Best match since AO 2009?

A couple of poor Federer v Nadal matches at IW and Rome have prompted some discussion on the state and pre-eminence of that rivalry.

What is not disputed is that this pairing has produced some of the best matches ever.

I would suggest that the last undisputed classic was AO2009.

So, taking that as an arbitrary starting point, what is the best match you've seen since that final?

The finest individual performance I've seen is Federer against Nadal at WTF 2011. That's as close as I've seen to tennis perfection in that period.

Best match overall is tough. I loved Novak v Rafa at USO11. That was powerful baseline tennis at it's best before it all went a bit far at AO12.

I also thought that for drama, guts and quality, Federer v Del Potro at RG09 was a classic.

But my favourite has to be Novak v Fed at USO11. The fact that I don't think the players produced their best at the same time is a mark against it but for pure, gut-wrenching drama, I don't think it can be topped.

So, what say you? What's the best match since AO 2009?

Nadal vs Djokovic USO10, the last three sets were remarkable. Nadal vs Murray YEC 2010, probably the first time Murray really started to believe. Tsonga vs Djokovic RG 2012. How Djoker escaped that I have no idea. Ferrer vs Tipsarovic USO 2012, really good clean hitting. Nadal vs Djokovic Madrid 2009. Tsonga vs Federer wimbledon 2011.

French Open semi final 2011.
Loved every minute of it. The standard of tennis was just magical.
Novak on a ridiculous streak against the former champ who most had dismissed as competition (remember that finger wag).

For me this is one of the exceptions where the best match wasn't a 5 setter.

Great suggestion on Rafa v Andy WTF 2010, I'd forgotten that one.

At the time, I thought Novak blew the RG11 match v Federer. Watching it subsequently in a more sanguine frame of mind, it was a fantastic match. Novak was excellent, but Fed was even better.

If you mean the best rafa-roger match since 2009, well RG 2011 I guess but yeah Rafas started to really pull away from Roger a bit now, no real classics since that one.

The best match... itll have to be either of the Novak-Roger semi finals at the us open, either 2010 or 2011. 2011 was maybe more dramatic, after Fed's finger wag, Novak then inflicted a pretty heart wrenching comeback on Roger

Good article.

French Open 2011 was probably one of my all time favourite matches. Was bittersweet for me as I knew Rafa was waiting for him in the final so I could never fully enjoy it, but that took away some nerves as I wouldn't have been devastated had Roger lost so I could almost appreciate it more.

US Open 2011 the rallies were out of this world, I didn't find the Aus Open match nearly as good until the 4th set.

Might be a surprise but I really enjoyed the 2009 SF at Roland Garros between Federer and Del Potro, makes my top 5 for sure

HM Murdoch wrote:The finest individual performance I've seen is Federer against Nadal at WTF 2011. That's as close as I've seen to tennis perfection in that period.

Best match overall is tough. I loved Novak v Rafa at USO11. That was powerful baseline tennis at it's best before it all went a bit far at AO12.

I also thought that for drama, guts and quality, Federer v Del Potro at RG09 was a classic.

But my favourite has to be Novak v Fed at USO11. The fact that I don't think the players produced their best at the same time is a mark against it but for pure, gut-wrenching drama, I don't think it can be topped.

I agree with everything you've said here, though I'd have to add my personal vote of Roland Garros 2011, both the SF and final. The final wasn't that close in the end, but the quality was excellent and perhaps the only time where Federer's had a clay final truly on his racquet against Nadal. SF was arguably the best ball-striking I've ever seen from two players in the same match, I think we saw two players at their peak on that day. Certainly the best I've seen Federer play recently aside from that WTF mauling of Nadal - which was a worse beatdown, according to the scoreline, than their Rome match at the weekend. Food for thought.

US'09 final was phenomenal, as was the US'11 final. AO'12 SF, both of them superior to the final in my eyes. For drama I enjoyed the Murray-Novak match more, but thought the rallies were brilliant in the Nadal match. Madrid 2009 (?) SF between Novak and Rafa, the best 3-setter I've seen other than Simon-Nadal at Madrid in '08 (if you haven't seen that one, check it out).

The best tournament performances have been Novak's 2011 AO, and Rafa's 2010 US Open. In my mind, both in the same league as Federer's ridiculous 2007 AO. Fantastic thread, HM

Silver, nice one.

I think I'm in the minority in really not rating the RG11 final.

Once that Fed drop shot fell just out in the first set, I thought there was a sense of grim inevitability about the outcome.

I've watched highlights since and there was definitely some excellent tennis played that day. Once Rafa took the first set though, I thought much of the drama was lost.

WTF 2010 - Nadal bt Murray was an exceptional match in terms of drama and quality.

Federer v Del Potro - US09

It had everything

I'd pick different matches depending on the criteria (most dramatic, best variety, quality etc). Two most dramatic ones for me are Djokovic-Wawrinka at AO2013 and Nadal-Rosol at Wimb 2012.

I agree Murray-Nadal at WTF2010 was a great match - since then I think the WTFs have been compromised by too many players limping in tired at the end of season.

YvonneT wrote:

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I agree Murray-Nadal at WTF2010 was a great match - since then I think the WTFs have been compromised by too many players limping in tired at the end of season.

Limping in tired .....?? And whose fault might that be ?

All part & parcel of the game I'd have to say ; and - more specifically - managing your season. Djokovic managed things well enough to take the title, undefeated in all five rounds last year, likewise Federer in 2011

WTF is second only behind the Slams in terms of prestige and difficulty to win. Ok, you can afford to lose one of your RR's whereas of course any Slam round loss immediately sees you at the airport. BUT with only the top eight competing at WTF there are no 'easy' draws.

Djokovic federer us open semi final 2011! Unreal match and 5th set was magical. Nadal vs djokovic in final that year was incredible too.

lags72 wrote:

YvonneT wrote:

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I agree Murray-Nadal at WTF2010 was a great match - since then I think the WTFs have been compromised by too many players limping in tired at the end of season.

Limping in tired .....?? And whose fault might that be ?

All part & parcel of the game I'd have to say ; and - more specifically - managing your season. Djokovic managed things well enough to take the title, undefeated in all five rounds last year, likewise Federer in 2011

WTF is second only behind the Slams in terms of prestige and difficulty to win. Ok, you can afford to lose one of your RR's whereas of course any Slam round loss immediately sees you at the airport. BUT with only the top eight competing at WTF there are no 'easy' draws.

I wasn't trying to make excuses for any particular players here - simply meaning that it usually takes 2 fit players to make a great match, hence there haven't been many real crackers in the past few years. There have certainly been some good individual performances though, Fed in particular.

I've always been a firm believer in the theory that you can do no more than beat whoever is in front of you (regardless of what state your opponent happens to be in).

But equally, I do accept the point you make as regards "a great match" (as distinct from a spectacular performance by just the winner) - for which ideally you would want both players to be at their best.

I have to say, i dont get what was so great about the Federer vs Djoko match at French open 2011. I mean the stakes were high and Federer played one of his greatest ever matches on clay. I thought Djokovic was pretty poor that day, particularly the first couple of sets.

Good match but far from a great one as it only seemed to be one player playing at or near his top level.

I would say that the USO semis of fed and Djoko in 2010 and 2011 where great matches. The way that Djokovic fought off break points in both matches. Also the AO semi and final of 2012 vs Murray and Nadal respectively. Tipsy and Ferrer last year at the USO was also a dazzling match that is underappreciated because there was no top 4 contender in that affair. In 09, special consideration also has to be given to Madrid final with Rafa and Novak best three setter I have seen.

No one's mentioned last year's WTF final between the Screech and Federer. That was a cracking, high intensity encounter. None of the pushing that's fast become the norm.

I agree emancipator for a two set match that was one of the best two set matches I have ever seen with both players making a host of highlight reel shots.

emancipator wrote:No one's mentioned last year's WTF final between the Screech and Federer. That was a cracking, high intensity encounter. None of the pushing that's fast become the norm.

That was one of my favourites! The only thing that let it down was that Federer kind of fell away at the end. But there were some great shots from both players though.

Fed's shot at 6:02 and Novak's winning shot at 10:58 were, I think, two of the great shots of the year.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7AEeWJOhVg

The other black mark against this match was that it featured the scandal of Chairgate, that forced Socal to launch a special investigation...!

Sorry to dredge this old thing up but it would be criminal to overlook this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pleqYnR2JPo

The real final of AO 2013.

Yeah how did we forget that one, what an epic match that was with some super high quality shotmaking. Good call theslosty

Did none of us mention it? Very high quality match, worthy of a final as you say. Nice choice.

In light of Simon's war today, I nominate Madrid '08 vs Rafa as one of the great 3-setters: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XQqU-h7VPk

Worth watching it all! Just goes to show how frustrating Simon is, because when he unloads on his shots he can really play quite magnificently.

Best match since that final is Robredo beating Almagro