Rafael Nadal has been the face of World Tennis alongside Roger Federer for quite a long time. Rafael Nadal was an unstoppable machine in the early 2010s. Be it red turf or green turf, Rafael Nadal was dominating every game. His passion and love for the game are unmatched. Rafael Nadal is one of the greatest ever sportspeople to take the field. His dedication and work ethic are inspirations for others. Here is a look at the top 5 matches that Rafael Nadal has ever been a part of: –
Rafael Nadal VS Novak Djokovic Madrid 2009 Semi-Final: –
A game that lasts for approximately 4 hours, featuring two athletes of the big four in tennis is bound to be mentioned on the list. Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic’s rivalry was one of the best in 2009. This match was the 4th of the season and it was played in the red clay of the Madrid Open. The Spaniard had everything to win. He was playing in his home ground. The crowd also backed Rafael Nadal to win the game. But Djokovic began the game with other intentions.
Djokovic dominated the first round completely. He busted Rafael Nadal 6 to 3 sets. In the next round too, Djokovic was pressing the accelerator until Rafa came back. He pulled the second set back 7 to 6 and went on to seal the game by another 7-6 victory in the last round. This game is etched in the minds of tennis fans.
Rafael Nadal VS Roger Federer Rome 2006 Finals: –
Nadal and Federer have always been the biggest prospects in the game of tennis. And a contest featuring the two is always that fans await the most. The passion and determination that they share for the game are supreme. Back down memory lane in 2006, the tennis world witnessed one of the best contests between the GOATS. It was the 2006 Italian Open Final. The German and Spaniards had won their way through the qualification rounds. Nadal came back from 4-2 to win two sets and seal the game.
The game lasted for 5 hours and tired both the opponents. The final score was 6-7,7-6, 6-4,2-6,7-6. This amazing match is one to cherish. The backhands and the aces in this game are very visible in full glory. A 19-year-old Rafael Nadal was announced the winner of this slam. This was the initial stage of Rafael Nadal’s career and he made a mark with this victory. The world of tennis realized that a champion is born.
Rafael Nadal VS Andy Murray London 2010 ATP World Tour Finals: –
Another game featuring 2 of the big 4 in the tennis world is here on the list. This time it was the British Giant, Murray who Rafael Nadal was facing. The two legends faced each other in the 2010 ATP Tour World Finals at the banks of the Thames River. A contest that lasted for 3 hours and 11 minutes was worth watching. The contest wasn’t very long but it was an edge-of-the-seat thriller. The game began with Rafael Nadal winning the first round 7-6. Andy made sure that Rafael Nadal struggled to get every point. Andy Murray was answering every clean serve done by Rafael Nadal.
The second set saw Andy Murray ruthlessly come back in the game. He beat the Spaniard by 6-3 sets. He was aggressive and smooth with his footwork. His shots were precise, quick, and well-placed. The last set saw Rafael Nadal take the game away by a 7-6 sets margin. The tiebreaker of the game lasted for 2 rounds. The rallies seen in this game were amazing.
Rafael Nadal VS Fernando Verdasco Australia 2009 Semi-Finals: –
This is the first name on the list which is out of the Big 4 in tennis. Fernando Verdasco a fellow Spaniard spoilt his party in this match. This is also called Fernando Verdasco’s best personal performance of all time. Rafael Nadal and Verdasco made this match the longest game in the history of the Australian Open. After this victory, Nadal went on to play Roger Federer in another exciting match in the final of this Grand Slam. The match on the blue rubber turf lasted for 5 hours and 11 minutes.
At the end of the game, the scoreline read 6-7, 6-4, 7-6, 6-7, 6-4. The entire match involved 7 tiebreakers to decide the winners of the set. This is one of the best games that Rafa has ever been a part of. At the end of this game, both athletes were exhausted as ever.
Rafael Nadal VS Roger Federer Wimbledon 2008 Finals: –
This match is certainly the greatest in tennis history. It is a cult classic. This match features the greatest tennis players and their best-ever performances. Every tennis fan is bound to cherish this game. Nadal won the game 6-4, 6-4, 6-7, 6-7, 9-7. It seemed like a no holds barred game that every fan awaited. The match lasted 4 hours and 48 minutes. This is the second-longest match in the history of the tournament.
The exhaustion did not take over the athletes because of the breaks in between due to rains. But the bad weather couldn’t stop the greatest players from taking this contest very deep. It was the greatest match for Rafael Nadal.
