Matches you recommend watching in the absence of live tennis

[Bonaca]

Federer v Nadal - Wimbledon 2019.



Never gets mentioned much. I thought to take the opportunity!

I mentioned it in an answer to Jelenafan.
Was only a side sentence, the match deserves more than that .
Thank you!

I enjoyed the rewatch very much.

 

[tented]

This one hurts, but I think of it as the beginning of Djokovic’s HC dominance over Rafa, even though technically it was after the IW final.

 

[tented]

One of their best matches.

 

[tented]

One of Novak’s best:

 

[tented]

 

[tented]

Rafa‘s biggest test at RG.

 

[tented]

I’ve always found this match-up on HC interesting:

 

[Bonaca]

Rafa‘s biggest test at RG.

This one hurts badly.
Even today I want to slap him for touching the net and loose the focus and momentum.
Was a hell of a match!

 

[Nadalfan2013]

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I was in hospital when that match was on,I had my computer with me and watched the match on a very bad stream,still enjoyed the final outcome.

 

[Moxie]

Haha, so truth. Nadal beat him in big moments, long ago, and vice versa, not so long ago.
Some here say Novak’s BH is the Kryptonite to Nadal, I think it’s far more than that. It’s the complete player who owns him in the last years, not only one shot.
You know my wishes, I published them many times here, hooooooooopefully they will play many many times against each other, on EVERY surface. Then we will see wich end of the story the future will bring. I’m pretty sure most of you Novak haters (I still hope you are not), hope they do not meet that often.
To call Novak mentally more fragile is a joke, isn’t it? Look at Bulls face and body language when playing his nemesis.

I'm not at all kidding that Novak has demonstrated mental fragility a lot of his career, and even in these later, more dominating stages. Sure, he is in Rafa's head and sometimes it shows, but Nole is really the only one. Djokovic lets lots of things get to him, and sometimes it costs him...a call he doesn't like and hangs on to, the crowds, sometimes nothing anyone can even tell. (You weren't around when Djokovic fans used to speak of getting on the "Nole-coaster" - play on rollercoaster - because he would go walkabout for a set for seemingly no reason.) He's DF's on championship point in 3 finals just via Nadal. There are reasons for that, and you can't blame the crowd. He went on a 2-year wander in the wilderness, and basically no one believes that was mainly about injuries. He basically tanked the 3rd set in a match v. Thiem at RG in 2017, saying that he knew the match was over after the first set. Where's the mental toughness there?

When it's all working for him, he can be (or seem) very tough. He has an amazing game. But when things go against him, he can be pretty petulant, and sometimes to his own detriment. I don't consider myself a "hater" of any kind, and I admire Novak's game, but I can't pretend to like him.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I'm not at all kidding that Novak has demonstrated mental fragility a lot of his career, and even in these later, more dominating stages. Sure, he is in Rafa's head and sometimes it shows, but Nole is really the only one. Djokovic lets lots of things get to him, and sometimes it costs him...a call he doesn't like and hangs on to, the crowds, sometimes nothing anyone can even tell. (You weren't around when Djokovic fans used to speak of getting on the "Nole-coaster" - play on rollercoaster - because he would go walkabout for a set for seemingly no reason.) He's DF's on championship point in 3 finals just via Nadal. There are reasons for that, and you can't blame the crowd. He went on a 2-year wander in the wilderness, and basically no one believes that was mainly about injuries. He basically tanked the 3rd set in a match v. Thiem at RG in 2017, saying that he knew the match was over after the first set. Where's the mental toughness there?

When it's all working for him, he can be (or seem) very tough. He has an amazing game. But when things go against him, he can be pretty petulant, and sometimes to his own detriment. I don't consider myself a "hater" of any kind, and I admire Novak's game, but I can't pretend to like him.

After Rafa,Novak is my second favorite player Moxie,don't shoot me okay lol! of course if they are playing one another it is Rafa all the way.I feel Novak's parents became the 'tennis parents from hell' when their son made his first GS final against Joe at the AO final in 2008.My husband and I were there that year and sat 3 rows back from his parents who had Nole shirts on,we were surrounded by French fans,well Novak's father got up and told the security people to remove them? I kidd you not and walked out of the Arena in a huff,to add further salt to the wounds,his mother declared after her son won his first GS title' 'The King is Dead' referring to Roger Federer,well that went down like a lead balloon,my girl friend in Brisbane a Federer fan hates Novak to this very day,she cannot move on.We all know the famous incident in Monte Carlo when Roger told Novak's mother to Be Quiet lol! also a incident at RG 2008,when his father was escorted from the stand when his son was playing.Thank goodness,there are other incidents,thank goodness they saw the light and do not have loose lips.I know he can be a Drama King and there are other incidents over the years,that does not take away what a Champion player he is today.I met his coach in Rome in 2013,he said to me thank you for sticking with Novak,I also bumped into his coach a week later in Paris and told him I was not stalking him lol,he laughed,such a great man.I have seen his acts of kindness first hand,in Rome there is a area when the players walked down and fans can get autographs,I was standing next to a little boy with glasses on,Novak came walking down and people started pushing to get to the front,the little boy was pushed to the ground,his glasses went flying,Novak quickly ran to the little boy,picked him up,got his glasses and waited for his parents to arrive.
I can understand if you do not like him,I am not trying to change your mind,I just thought I would tell you my story regarding Novak.

 

[Moxie]

After Rafa,Novak is my second favorite player Moxie,don't shoot me okay lol! of course if they are playing one another it is Rafa all the way.I feel Novak's parents became the 'tennis parents from hell' when their son made his first GS final against Joe at the AO final in 2008.My husband and I were there that year and sat 3 rows back from his parents who had Nole shirts on,we were surrounded by French fans,well Novak's father got up and told the security people to remove them? I kidd you not and walked out of the Arena in a huff,to add further salt to the wounds,his mother declared after her son won his first GS title' 'The King is Dead' referring to Roger Federer,well that went down like a lead balloon,my girl friend in Brisbane a Federer fan hates Novak to this very day,she cannot move on.We all know the famous incident in Monte Carlo when Roger told Novak's mother to Be Quiet lol! also a incident at RG 2008,when his father was escorted from the stand when his son was playing.Thank goodness,there are other incidents,thank goodness they saw the light and do not have loose lips.I know he can be a Drama King and there are other incidents over the years,that does not take away what a Champion player he is today.I met his coach in Rome in 2013,he said to me thank you for sticking with Novak,I also bumped into his coach a week later in Paris and told him I was not stalking him lol,he laughed,such a great man.I have seen his acts of kindness first hand,in Rome there is a area when the players walked down and fans can get autographs,I was standing next to a little boy with glasses on,Novak came walking down and people started pushing to get to the front,the little boy was pushed to the ground,his glasses went flying,Novak quickly ran to the little boy,picked him up,got his glasses and waited for his parents to arrive.
I can understand if you do not like him,I am not trying to change your mind,I just thought I would tell you my story regarding Novak.

Thanks for sharing your personal experiences. I'm sure he's basically a nice person.

 

[Bonaca]

I'm not at all kidding that Novak has demonstrated mental fragility a lot of his career, and even in these later, more dominating stages. Sure, he is in Rafa's head and sometimes it shows, but Nole is really the only one. Djokovic lets lots of things get to him, and sometimes it costs him...a call he doesn't like and hangs on to, the crowds, sometimes nothing anyone can even tell. (You weren't around when Djokovic fans used to speak of getting on the "Nole-coaster" - play on rollercoaster - because he would go walkabout for a set for seemingly no reason.) He's DF's on championship point in 3 finals just via Nadal. There are reasons for that, and you can't blame the crowd. He went on a 2-year wander in the wilderness, and basically no one believes that was mainly about injuries. He basically tanked the 3rd set in a match v. Thiem at RG in 2017, saying that he knew the match was over after the first set. Where's the mental toughness there?

When it's all working for him, he can be (or seem) very tough. He has an amazing game. But when things go against him, he can be pretty petulant, and sometimes to his own detriment. I don't consider myself a "hater" of any kind, and I admire Novak's game, but I can't pretend to like him.

Absolutely right Moxie.
I thought we are talking about the mental stuff between Nadal and Novak, in this case I see Novak in front.
It is the same for me, I take my hat of for what Nadal achieved and how he did, but I cannot like him for ***** sake!

 

[Moxie]

Absolutely right Moxie.
I thought we are talking about the mental stuff between Nadal and Novak, in this case I see Novak in front.
It is the same for me, I take my hat of for what Nadal achieved and how he did, but I cannot like him for ***** sake!

So we're on the same page: all admiration, but no love lost for the other.

I know you think that Novak has the mental edge on Nadal, in the match-up, and I think that's true. But they get older, they get shakier, and I think Nadal's sturdiness can serve him in the longer run. In 2013, Nadal outplayed Djokovic at RG and the USO, but those were both nervy affairs, and Novak had his chances. Rafa has ridden out some rough patches to prevail against Nole, and he will again. He's the less-likely to wilt when things get tough.

 

[Bonaca]

So we're on the same page: all admiration, but no love lost for the other.

I know you think that Novak has the mental edge on Nadal, in the match-up, and I think that's true. But they get older, they get shakier, and I think Nadal's sturdiness can serve him in the longer run. In 2013, Nadal outplayed Djokovic at RG and the USO, but those were both nervy affairs, and Novak had his chances. Rafa has ridden out some rough patches to prevail against Nole, and he will again. He's the less-likely to wilt when things get tough.

Your first sentence fits perfectly.

I hope you are wrong For the other stuff, especially your forecast.

 

[Moxie]

Your first sentence fits perfectly.

I hope you are wrong For the other stuff, especially your forecast.

My forecasts are not worth the virtual paper they aren't written on. But as many tennis players and commentators have said: "One player to play if your life were on the line? Nadal." Even you call him The Bull. So we shall see. Hopefully. Someday. When they ever play tennis again.

 

[Bonaca]

My forecasts are not worth the virtual paper they aren't written on. But as many tennis players and commentators have said: "One player to play if your life were on the line? Nadal." Even you call him The Bull. So we shall see. Hopefully. Someday. When they ever play tennis again.

Absolutely , I would put my life in Nadals hands, except he is playing novak .

All the best to you and yours, USA and especially NY go through a rough time.

 

[Moxie]

Absolutely , I would put my life in Nadals hands, except he is playing novak .

All the best to you and yours, USA and especially NY go through a rough time.

Thank you, my friend. Same to you and yours.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Another clay court match a q/final Monte Carlo 2005 first meeting between Richard Gasquet and Roger Federer
The battle of the one-handed backhands., with Gasquet winning a tight battle 67 62 76,many people predicated great things for Gasquet after this win against Federer.....Gasquet was a child prodigy and really never reached his potential.Federer still holds a healthy h2h over Gasquet 18-2.