2022 Australian Open Men’s Final: Rafael Nadal vs. Daniil Medvedev

[Kieran]

Can I ask Rafa fans,

Which was the hardest game to watch
AO Final against Medvedev
USO Final against Medvedev

I enjoyed the 2019 match more, I think because Rafa was always ahead, and because I felt that Daniil deserved it after his comeback. So I had it going both ways, because even at the start of the fifth, I felt that Rafa would find a way to win, even at break point down at 1-2, I think it was.
But at the same time, Daniil impressed so much, I kinda was ready to say well done, and welcome in the new.

But this time, Rafa getting to the final was such a bonus, and playing so well, I became very tense watching it. At the beginning of the third I was just praying for it to end quick, so I could get on with my life. But the last 3 sets? Too tense. I tried not to hope, but I couldn’t help it. Then Daniil broke back for 5-all and I was miserable. I was still miserable when Rafa immediately broke back. It was too much…

 

[Fiero425]

Can I ask Rafa fans,

Which was the hardest game to watch
AO Final against Medvedev
USO Final against Medvedev

The insecurity of Rafa fans is unbelievable! They absolutely hate that the Next Gen. like Sascha and Daniil have more respect for Nole and give him all due props for what he's doing while Nadal is limping around! Rafa did a great thing winning an AO after so many years of futility, but it's a joke when there's this animus about who's the GOAT when his record is so unbalanced in respect to surface! Spare me the BS from these people!

 

[Nadalfan2013]

Can I ask Rafa fans,

Which was the hardest game to watch
AO Final against Medvedev
USO Final against Medvedev

Neither. I knew that Nadal would win both.

 

[Kieran]

The insecurity of Rafa fans is unbelievable! They absolutely hate that the Next Gen. like Sascha and Daniil have more respect for Nole and give him all due props for what he's doing while Nadal is limping around! Rafa did a great thing winning an AO after so many years of futility, but it's a joke when there's this animus about who's the GOAT when his record is so unbalanced in respect to surface! Spare me the BS from these people!

That’s outta the blue, brother! But Novak has 12 out of 20 on hards, and Rafa has 13 out of 21 on clay. It’s not such a difference, really. Just be thankful they play two slams on hards, and not on clay…

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I enjoyed the 2019 match more, I think because Rafa was always ahead, and because I felt that Daniil deserved it after his comeback. So I had it going both ways, because even at the start of the fifth, I felt that Rafa would find a way to win, even at break point down at 1-2, I think it was.
But at the same time, Daniil impressed so much, I kinda was ready to say well done, and welcome in the new.

But this time, Rafa getting to the final was such a bonus, and playing so well, I became very tense watching it. At the beginning of the third I was just praying for it to end quick, so I could get on with my life. But the last 3 sets? Too tense. I tried not to hope, but I couldn’t help it. Then Daniil broke back for 5-all and I was miserable. I was still miserable when Rafa immediately broke back. It was too much…

I have to agree with you I did enjoy the 2019 more,though I really had the sh its with Rafa in way cause he should have won in straights sets,though credit to Medvedev pushing Rafa to 5 sets,though even in the 5th set,I felt Rafa still had a upper hand in the match.

 

[Fiero425]

Neither. I knew that Nadal would win both.

It appears Nadal is only bothered by one player! He aways thinks he has a chance against anyone else, but even Uncle Tony said, "we don't have a game plan of attack against Nole!" He's probably thinking "we're Novak's b!tch and there's just not a lot we can do about it outside of Paris and even that's collapsed!"

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

The insecurity of Rafa fans is unbelievable! They absolutely hate that the Next Gen. like Sascha and Daniil have more respect for Nole and give him all due props for what he's doing while Nadal is limping around! Rafa did a great thing winning an AO after so many years of futility, but it's a joke when there's this animus about who's the GOAT when his record is so unbalanced in respect to surface! Spare me the BS from these people!

Oh please save me the BS from head case Sasha.

 

[Fiero425]

That’s outta the blue, brother! But Novak has 12 out of 20 on hards, and Rafa has 13 out of 21 on clay. It’s not such a difference, really. Just be thankful they play two slams on hards, and not on clay…

You can't use that stat against Nole since there's only 1 Major on clay and 2 on HC! Try again babe!

 

[Kieran]

You can't use that stat against Nole since there's only 1 Major on clay and 2 on HC! Try again babe!

I just did use it, very effectively, I think. One thing we can agree on is that if there were 2 slams on clay, and only one slam on hards, Novak wouldn’t be in the discussion. Nobody else would. But 12/20 isn’t so different to 13/21 - except the 13 represents unprecedented success, the likes of which we’ll never see again…

 

[Nadalfan2013]

It appears Nadal is only bothered by one player! He aways thinks he has a chance against anyone else, but even Uncle Tony said, "we don't have a game plan of attack against Nole!" He's probably thinking "we're Novak's b!tch and there's just not a lot we can do about it outside of Paris and even that's collapsed!"

Bothered? Bro, Nadal leads 21-20 in slam titles and 10-7 in slam h2h against the bronze medalist.

 

[Fiero425]

I just did use it, very effectively, I think. One thing we can agree on is that if there were 2 slams on clay, and only one slam on hards, Novak wouldn’t be in the discussion. Nobody else would. But 12/20 isn’t so different to 13/21 - except the 13 represents unprecedented success, the likes of which we’ll never see again…

"If," "could be," "should be," ....WTF! The facts are the facts! Making up alternative scenarios isn't going to do Rafa fans any good! If we had 2 majors on clay, I think Nole would be making the appropriate changes to help him win! Have we been watching the same tennis seasons! Djokovic fk'n won 3 majors and was in the final of the 4th last year at 35! When has Rafa done that even in his prime? You think he still has a chance to do that if Nole's DQ'd off the tour over his stance with vaccines? Dream on babe! WTF?

 

[the AntiPusher]

Can I ask Rafa fans,

Which was the hardest game to watch
AO Final against Medvedev
USO Final against Medvedev

AO

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

AO

Why can I ask?

 

[Kieran]

"If," "could be," "should be," ....WTF! The facts are the facts! Making up alternative scenarios isn't going to do Rafa fans any good! If we had 2 majors on clay, I think Nole would be making the appropriate changes to help him win! Have we been watching the same tennis seasons! Djokovic fk'n won 3 majors and was in the final of the 4th last year at 35! When has Rafa done that even in his prime? You think he still has a chance to do that if Nole's DQ'd off the tour over his stance with vaccines? Dream on babe! WTF?

And yet, Rafa’s on 21, without doing that in his prime? And yes, I think Rafa would still have won if Novak had been allowed to lie and cheat his way in. The hostile crowd would have seen Novak off in the first week. In tears, most likely. But Rafa was playing so freely and so well, I think he’d have won regardless of who he faced…

 

[Fiero425]

Bothered? Bro, Nadal leads 21-20 in slam titles and 10-7 in slam h2h against the bronze medalist.

Honey, seek serious help! Your record keeping is incomplete! You forgot "weeks @ #1, YE #1's, YEC's, a Nole-Slam, and a Double CGS winning all Masters events at least twice!" Come on, you're smarter than that! Don't let fandom make you look incompetent and partial against facts and figures!

 

[Nadalfan2013]

Honey, seek serious help! Your record keeping is incomplete! You forgot "weeks @ #1, YE #1's, YEC's, a Nole-Slam, and a Double CGS winning all Masters events at least twice!" Come on, you're smarter than that! Don't let fandom make you look incompetent and partial against facts and figures!

Nadal winning 13 French Opens, 12 Barcelona, 11 Monte Carlo and 10 Rome will always be more spectacular than everything you mentioned! All of Djokovic's records will get broken one day but not those Nadal records! And he's not even finished, he will add more to those decima tallies!

Add to that things like the slam record, most longevity as a slam champion, winning the same slam 4 or 5 times in a row (Novak maximum 3), winning slams 4 times without losing a set (Novak ZERO), slam h2h 10-7 and 10-4 vs Federer and Djokovic, least losing records against the field, no losing records in slam finals to anyone (Novak losing records to both Nadal and Wawrinka), Olympics gold, more Davis Cup titles, Most consecutive weeks in top 10, most in Top 2, most consecutive years as a slam champion, most dominant on any surface, more career title than Novak, etc. etc. etc. All this despite all his injuries and missing so many opportunities during his prime. And it's not even close!

 

[Fiero425]

And yet, Rafa’s on 21, without doing that in his prime? And yes, I think Rafa would still have won if Novak had been allowed to lie and cheat his way in. The hostile crowd would have seen Novak off in the first week. In tears, most likely. But Rafa was playing so freely and so well, I think he’d have won regardless of who he faced…

Novaks been dealing with unruly crowds of A-Holes for as long as I can remember! They tried to push Federer over the finishing line at 2015 USO and 2019 Wimbledon and we know what happened! Roger was the one left in tears! Let's be realistic and attuned to the present instead of a fabricated one! Rafa got to 21 by way of a DQ; I don't care what you say! Novak owns AO like Rafa owns FO! The last time they played, Novak destroyed him in straight sets after Rafa was playing well in 2019, the commentators made note of his winning his serve over 60 times in a row! Novak burst that bubble of hope right away in the final!

 

[Fiero425]

Nadal winning 13 French Opens, 12 Barcelona, 11 Monte Carlo and 10 Rome will always be more spectacular than everything you mentioned! All of Djokovic's records will get broken one day but not those Nadal records! And he's not even finished, he will add more to those decima tallies!

Add to that things like the slam record, most longevity as a slam champion, winning the same slam 4 or 5 times in a row (Novak maximum 3), winning slams 4 times without losing a set (Novak ZERO), slam h2h 10-7 and 10-4 vs Federer and Djokovic, least losing records against the field, no losing records in slam finals to anyone (Novak losing records to both Nadal and Wawrinka), Olympics gold, more Davis Cup titles, Most consecutive weeks in top 10, most in Top 2, most consecutive years as a slam champion, most dominant on any surface, more career title than Novak, etc. etc. etc. All this despite all his injuries and missing so many opportunities during his prime. And it's not even close!

Very selective record keeping continues here! Seems like it's more what keeps Evert fans happy when compared to Navratilova! I guess you must have me! Whatever Chico!

 

[Kieran]

Novaks been dealing with unruly crowds of A-Holes for as long as I can remember! They tried to push Federer over the finishing line at 2015 USO and 2019 Wimbledon and we know what happened! Roger was the one left in tears! Let's be realistic and attuned to the present instead of a fabricated one! Rafa got to 21 by way of a DQ; I don't care what you say! Novak owns AO like Rafa owns FO! The last time they played, Novak destroyed him in straight sets after Rafa was playing well in 2019, the commentators made note of his winning his serve over 60 times in a row! Novak burst that bubble of hope right away in the final!

You’re in a mood, eh?

Look, Novak not being there doesn’t mean he’d have won if he was there. Rafa’s missed the last two US Opens and Novak hasn’t won them. Rafa has won 4 of the last 8 US Opens he’s played, and has had to skip it five times since he first won it. Imagine if we all thought like you. Imagine how many slams Rafa would have - using your logic - if he hadn’t been injured.

And being injured is no joke. But missing a slam because he was caught trying to break the law - after already breaking the law in Serbia? Seriously, you still admire this bloke?

 

[Fiero425]

You’re in a mood, eh?

Look, Novak not being there doesn’t mean he’d have won if he was there. Rafa’s missed the last two US Opens and Novak hasn’t won them. Rafa has won 4 of the last 8 US Opens he’s played, and has had to skip it five times since he first won it. Imagine if we all thought like you. Imagine how many slams Rafa would have - using your logic - if he hadn’t been injured.

And being injured is no joke. But missing a slam because he was caught trying to break the law - after already breaking the law in Serbia? Seriously, you still admire this bloke?

Yep, in a real state here! I'm not even a fan of the way Djokovic plays! Like Lendl back in the day, I appreciated him taking the wind out of the sails of 2 A-hole fan faves in Connors and McEnroe! Djokovic is doing me the same favor of limiting the adulation & sycophantic appreciation of Fedal! He will make their names insignificant after all's said and done IMO! The tennis Intelligentsia will look more and more foolish as Nole tops their numbers and more!