RG 2022 against peak Djokovic and Peak Zverev

 

no way. Wim 2008 and AO 09 surely- against a prime verdasco/Fed on his non favoured surfaces.

 

It's probably the 2009 Australian Open. Making life difficult for himself against Verdasco of all players, going beyond 5 hours. Then beating Federer in another 5-set marathon in a match where Federer was the better player level-wise.

 

AO 2009. The semifinal and final alone were tougher than most of Slams he won in his career.

 

I honestly feel like all these threads should be merged into one. MTF and reactionary threads, NID.

I'd agree with AO2009, I think FO2011 also an interesting one. For some reason (maybe quicker balls) Nadal was never entirely comfortable that tournament, honestly Fed should have won that final too but he had the mental block and Rafa being Rafa at the FO, found a way. 2013 FO too for that semifinal alone.

 

I honestly feel like all these threads should be merged into one. MTF and reactionary threads, NID.

I 2nd this and petition a mod to combine threads into poll option

 

French Open 2022 gets overlooked. Nadal beat FAA, Djokovic, Zverev and Ruud. Nadal had some real trouble in that year's clay court season with his fitness.

 

I think it's Roland Garros 2013

09.06.		Nadal R. - Ferrer D.	F	6-3, 6-2, 6-3	1.11	6.96
07.06.		Nadal R. - Djokovic N.	SF	6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 63-7, 9-7	1.59	2.35
05.06.		Nadal R. - Wawrinka S.	QF	6-2, 6-3, 6-1	1.05	10.12
03.06.		Nadal R. - Nishikori K.	R16	6-4, 6-1, 6-3	1.04	11.94
01.06.		Nadal R. - Fognini F.	3R	7-65, 6-4, 6-4	1.01	18.89
31.05.		Nadal R. - Klizan M.	2R	4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3	1.01	29.57
27.05.		Nadal R. - Brands D.	1R	4-6, 7-64, 6-4, 6-3	1.01	35.96

Aside from Ferrer, it's as hard as it gets in terms of draw
Brands and Klizan played extremely good matches, btw, so did Fognini

 

I think it's Roland Garros 2013

09.06.		Nadal R. - Ferrer D.	F	6-3, 6-2, 6-3	1.11	6.96
07.06.		Nadal R. - Djokovic N.	SF	6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 63-7, 9-7	1.59	2.35
05.06.		Nadal R. - Wawrinka S.	QF	6-2, 6-3, 6-1	1.05	10.12
03.06.		Nadal R. - Nishikori K.	R16	6-4, 6-1, 6-3	1.04	11.94
01.06.		Nadal R. - Fognini F.	3R	7-65, 6-4, 6-4	1.01	18.89
31.05.		Nadal R. - Klizan M.	2R	4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3	1.01	29.57
27.05.		Nadal R. - Brands D.	1R	4-6, 7-64, 6-4, 6-3	1.01	35.96

Aside from Ferrer, it's as hard as it gets in terms of draw
Brands and Klizan played extremely good matches, btw, so did Fognini

Has anyone noticed that the score Nadal beat Wawrinka by in their Quarter Final here was the EXACT same scoreline when they met here in the final in 2017?

 

People forget that he was pretty much in control and dominating Djokovic in the RG13 semi then he inexplicably dropped his level and before we knew it Djokovic was 4-2 up in the fifth!

But anyway AO09 and RG22 were both extremely tough - that QF win over Novak was epic

 

Wimbledon 08

AO 22 but purely because he was old. He ain't gonna have a problem beating Medvedev if he was in his prime.

 

Wawrinka had an empty tank in the RG 2013 QF, had that epic vs Gasquet the previous round and was knackered. Otherwise would've been a tough match for Rafa.

Nadal also caught a break with Djoko's net touch at such an important moment in the 5th set of the semi that year.

AO 2009 was the toughest.

 

USO17

 

They were all the toughest.... grunting on our ears and giant bicep on our eyes... ugh

 

Sounds like somebody needs a hug..

 

AO 2022. Way past his prime and came back from 2 sets down with his career almost done. 2009 AO was awesome too but to be fair he was at his peak there. When you're at your peak you should be able to navigate through

 

AO 2022. Way past his prime and came back from 2 sets down with his career almost done.

Proof of the strong era.

 

AO2022 remains a source of inspiration to this day.

 

I mean, in 2005 Nadal barely had a serve and Mariano Puerta was one big ball of steroids. And that’s just the final.

 

'08 Wimbledon, '09 AO, '19 USO were no walk in the park either, but I suppose once we factor in his advanced tennis age in 2022 and the way he had to come from behind to win it, it becomes quite obvious that, at the '22 AO, Rafa had to fight off some pretty major demons just to get to championship point and actually cross the finish line.

 

2008 Wimbledon, interrupting the then-monster Fed's five-year (03-07) title-winning streak there.

 

You mean the slam that Nadal won because of Djokovic was kicked off the island? Well, I guess somebody had to win it!