Nadal v. Coria Rome 2005

[Moxie]

This, IMO, was the last battle between two great clay-courters in our time.

[video=youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkOhsBWDQHY[/video]

 

[Rose]

That is a great video I remember Rafa's pants used to drive me crazy and then when he stopped wearing those long pants I missed them! It was a shame that an injury ended Coria's career so early.

 

[Moxie]

I don't think it was injury that ended Coria's career, or not solely. He developed a case of the yips on his serve that he really didn't recover from, and had personal distractions, as well. I know everything can't be put down to the loss at the FO to Gaudio, but it's hard not to put some of it there. He went from a favorite in a Major final (RG 2004) to nearly irrelevant two years later. I think this match was his last great gasp.

 

[Rose]

I don't think it was injury that ended Coria's career, or not solely. He developed a case of the yips on his serve that he really didn't recover from, and had personal distractions, as well. I know everything can't be put down to the loss at the FO to Gaudio, but it's hard not to put some of it there. He went from a favorite in a Major final (RG 2004) to nearly irrelevant two years later. I think this match was his last great gasp.

I believe his problems started with the shoulder surgery, but you are right there were also personal distractions. Still it was bad he had to quit so young. I can't believe he is 32 now!

 

[the AntiPusher]

Really the best clay courters of all time, IMO..I think Rafa took it to the next level as how to not only be dominant on clay but make it the transition to the other surfaces(grass, hard and the slo-hard courts)

 

[Rose]

Really the best clay courters of all time, IMO..I think Rafa took it to the next level as how to not only be dominant on clay but make it the transition to the other surfaces(grass, hard and the slo-hard courts)

Of course with Rafa not being content to just be The King of Clay his body has really paid the price for it!

 

[JesuslookslikeBorg]

everyone was looking forward to plenty more clay duels with those two at the time,

but future reality deviated from the anticipated script. *huff*

 

[the AntiPusher]

everyone was looking forward to plenty more clay duels with those two at the time,

but future reality deviated from the anticipated script. *huff*

It's interesting how Rafael's game has progressed and evolved. The inside in fh, the cc bh, dtl bh and the touch volleying soft hands at the net are all items he has added to his arsenal of shot making repatriate. Too bad Coria career when downwards so swiftly.

 

[Tennis Miller]

everyone was looking forward to plenty more clay duels with those two at the time,

but future reality deviated from the anticipated script. *huff*

It's interesting how Rafael's game has progressed and evolved. The inside in fh, the cc bh, dtl bh and the touch volleying soft hands at the net are all items he has added to his arsenal of shot making repatriate. Too bad Coria career when downwards so swiftly.

The game point that Rafa saved to avoid going down 4-0 in the 5th is amazing.

You watch how good he was and wonder how was this guy not number 1?

By the way, the next year's Rome final vs Federer, with Rafa a year older and even better, was pretty extraordinary as well.

Cheers
TM

 

[Rose]

everyone was looking forward to plenty more clay duels with those two at the time,

but future reality deviated from the anticipated script. *huff*

It's interesting how Rafael's game has progressed and evolved. The inside in fh, the cc bh, dtl bh and the touch volleying soft hands at the net are all items he has added to his arsenal of shot making repatriate. Too bad Coria career when downwards so swiftly.

I really miss Coria still!

 

[Moxie]

everyone was looking forward to plenty more clay duels with those two at the time,

but future reality deviated from the anticipated script. *huff*

It's interesting how Rafael's game has progressed and evolved. The inside in fh, the cc bh, dtl bh and the touch volleying soft hands at the net are all items he has added to his arsenal of shot making repatriate. Too bad Coria career when downwards so swiftly.

The game point that Rafa saved to avoid going down 4-0 in the 5th is amazing.

You watch how good he was and wonder how was this guy not number 1?

By the way, the next year's Rome final vs Federer, with Rafa a year older and even better, was pretty extraordinary as well.

Cheers
TM

Well, he eventually was #1. At this point he was only 18. By popular demand, I'll put up the 2006 Rome final. Rather than highlights, I'll put up the whole thing. It's long, but you can skim. But otherwise, what's the point?

[video=youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUma7TL_RDk[/video]

 

[Rose]

Thanks Moxie

 

[the AntiPusher]

everyone was looking forward to plenty more clay duels with those two at the time,

but future reality deviated from the anticipated script. *huff*

It's interesting how Rafael's game has progressed and evolved. The inside in fh, the cc bh, dtl bh and the touch volleying soft hands at the net are all items he has added to his arsenal of shot making repatriate. Too bad Coria career when downwards so swiftly.

The game point that Rafa saved to avoid going down 4-0 in the 5th is amazing.

You watch how good he was and wonder how was this guy not number 1?

By the way, the next year's Rome final vs Federer, with Rafa a year older and even better, was pretty extraordinary as well.

Cheers
TM

TM.. I think that its fair to say that Rafa is the last and greatest "super" teenager of all time.

 

[the AntiPusher]

everyone was looking forward to plenty more clay duels with those two at the time,

but future reality deviated from the anticipated script. *huff*

It's interesting how Rafael's game has progressed and evolved. The inside in fh, the cc bh, dtl bh and the touch volleying soft hands at the net are all items he has added to his arsenal of shot making repatriate. Too bad Coria career when downwards so swiftly.

The game point that Rafa saved to avoid going down 4-0 in the 5th is amazing.

You watch how good he was and wonder how was this guy not number 1?

By the way, the next year's Rome final vs Federer, with Rafa a year older and even better, was pretty extraordinary as well.

Cheers
TM

Well, he eventually was #1. At this point he was only 18. By popular demand, I'll put up the 2006 Rome final. Rather than highlights, I'll put up the whole thing. It's long, but you can skim. But otherwise, what's the point?

[video=youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUma7TL_RDk[/video]

Thanks Moxie.. Who would have ever thought that that 18 year old's tennis game would have matured to this level

 

[Rose]

It is really hard to believe how Rafa's career took off. Players these days seem to be in their 20's before they start making any real progress in the rankings.

 

[Ricardo]

This, IMO, was the last battle between two great clay-courters in our time.

[video=youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkOhsBWDQHY[/video]

really? how is it that Fed and Djoker are not great clay courters? Fed is 3-0 against Coria and 2 of those wins were on clay. I bet Djoker would match up against all those great clay courters of any era. I think it's fair to say the Nadal, Federer and Djoker era is as strong as any era on clay - they compare to Borg, Lendl, Wilander no problem, and would compare favourably to the 90s (Courier, Bruguera, Muster).

 

[Moxie]

This, IMO, was the last battle between two great clay-courters in our time.

really? how is it that Fed and Djoker are not great clay courters? Fed is 3-0 against Coria and 2 of those wins were on clay. I bet Djoker would match up against all those great clay courters of any era. I think it's fair to say the Nadal, Federer and Djoker era is as strong as any era on clay - they compare to Borg, Lendl, Wilander no problem, and would compare favourably to the 90s (Courier, Bruguera, Muster).

I take your point about Djokovic and Federer, but I think of them as great all-surface players. Coria was the best clay-courter at this moment, just before Nadal usurped him, and the last great clay-courter before Nadal. I say it also because, at this point in time, almost no one could pass Nadal, and Coria could.

 

[Ricardo]

This, IMO, was the last battle between two great clay-courters in our time.

really? how is it that Fed and Djoker are not great clay courters? Fed is 3-0 against Coria and 2 of those wins were on clay. I bet Djoker would match up against all those great clay courters of any era. I think it's fair to say the Nadal, Federer and Djoker era is as strong as any era on clay - they compare to Borg, Lendl, Wilander no problem, and would compare favourably to the 90s (Courier, Bruguera, Muster).

I take your point about Djokovic and Federer, but I think of them as great all-surface players. Coria was the best clay-courter at this moment, just before Nadal usurped him, and the last great clay-courter before Nadal. I say it also because, at this point in time, almost no one could pass Nadal, and Coria could.

your definition is wrong, as Nadal would also have to be seen as a great all surface player. If you are going by their fav surface and define as such, yes Nadal would be a clay courter but then Fed would be a grass courter and Djoker would be a slow-hard courter..... see the contradiction?

otherwise they would all be all surface players. logic Moxie

btw Fed had a comfortable lead against Coria on clay and were same age, so 'last battle of two great clay courters of our time' is quite off - it should be between Djoker and Nadal, or Fedal at that point in time. But surely Coria would be imo the best clay courter never to have won RG, along with Djoker.