I think there are 3 different 1-year time period which are potential to be the best Nadal ever played, obviously these are the most successful periods for the Spanish tennis player:
From the 2008 clay season until the 2009 Miami Masters tournament:
-10 titles overall: 3 Grand Slams (Australian Open, Roland Garros and Wimbledon), 4 Masters (Monte-Carlo, Hamburg, Rogers Cup, Indian Wells), Summer Olympics Beijing, Barcelona ATP 500, Aegon Championship ATP 250. By surface: HC-4 titles Clay-4 titles Grass-2 titles.
-ATP Number 1 after winning Wimbledon 2008
-Defeating Roger Federer for each of his GS win, 5 setters at AO and W.
-SF at US Open, didn't play WTF
The 2010 Season
-7 titles overall: 3 Grand Slams (Roland Garros, Wimbledon and US Open), 3 Masters (Monte-Carlo, Madrid, Rome), Tokyo ATP 500. By surface: HC-2 titles Clay-4 titles Grass-1 title
-ATP Number 1 after winning RG 2010
-Defeating Robin Soderling, Tomas Berdych and Novak Djokovic in GS finals.
-SF at AO, F at WTF
From Chile Open 2013 until Australian Open 2014:
-11 titles overall: 2 Grand Slams (Roland Garros, US Open), 5 Masters (Indian Wells, Rome, Madrid, Rogers Cup, Cincinnati), Acapulco ATP 500, Barcelona ATP 500, Brasil Open ATP 250, Doha ATP 250. HC-5 titles Clay-6 titles
-ATP Number 1 after winning US Open
-Defeating David Ferrer and Novak Djokovic in his GS finals.
-F at AO, 1R at W and F at WTF
It is clear from this that the 2010 season was not that great for Rafael Nadal, winning only 7 titles I wouldn't choose that period for his best form. I added the 2013 period because that was the most successful period for him in number of titles, but only 7 of his titles were Masters or GSs. In the first period this number is also 7 but we should add the olympics there also so it is 8 titles from spring 2008- spring 2009.
For me:
Best period is 2008 obviously best HC-clay-grass tennis
2013 HC tops 2010 HC and vica cersa on clay so those two seasons are pretty close only because of winning Wimbledon i give the edge to 2010.
1. Clay season 2008 - Miami Masters 2009
2. 2010 season
3. 2013 season plus 2014 AO.
From the 2008 clay season until the 2009 Miami Masters tournament:
-10 titles overall: 3 Grand Slams (Australian Open, Roland Garros and Wimbledon), 4 Masters (Monte-Carlo, Hamburg, Rogers Cup, Indian Wells), Summer Olympics Beijing, Barcelona ATP 500, Aegon Championship ATP 250. By surface: HC-4 titles Clay-4 titles Grass-2 titles.
-ATP Number 1 after winning Wimbledon 2008
-Defeating Roger Federer for each of his GS win, 5 setters at AO and W.
-SF at US Open, didn't play WTF
The 2010 Season
-7 titles overall: 3 Grand Slams (Roland Garros, Wimbledon and US Open), 3 Masters (Monte-Carlo, Madrid, Rome), Tokyo ATP 500. By surface: HC-2 titles Clay-4 titles Grass-1 title
-ATP Number 1 after winning RG 2010
-Defeating Robin Soderling, Tomas Berdych and Novak Djokovic in GS finals.
-SF at AO, F at WTF
From Chile Open 2013 until Australian Open 2014:
-11 titles overall: 2 Grand Slams (Roland Garros, US Open), 5 Masters (Indian Wells, Rome, Madrid, Rogers Cup, Cincinnati), Acapulco ATP 500, Barcelona ATP 500, Brasil Open ATP 250, Doha ATP 250. HC-5 titles Clay-6 titles
-ATP Number 1 after winning US Open
-Defeating David Ferrer and Novak Djokovic in his GS finals.
-F at AO, 1R at W and F at WTF
It is clear from this that the 2010 season was not that great for Rafael Nadal, winning only 7 titles I wouldn't choose that period for his best form. I added the 2013 period because that was the most successful period for him in number of titles, but only 7 of his titles were Masters or GSs. In the first period this number is also 7 but we should add the olympics there also so it is 8 titles from spring 2008- spring 2009.
For me:
Best period is 2008 obviously best HC-clay-grass tennis
2013 HC tops 2010 HC and vica cersa on clay so those two seasons are pretty close only because of winning Wimbledon i give the edge to 2010.
1. Clay season 2008 - Miami Masters 2009
2. 2010 season
3. 2013 season plus 2014 AO.