history (aside from maybe Djokovic) with his level in this match. But not with Nadal on the other set of the net. Absolute machine.
This was the game that truly made Roger nervous. You can immediately see the defeat that Nadal put on him the year before in RG shell shocked him. I’m sure on the way to the finals Federer was probably praying Nadal wouldn’t make it. Anyone but him.
True, the mental block started at AO 2009. Federer could never in believe himself until he rediscovered his Mojo and unleashed a new weapon in 2017 “neo backhand” but rafa’s movement also slowed down in 2017
@@mysticnomad89 only fools think that the mental aspect has a huge effect on their rivalry. no one faced the kinda pressures that Federer faced during his career and I mean no one. it's all about the matchup and who has the advantage, Nadal has the advantage over one handed backhands especially on slow courts same as Djokovic has the advantage against Nadal outside of clay. In the game of Tennis matchups mostly decide the outcome.
Nadal was ridiculously good on clay. I mean, ridiculously. He's playing one of the greatest of all time and making him look like an average tennis player.
One person put it this way. "They took one set from Nadal in the French Open final. That proves they are clay specialists." They don't have to win. Just take one set and you will receive the same glory as the champions of another era.
Lo que estos tipos jugaban, en el pináculo de sus carreras, es algo nunca visto. Ahora que se discute quien es el mejor en la historia del tenis, he aquí, para mí, los dos más grandes. No tengo yo ninguna duda. Una mención en especial para Nadal. Que despliegue, que poder físico, que tenacidad. No he visto, ni en el pasado, ni en el presente, cosa semejante.
