Carlos Moyà Chooses His Five Favourite Nadal Matches

In celebration of Rafael Nadal’s 1000 wins, Carlos Moyà, one of his coaches, chose five favourite matches from his pupil’s career for ATPTour.com.

2004 Davis Cup Final

He was 17 years old and yet to break into the world’s Top 50, but Nadal was unfazed by the responsibility handed to him by the captains of the Spanish team and he won their second point against the USA in the Estadio La Cartuja in Seville in front of over 24,000 spectators.

His youth and lack of experience at that time did little to get in the way of a hard-won victory over Andy Roddick, 6-7(6), 6-2, 7-6(6), 6-2, to make it 2-0 to Spain, putting them on the brink of the country’s second salad bowl after the one they claimed in 2000. 

Nadal’s win over Roddick, who was then No. 2 in the FedEx ATP Rankings, was something of an introduction to the world for a teenager who would end up making his mark on the history of world sport.

2005 Mutua Madrid Open Final

Nadal arrived in Madrid after an incredible season, with 10 titles up to that point, including his first three ATP Masters 1000s (Monte Carlo, Rome and Canada) and his first Grand Slam at Roland Garros. 

The Spaniard arrived at Casa de Campo to compete in a home event, on indoor hardcourt, and his performance was spectacular. Nadal reached the final without losing a set, defeating Victor Hanescu, Tommy Robredo, Radek Stepanek and Robby Ginepri. In the decider, the Spaniard met Ivan Ljubicic, No. 12 in the FedEx ATP Rankings.

Ljubicic dominated early in the final, winning the first two sets to leave himself just one short of the title. Then, with the fans in the stadium behind him, Nadal started a comeback that culminated in a 3-6, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(3) victory after three hours and 51 minutes of intense battle.

The Croat started the tie with a 16-match winning streak, with titles in Metz and Vienna before reaching his first ATP Masters 1000 final in Madrid. However, none of this was enough to prevent Nadal from coming back from 0-2 for the first time in his career and winning his first crown at home.

2008 Wimbledon Final

Believed by many to be the best match in history, it had everything you could ask of a Wimbledon final.

Nadal was thirsty to win having been defeated in his 2006 and 2007 clashes with the Swiss. He made an impeccable start, going 2-0 up to tip the balance of the match firmly in his favour.

Federer, of course, was not about to give in. The Swiss was not ready to end his streak of 5 consecutive titles and 65 unbeaten matches at Wimbledon without a fight. The World No. 1 took the third set in a tie-break, as he did in the fourth, where he saved two match points.

Two rain interruptions and the threat of play being suspended due to a lack of natural light completed the list of ingredients for a magical match that Nadal eventually claimed 6-4, 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-7(8), 9-7 in four hours and 48 minutes after Federer’s cross-court forehand hit the net, making the Spaniard the champion of Wimbledon for the first time in his career.

2009 Australian Open Semi-Finals

The score says it all; to reach the final of the 2009 Australian Open, Nadal required five hours and 14 minutes to beat Fernando Verdasco 6-7(4), 6-4, 7-6(2), 6-7(1), 6-4.

The thrilling tussle took place in the Rod Laver Arena at Melbourne Park, much to the delight of the stunned fans who attended the match.

For most of the tie, Verdasco pushed Nadal to the limit in a very aggressive match. The Madrid native took the first set of the semi-final. Nadal responded by taking the next two and Verdasco won the fourth to force a decider.

The fifth set, which Nadal claimed after a tremendous battle, was replete with spectacular points to round off an unforgettable match. 

2013 Roland Garros Semi-Finals

It was one of Nadal’s best matches at Roland Garros, something the man himself has acknowledged. To reach the final, the Spaniard beat Djokovic 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 6-7(3), 9-7 in a marathon that lasted four hours and 37 minutes.

Taking Nadal to a fifth set at Roland Garros is no mean feat. Before that season, only John Isner, in 2011, had done so, before eventually losing to the Spaniard. Djokovic would meet the same destiny in 2013. Despite taking it to a fifth set, the Serb finally fell to the eventual champion.

Nadal took the first set and after losing the second he also took the third. Then, Djokovic upped his game to take the fourth set in a tie-break, extending the tie even further.

The match was hanging in the balance, but Nadal eventually raised his arms in celebration of a win over one of his biggest rivals, taking him to another final in the most important tournament of his career.

from Tennis - ATP World Tour https://ift.tt/3eqA64k