2019 Men's US Open Final: Rafael Nadal vs. Daniil Medvedev

[brokenshoelace]

Maybe we can go back to that "perfect player" thread and revisit the conversation about Nadal's tennis IQ. If after tonight you guys still think he's not in a league of his own in that department, then you're really not paying attention.

I actually agree with the spirit of what Cali said though: Medvedev should feel disappointed it took him so long to get going. Cause his level in the first two sets compared to the rest of the match is night and day.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

They all have as many Slams as Medvedev does. They're on equal footing.

I'm sorry, no matter how you cut it this is a bad loss. I know I am starting to sound like Darth, but all this moral victory nonsense is bullshit. Medvedev blew the first set by returning terribly and then at the start of the 5th he had breakpoints up 1-0 with Nadal visibly tired and distressed.

This is not good for Medvedev.....in the next 2-3 years he still will have Djokovic and Nadal in his way at every Slam, and Federer especially to deal with at Wimbledon. There is no reason to think he is a favorite to win any of those.

This was a terrible loss with all the chances he had. All he can do is tap himself on the back and say "almost" like dozens of others have.

The shame of it was he had the match in the palm of his hands with the breakpoints early in the 5th. But he did not take them. Then he coughed up the key break in the game after being up 40-0.

Are we supposed to applaud this?

Medvedev choked today.

The short answer is yes. Got nothing to do with moral victories either. A first time finalist went 0-2 down to an 18 time GS champion, came back , tied it up at 2-2. Then went down 2 breaks in the final set and got one back and had the BP to get the other one back...but came up short. That's what I am applauding. And that's what the youngsters should be inspired by. Medvedev went out there to win today, just came up short.

 

[brokenshoelace]

Like I said earlier. This is what tennis has become. You have a dirt baller becoming a an all time US Open great. There is something wrong somewhere.

There is indeed, and it lies in your incessantly excessive bias.

 

[calitennis127]

Ah, and that's what we've been waiting for...

The imminent group meltdown of Fed-fans/Nadal detractors. Good to see you and GSM joining the party early.

I actually have a lot to boast about in this case, as the only person on the board to predict, among other things, the following:

1) Each of the Big 3 were capable of winning and likely to win Slams beyond 30.

2) That the talk of Broken_TwoFace aka B-Shitty about Nadal's decline in movement (and Federer's) was totally and completely premature and exaggerated.

3) That Federer would be Top 5 until 35.

4) That Nadal would not deterioriate as fast as everyone said because of how he moves around the court.

5) That the Big 3 would dominate the younger generation because of a talent differential, even with the Big 3 in their thirties.

I was right on all counts.

Also, I never joined the anti-Nadal chorus (which included many of his fans) in 2015 because I did not think for a second that he was done or that he had lost his game. I simply thought that he had lost some tight matches.

So I have nothing to be ashamed of except being so ridiculously right.

I also have always understood Nadal's success much better than you, btw, let alone Moxie.

 

[brokenshoelace]

I actually have a lot to boast about in this case, as the only person on the board to predict, among other things, the following:

1) Each of the Big 3 were capable of winning and likely to win Slams beyond 30.

2) That the talk of Broken_TwoFace aka B-Shitty about Nadal's decline in movement (and Federer's) was totally and completely premature and exaggerated.

3) That Federer would be Top 5 until 35.

4) That Nadal would not deterioriate as fast as everyone said because of how he moves around the court.

5) That the Big 3 would dominate the younger generation because of a talent differential, even with the Big 3 in their thirties.

I was right on all counts.

Also, I never joined the anti-Nadal chorus (which included many of his fans) in 2015 because I did not think for a second that he was done or that he had lost his game. I simply thought that he had lost some tight matches.

So I have nothing to be ashamed of except being so ridiculously right.

I also have always understood Nadal's success much better than you, btw, let alone Moxie.

It's just weird that Berrettini was not allowed to play tonight despite beating Nadal in straights like you predicted.

 

[calitennis127]

The short answer is yes. Got nothing to do with moral victories either. A first time finalist went 0-2 down to an 18 time GS champion, came back , tied it up at 2-2. Then went down 2 breaks in the final set and got one back and had the BP to get the other one back...but came up short. That's what I am applauding. And that's what the youngsters should be inspired by. Medvedev went out there to win today, just came up short.

Fair enough, but I think his play in the first set was terrible underachieving and the 5th set was a choke, no matter how you slice it. He had multiple breakpoints to go up 2 games to 0 and then he also got broken in a game where he was up 40-0.

It was a huge missed opportunity, period. Nadal was clearly weakened at the end of the 4th and start of the 5th. Medvedev could have taken it.

 

[Andy22]

Nadal going to Olympics gold medal as well next season.

 

[calitennis127]

It's just weird that Berrettini was not allowed to play tonight despite beating Nadal in straights like you predicted.

I actually predicted in 4, if B-Shitty insists on being the bland literalist he can't help being.

 

[the AntiPusher]

Front, GSM and DarthFed can just kiss the clay off my Ass. Look out Roger and #20 , I am coming!

 

[brokenshoelace]

I actually predicted in 4, if B-Shitty insists on being the bland literalist he can't help being.

Oh, you predicted 4 instead of 3? But he got his ass handed to him in straights. Sorry that makes your prediction only slightly less dumb. My bad.

 

[brokenshoelace]

Fair enough, but I think his play in the first set was terrible underachieving and the 5th set was a choke, no matter how you slice it. He had multiple breakpoints to go up 2 games to 0 and then he also got broken in a game where he was up 40-0.

It was a huge missed opportunity, period. Nadal was clearly weakened at the end of the 4th and start of the 5th. Medvedev could have taken it.

Does anyone remember how Nadal saved those break points? I honestly don't (it was a long match and it just ended), but missing out on BP's doesn't automatically mean you choked. So I'm interested in rewatching them to see if you're full of shit or not.

 

[brokenshoelace]

View attachment 2728

Front, GSM and DarthFed can just kiss the clay off my Ass. Look out Roger and #20 , I am coming!

Is everyone on this board a 12 year old kid all of a sudden? Jesus Christ.

 

[calitennis127]

Does anyone remember how Nadal saved those break points? I honestly don't (it was a long match and it just ended), but missing out on BP's doesn't automatically mean you choked. So I'm interested in rewatching them to see if you're full of shit or not.

He was too casual in how he handled them. But the game where he got broken after being up 40-0 absolutely was a choke. What else can you call that?

 

[Andy22]

Nadal been the best player of the season winning Roland Garros+ us open, as well making the final in Australia open, plus Wimbledon semis, definitely the man to beat in Asian.

 

[calitennis127]

Oh, you predicted 4 instead of 3? But he got his ass handed to him in straights. Sorry that makes your prediction only slightly less dumb. My bad.

I do believe Berretini would have won in 4 if he had won the first set tiebreak, which he was a single point from winning.

 

[brokenshoelace]

He was too casual in how he handled them. But the game where he got broken after being up 40-0 absolutely was a choke. What else can you call that?

Again I need to rewatch those break points because you legit make shit up sometimes or interpret it according to your bias.

However, there's no excuse to getting broken after being up 40-0. That however, doesn't mean it was a choke. My feeling watching that game was that he got way too loose and casual (came into the net twice very casually). To me that was a moment of inexperience, where despite the momentum being on his side, he gave Nadal of all people an opportunity to swing things the other way. So yes, that break of serve was bad, but I don't think it was related to nerves.

 

[brokenshoelace]

I do believe Berretini would have won in 4 if he had won the first set tiebreak, which he was a single point from winning.

You literally said Nadal would have still found a way to BS a win even if Berretini had won the first set in the other thread.

 

[calitennis127]

Maybe we can go back to that "perfect player" thread and revisit the conversation about Nadal's tennis IQ. If after tonight you guys still think he's not in a league of his own in that department, then you're really not paying attention.

No, I think you're still misunderstanding the reason for his success. Yes, Nadal makes adjustments, but what separates him is the urgency with which he approaches key points. He acts like his life depends on winning breakpoints and then he ratchets up the defense to absurd levels.

I actually agree with the spirit of what Cali said though: Medvedev should feel disappointed it took him so long to get going. Cause his level in the first two sets compared to the rest of the match is night and day.

In particular, he should be ashamed of what he was doing in the ad-court standing 25,000 feet behind the baseline. He gifted a solid 15-20 points away in the first 2 sets because of that. It was utterly preposterous, one of the dumbest things I have ever seen someone do in a Grand Slam final, if not the dumbest (and it's a shame because he is clearly an intelligent person and smart tactician). Medvedev should have taken the first set, especially considering he got an early break like he did.

 

[calitennis127]

You literally said Nadal would have still found a way to BS a win even if Berretini had won the first set in the other thread.

What I said and what you quoted was this: "Nadal may have found a way to come back and pick up another BS win, but it would have been much more difficult." (keyword MAY)

 

[calitennis127]

However, there's no excuse to getting broken after being up 40-0. That however, doesn't mean it was a choke. My feeling watching that game was that he got way too loose and casual (came into the net twice very casually). To me that was a moment of inexperience, where despite the momentum being on his side, he gave Nadal of all people an opportunity to swing things the other way. So yes, that break of serve was bad, but I don't think it was related to nerves.

I don't consider a choke to just be about nerves; it can also be a wasted opportunity when you had a chance to seize victory.