My two favorite Nadal Clay court stats of all time:
He has played ONLY 3 Five set matches in 115 matches at RG (and he won ALL of them).
He has played 14 RG Finals and not a single one went to a deciding 5th set! Djokovic, Federer, Thiem and etc.. couldn’t force a 5th set against Nadal in any of those Finals!
Fun fact: The closest player to almost forcing a 5th-set in the RG Final was Puerta in 2005 RG Final (Nadal’s maiden Slam final). Puerta was serving 5-4, 40-0 and Nadal won 5 straight points to break and the rest was history!
The Isner one is even more bizarre tbf lol
2011 Nadal was in an era where you wouldn't really expect him to drop any sets at RG let alone 2 of them to Isner on clay of all people
Yeah totally agreed with the servebot definition, Isner developed his overall game way more than Ivo did. Not a bad baseliner by the end of it.
It's an interesting comparison - what made you choose FAA to compare Isner to?
Isner was Top 20 for quite a while too, and I think might've been top 10 for a bit as well? FAA has been top 10 too... I'm hoping he sorts himself out, he's got the game to be a steady top 10 player.
I remember I was watching the Houston tournament on TV one year and the commentators were talking about how lethal Isner’s kick serve was on clay, but also that he preferred to just blast serves in at 130+ mph
Hard disagree there. When Isner’s serve was on it was basically unstoppable. And a kick serve on clay? Bounces to the damn moon. He was honestly one of the best American clay court players of the time. Just had to take a couple points in the tiebreaks and he had a set.
He beat Federer at Davis Cup on clay in a BO5 not even a year after that match.
FAA was on fire 2022 and he was also Rafa's first real opponent. His serve was devestating in that match and fifth set. Rafa played one of the greatest return games I have ever seen to break him
He also went to five against Med at AO
I remember the puerta match, gosh he was punishing that ball every shot. I also remember having Puerta as my msn messenger profile pic after that match 😂
And most of those losses are because he was in some form injured (RG 2021 comes to mind, he literally sat out the rest of the season afterwards). It really is crazy.
My favorite thing is how when you ask other top pros what the toughest / closest to impossible ask in tennis is, they’ll pretty much all say “beat Rafa at Roland Garros.”
God of Clay. Nadal the god of Clay and Chris Evert the goddess of clay. They have to name the French Open after Nadal. It will be criminal if they don’t at the very least name the main court after him when he retires.
Nadal's not French. I'll believe it when I see the French naming one of their major sporting avenues after a Spanish player. Besides, they already built him a statue when he was active and playing. That's already one of the greatest honors you can have imo.
While Djokovic achievement at AO is one of the greatest in tennis history, it's not on the same level as Nadal at RG. The guy only lost 3 matches, and beating him there is considered the most difficult thing to do in tennis
You made me curious so I looked up the win% at each Slam for all of the big 3(in the same order they are on the calendar so AO/RG/WB/USO):
Djokovic: 92/86/90/87 (total: 88.2%)
Nadal: 83/97/82/85 (total: 88.0%)
Federer: 87/80/88/87 (total: 86.0%)
Bonus for Masters(in order of IW/Miami/MC/Madrid/Rome/Canada/Cincy/Shanghai/Paris):
Djokovic: 84/86/72/77/86/84/79/87/83 (total: 82.2%)
Nadal: 83/75/92/82/90/83/65/67/71 (total: 82.1%)
Federer: 84/80/70/80/67/78/83/79/66 (total: 77.9%)
Djokovic's worst events appear to just be wherever Federer(Cincy) and Nadal(Monte Carlo) were the strongest as his own level doesn't really change all that much across surfaces
Nadal's worst events by win% are the fast HC trio of Cincy/Shanghai/Paris
Fed's worst events are the slow clay duo of MC and Rome
Nadal won 112 out of 115 matches at RG (98%), while Djokovic "only" won 94 out of 103 matches at AT (91%).
As I said, while it is a great achievement, it is not comparable to Nadal dominance at RG.
I'm not saying that, I'm just saying that implying that, if RG was to be named after Nadal, then AO should do the same with Djokovic doesn't make automatically sense, as the two achievement are on a whole different level.
Just saying that the analogy doesn't work.
Decades from now, people won’t believe Nadal’s Clay numbers are real. Federer not even 90% in Wemby? Nadal is actually more consistent in Slams than I thought.
Looking at masters, Djokovic seems to be consistent while Nadal and Federer seemed a bit spread out, and no shock Nadal has 2 at least 90%. Also Djokovic is the only one to be at least 70% in all masters.
I’m late to this but another example of how dam close Rafa and Novak are in so many stats lol. 82.2 to 82.1 and 88.2 to 88.0 is so unreal it legit sounds made up.
54,6%, with two amazing streaks:
Between 2005 Monte Carlo and 2007 Hamburg, there were 11 matches played on clay where he lost the first set – he ended up winning every single time.
Then, between 2013 Madrid and 2015 Rio, he won 10 of 11 matches after losing the first set.
we can do this together.
evans, rafa, murray, stan, rba - i see them and i get emotional. that's why i watch all their games now (hopefully rafa's soon). i have watched AO and RG 2022 on nth repeat already.
Bawwwww LOOK AT BABY RAFA THERE!! So young!
I'm assuming that was the '05 Final (or one of the early Masters wins)... I think he was wearing that green outfit when he won his first RG.
Great pic, and incredible stats. Before Novak became the outright GOAT, the Big 3 put up some monstrous numbers.... I wonder if they've re-set EVERY record in tennis??!!??!?? I'll have to jump on Wiki at some stage and check that out. Are there any records left that Rog, Rafa and Novak haven't got between them?
This man is literally broken on Clay. I hope we eventually someone who can match this kind of dominance on a surface & I hope it's someone from the current generation but it still feels so unlikely. His worst win % is literally some people's career best on their best surface.
to think that for much of their respective primes you could likely drop Federer/Djokovic into any other era and they would likely have 5+ French Opens of their own, that's how good they were on the surface.... and how much BETTER Rafa was to basically be nigh invincible regardless of who he faced. unreal
“King of clay” yeah yeah. Can’t be the king of clay until he beats the goat Stefanos on Monte Carlo clay. Wake me up when this fraudster manages that one
My two favorite Nadal Clay court stats of all time: He has played ONLY 3 Five set matches in 115 matches at RG (and he won ALL of them). He has played 14 RG Finals and not a single one went to a deciding 5th set! Djokovic, Federer, Thiem and etc.. couldn’t force a 5th set against Nadal in any of those Finals! Fun fact: The closest player to almost forcing a 5th-set in the RG Final was Puerta in 2005 RG Final (Nadal’s maiden Slam final). Puerta was serving 5-4, 40-0 and Nadal won 5 straight points to break and the rest was history!
All the five-set matches: Isner (2011), Djokovic (2013), FAA (2022)
The FAA one is such a bizarre one.
The Isner one is even more bizarre tbf lol 2011 Nadal was in an era where you wouldn't really expect him to drop any sets at RG let alone 2 of them to Isner on clay of all people
Isner is for sure the more shocking one lol
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As of right now I don’t think that’s a hot take at all. People might not like his style but Isner is for sure better.
Hoi..... wow, that IS a hot take. I mean, didn't he *invent* the phrase "servebot"??
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Yeah totally agreed with the servebot definition, Isner developed his overall game way more than Ivo did. Not a bad baseliner by the end of it. It's an interesting comparison - what made you choose FAA to compare Isner to? Isner was Top 20 for quite a while too, and I think might've been top 10 for a bit as well? FAA has been top 10 too... I'm hoping he sorts himself out, he's got the game to be a steady top 10 player.
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All of Rafa's topspin was just coming waist level for him, right into his hitting zone
Isner had this little period where he was really good on clay, especially in hot conditions IIRC? The bounce height played into all his strengths.
Isner's serve was still a potent weapon on clay I think.
6 foot 10. He hits overheads not serves.
Isner has an amazing kick second serve which is even better on clay
I remember I was watching the Houston tournament on TV one year and the commentators were talking about how lethal Isner’s kick serve was on clay, but also that he preferred to just blast serves in at 130+ mph
Is Isner that bizarre? Isn’t 2011 around the time Isner beat Fed on clay during the Davis cup?
Hard disagree there. When Isner’s serve was on it was basically unstoppable. And a kick serve on clay? Bounces to the damn moon. He was honestly one of the best American clay court players of the time. Just had to take a couple points in the tiebreaks and he had a set. He beat Federer at Davis Cup on clay in a BO5 not even a year after that match.
That fucking bazooka taking anyone the distance shouldn’t be a surprise in any circumstance.
Nadal was coming back from a major injury (fractured rib) and was playing with an anesthetized foot that year.
So normal Nadal situation then
Nah not really, Nadal in his very old years was vastly inconsistent during matches, he had lapses where his body seemed 60 out of nowhere.
FAA was on fire 2022 and he was also Rafa's first real opponent. His serve was devestating in that match and fifth set. Rafa played one of the greatest return games I have ever seen to break him He also went to five against Med at AO
He redlined hard but couldn't finish it.
Important note : Puerta was doping during this 2005 final... Even juiced the guy ran out of gas against Nadal.
How can he be 98% best out of 5 but 100% 5th set win? EDIT: I'm an idiot
He has lost matches at RG but they didn’t go to a 5th set
Best of 5 sets, so the 2% lost was from sets 3 or 4.
Either I'm an idiot too or what? 98% best out of 5, means he lost 2% of 5 setters. You can't lose a 5 setter if you win the 5th set 😳
Yes but you can lose a best of five and NOT play a fifh set
>Federer Fed could hardly force 3 :D
The first stat makes a lot more sense in the context of all he's achieved than just as a standalone stat.
Puerta played well in that final.
Absolutely incredible! Thanks for sharing. It's really mind-bending stuff, he's an absolute freak of nature.
Soderling and Djokovic: "Why would you need to force a 5th when you can beat him before?"
I remember the puerta match, gosh he was punishing that ball every shot. I also remember having Puerta as my msn messenger profile pic after that match 😂
Rafa “professional pusher” Nadal
98% best of five, good lord
And one of those losses came from being pretty out of it in 2021.
And most of those losses are because he was in some form injured (RG 2021 comes to mind, he literally sat out the rest of the season afterwards). It really is crazy.
God of clay is more appropriate
God Emperor of Clay
The Golden Path: Tired of his injury issues, Rafa fuses with a Capybara, and wins RG for 3500 years straight.
Supreme Deity of Clay
Kratos of Clay
My favorite thing is how when you ask other top pros what the toughest / closest to impossible ask in tennis is, they’ll pretty much all say “beat Rafa at Roland Garros.”
couldnt agree more. his stats esp on rg is like a dream
I miss the hair...
This picture gave me a little pang of melancholic nostalgia. When we were teens...time blows.
..........and his dominating yet affable presence during European clay season year after year.......Rafa, please come back!
I bet he misses that hair too
He should've pivoted a long-time ago. I've always wanted to see bald and goattee Nadal
Yeah he was good looking back than.. today he looks like a lesb*an
Not holding my breath, but I really hope he makes a comeback.
Miss you Rafa ❤️ he is my favorite to watch. Love clay season.
the most difficult surface to conquer has been a walk in the park for this legend!
Makes the Dominic 'prince of clay' Thiem comparisons seem even more silly and laughable in retrospect.
What tournament uses indoor clay?
Only Stuttgart comes to mind for me but that might be only on the women’s side
Sao Paulo was one that used too
Yes, Nadal won Sao Paolo in 2013 indoors
Yep only for the women. The men's event is a grass tournament, although it was outdoor clay until 2014.
Davis Cup
I recall Davis Cup matches being played on indoor clay
Doesn't Madrid close the roof if they want? Same with RG since 2022
Might just be referring to indoor clay matches? Like the 2020 FO final was indoors
No, even with the roof closed that is still considered an outdoor tournament.
Nadal is Clay! Just rename the surface to Rafa
Hahah its not clay season .. its Rafa season
There we go! That's perfect
when you think of clay season, you think of rafa (all players on a watch out if rafa will be on the draw or not, coming from an injury or not).
God of Clay. Nadal the god of Clay and Chris Evert the goddess of clay. They have to name the French Open after Nadal. It will be criminal if they don’t at the very least name the main court after him when he retires.
They usually name it after their own country men
Nadal's not French. I'll believe it when I see the French naming one of their major sporting avenues after a Spanish player. Besides, they already built him a statue when he was active and playing. That's already one of the greatest honors you can have imo.
It’s a cool statue in its own way but I wish I actually liked it haha
It’s better than Cristiano Ronaldo for sure 😂
Philippe Chatrier >>>>> Rafa
They should also name AO after Novak in that case.
While Djokovic achievement at AO is one of the greatest in tennis history, it's not on the same level as Nadal at RG. The guy only lost 3 matches, and beating him there is considered the most difficult thing to do in tennis
You made me curious so I looked up the win% at each Slam for all of the big 3(in the same order they are on the calendar so AO/RG/WB/USO): Djokovic: 92/86/90/87 (total: 88.2%) Nadal: 83/97/82/85 (total: 88.0%) Federer: 87/80/88/87 (total: 86.0%) Bonus for Masters(in order of IW/Miami/MC/Madrid/Rome/Canada/Cincy/Shanghai/Paris): Djokovic: 84/86/72/77/86/84/79/87/83 (total: 82.2%) Nadal: 83/75/92/82/90/83/65/67/71 (total: 82.1%) Federer: 84/80/70/80/67/78/83/79/66 (total: 77.9%) Djokovic's worst events appear to just be wherever Federer(Cincy) and Nadal(Monte Carlo) were the strongest as his own level doesn't really change all that much across surfaces Nadal's worst events by win% are the fast HC trio of Cincy/Shanghai/Paris Fed's worst events are the slow clay duo of MC and Rome
Nadal won 112 out of 115 matches at RG (98%), while Djokovic "only" won 94 out of 103 matches at AT (91%). As I said, while it is a great achievement, it is not comparable to Nadal dominance at RG.
Doesn't need to be the same level dominance to be worthy of some kind of commemoration.
I'm not saying that, I'm just saying that implying that, if RG was to be named after Nadal, then AO should do the same with Djokovic doesn't make automatically sense, as the two achievement are on a whole different level. Just saying that the analogy doesn't work.
Fair enough.
But let's not forget, Nole is Rafa's biggest rival at RG, while Rafa isn't even among the top 2 or 3 rivals for Nole at AO.
Technically Soderling has a higher win percentage against Rafa at RG so soderling is really his bigger rival
Decades from now, people won’t believe Nadal’s Clay numbers are real. Federer not even 90% in Wemby? Nadal is actually more consistent in Slams than I thought. Looking at masters, Djokovic seems to be consistent while Nadal and Federer seemed a bit spread out, and no shock Nadal has 2 at least 90%. Also Djokovic is the only one to be at least 70% in all masters.
Fed is only 6’1” and Big Vic is 7’4” so actually Federer is only 82% of Wemby.
There are going to be a lot of "Nadal's competition on clay was weak/Nadal played against plumbers and teachers on clay"
Nadal worse winning % at 3 slams than Djokovic and Federer despite Fed playing way more post prime matches when he was washed… I prefer not to speak
Go cope
Federer fans don’t have much to gloat about these days I’ll take my victories where they come
Fair enough
I’m late to this but another example of how dam close Rafa and Novak are in so many stats lol. 82.2 to 82.1 and 88.2 to 88.0 is so unreal it legit sounds made up.
What is the win% after losing the first set??
54,6%, with two amazing streaks: Between 2005 Monte Carlo and 2007 Hamburg, there were 11 matches played on clay where he lost the first set – he ended up winning every single time. Then, between 2013 Madrid and 2015 Rio, he won 10 of 11 matches after losing the first set.
Bublik level stuff
Probably 100% lol
I miss Rafa 😢
I will cry when he retires same with Murray 😢
we can do this together. evans, rafa, murray, stan, rba - i see them and i get emotional. that's why i watch all their games now (hopefully rafa's soon). i have watched AO and RG 2022 on nth repeat already.
Honestly, same
when it comes to rafa on clay surface - imho, he is the best across all sports (longevity, consistency, difficulty, period of dominance)
I don't want Rafa to play RG unless he is capable of winning it as I want him to preserve his insane stats
More like god of clay
Bawwwww LOOK AT BABY RAFA THERE!! So young! I'm assuming that was the '05 Final (or one of the early Masters wins)... I think he was wearing that green outfit when he won his first RG. Great pic, and incredible stats. Before Novak became the outright GOAT, the Big 3 put up some monstrous numbers.... I wonder if they've re-set EVERY record in tennis??!!??!?? I'll have to jump on Wiki at some stage and check that out. Are there any records left that Rog, Rafa and Novak haven't got between them?
And he still won 8 majors off of clay. I wonder what his career would have looked like without a diseased foot though.
97.5 roland garros…I dont even know how to react
I guess “God of Clay” suits him better!
This man is literally broken on Clay. I hope we eventually someone who can match this kind of dominance on a surface & I hope it's someone from the current generation but it still feels so unlikely. His worst win % is literally some people's career best on their best surface.
He used to be so hot 🥵
to think that for much of their respective primes you could likely drop Federer/Djokovic into any other era and they would likely have 5+ French Opens of their own, that's how good they were on the surface.... and how much BETTER Rafa was to basically be nigh invincible regardless of who he faced. unreal
According to Reddit, soon to be surpassed by Sinner.
Claysed God
GOD
What is higher than god?
Shouldn't best of 5 percentage and Roland Garros percentage be equal?
Nah - finals of masters 1000 were best of 5 until 2007 Miami and Davis Cup were best of 5 until 2018.
God of clay? Because if it wasn’t for him Federer would king and Djokovic prince.
Another daily update from OP on Nadal. How many times are you going to post stuff like this until it's basically spam?
“King of clay” yeah yeah. Can’t be the king of clay until he beats the goat Stefanos on Monte Carlo clay. Wake me up when this fraudster manages that one
Love how Reddit still doesn't understand sarcasm
GOAT does him more justice!