2019 Men’s Wimbledon SF: Roger Federer vs. Rafael Nadal

[El Dude]

Come on, El Dude! If it was any other player not named Novak Djokovic or Roger Federer, then yes he would have comeback. But we are talking about one of the greatest male tennis player (probably the greatest) and probably the best clutch server ever.

But the opposite is true as well: If it was any player other than Rafa--even Novak--I would have been far more relaxed in that final game. Novak may be a slightly better defender overall than Rafa, but Rafa is a better clutch defender...and the greatest clutch player of all time, in my view. He's so hard to beat in those crucial moments.

 

[Bonaca]

It is that simple. Serena was asked in her presser yesterday about the speed of the courts, she didn't even entertain the question (she's been in the finals the last 5 years she's played it so I think she knows a thing or 2 about playing on grass).

All that being said, if Djoke wins on Sun, you'll hear more talk about the court speed

Haha you are right.

 

[kskate2]

How can you say a match with Rafa down is ever over? The dude fights like no other. You know that in that final game we Fedfans were groaning and thinking, "Fuck, here we go again."

I said it was over early in the 4th. I've been watching these 2 for years. When Fed got a head of steam against Nads in recent matches on faster surfaces, he does not yield.

 

[rafanoy1992]

You mean if Roger loses to Novak? Well obviously Roger taking the title is the preferred outcome, but beating Nadal at a Slam, and especially Wimbledon, is important for the bean-counters re: legacy and such. If Nadal had won this match and tied the grass H2H at 2-2, it would negatively impacted Roger's resume.

To be honest, I do not think the H2H will determine about their legacies. Besides, Federer has A LOT more accomplishments over Nadal/Djokovic outside of the H2H records.

 

[Bonaca]

Well, that's that. Some classic points but not an epic. Kinda like the old days when Rafa killed Roger at RG and Roger restored order at Wimby.
And then there is Nole...

Hehe the last sentence Murat was genius!

 

[Bonaca]

Wow. Just, wow. That was so hard to watch, but worth it.

Kudos to Nadal - the greatest fighter ever. He just never gives up, is so hard to put down.

Watching these two, and Novak, and I'm struck by just how equal they are. I know fans are always trying to give their guy an angle, but for me these two (and Novak) are co-GOATs.

Absolutely right Dude.

 

[britbox]

I said it was over early in the 4th. I've been watching these 2 for years. When Fed got a head of steam against Nads in recent matches on faster surfaces, he does not yield.

I'd agree that there has been a change of mental dynamics. Early on, a couple of Feddies expected an immediate break after a tight game where Fed had unconverted BPs. That was once the case... I wasn't feeling it here. Still, those old wounds take a time to heal...

 

[Front242]

Hey, @DarthFed and @Front242 , are you guys alive?

I was biting the heads off a few chickens there. All done now ! :chainsaw:

 

[britbox]

Wow. Just, wow. That was so hard to watch, but worth it.

Kudos to Nadal - the greatest fighter ever. He just never gives up, is so hard to put down.

Watching these two, and Novak, and I'm struck by just how equal they are. I know fans are always trying to give their guy an angle, but for me these two (and Novak) are co-GOATs.

You need to re-watch Highlander... there can only be one.

 

[Front242]

 

[kskate2]

Yes and no. The Big Three bring out the best in each other. All three have been upset by Next Genners, even at Slams. I still have faith that Zverev will pull his head out of his own ass and compete at Slams, and Tsitsipas is really close. He has the mental game, which LostGen lacked. And I've gone on record as saying that FAA is going to be really special and emerge as the top player in the ATP, but that's probably a few years away.

I'm not talking about a loss here or there. The big 3 consistently make it to the business-end of slams. The others are nowhere near that level of consistency. Add to that what I mentioned earlier about the way they compete and it highlights why they are still so good after so many years. You know I'm not talking about FAA. He's still a kid and just played his first slam at the USO.

 

[Shivashish Sarkar]

I think the match was pretty good. It was pretty even at the end of the second set. And then Roger started playing really great tennis and there were some epic rallies. Great to watch. Fedal is such a miracle of nature. This show is just so much better than anything else in tennis. Federer's groundstrokes were consistently good. His service were great. His shotmaking was great. And in the end, Nadal was just getting there. Federer was just too good with his serve all match. And in the end, that didn't change. Nadal was good in the second set and before the end of the match (pretty good there). Overall, Federer put it beyond Nadal.

 

[shawnbm]

How can you say a match with Rafa down is ever over? The dude fights like no other. You know that in that final game we Fedfans were groaning and thinking, "Fuck, here we go again."

I am not looking up stats, but guys like Connors and Borg were tremendous fighters who never gave up and came back a lot. I know Federer has come from match points down to win tons of matches, but he has lost his fair share too, most notably to Novak in New York City. That being said, the Spanish Bull is very hard to put down and the lead never feels safe--the same feeling I had about Borg, in particular, back long ago.

 

[shawnbm]

Nadal is


Federer dominates this match up now Moxie. Its's over.

I don't know if I would go that far, but he certainly has played better over the last two or so years against his long time foe and come out ahead most every time. Nobody really dominates Nadal as he always fights hard and is "in it" for the most part. Even when Novak beat him seven straight times a few years ago, some of those were marathon matches and toe-to-toe for hours.

 

[DarthFed]

I'm still alive but not too well. The end of that took years off my life. Clutch bastard refused to miss at the end. Roger didn't do himself any favors by playing so well that last Nadal service game, I knew it'd be tough to hold after that.

 

[tenisplayrla08]

As for the GOAT debate. Let's at least wait til we see who wins tomorrow.

 

[atttomole]

That last game was excruciating. I'm not sure I could even have watched the fifth set if it had happened. So happy. I believe Federer has a real chance against Djokovic on Sunday. He is playing well.

I don’t think Federer has a chance against Djokovic. Djokovic has a huge arsenal of weapons. His serve is amazing and we all know how good his return is. Federer has nowhere to go against Djokovic.

 

[Shivashish Sarkar]

I don’t think Federer has a chance against Djokovic. Djokovic has a huge arsenal of weapons. His serve is amazing and we all know how good his return is. Federer has nowhere to go against Djokovic.

Really? Roger was scary today. I think the grass master is in the zone and is not giving this slam away. Djokovic doesn't have too much of a chance I thought. Remember what proportion of people were saying that Nadal is going to win this one? Roger proves everyone wrong all the time.

 

[atttomole]

Wow. Just, wow. That was so hard to watch, but worth it.

Kudos to Nadal - the greatest fighter ever. He just never gives up, is so hard to put down.

Watching these two, and Novak, and I'm struck by just how equal they are. I know fans are always trying to give their guy an angle, but for me these two (and Novak) are co-GOATs.

They are all great players, but honestly to say they are equal is a bit exaggerated.

 

[Moxie]

I said it was over early in the 4th. I've been watching these 2 for years. When Fed got a head of steam against Nads in recent matches on faster surfaces, he does not yield.

You haven't been reading the threads. This surface is as slow as molasses, a disgrace! :lulz2: