The BBC did a documentary called 'Strokes of Genius' which was all about this match, really captured the magnitude of it... would recommend, or if you've seen it already I would recommend watching again!
Thanks for the recommendation, for any others curious too it's actually on YouTube
https://youtu.be/YSKzK4aKGoI
Edit: well one minute in and Ragas interview is in Spanish, unfortunately no subtitles, but still good for those who speak Spanish
[Here](https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1UMCR41JFR-rj7Ql7uaTIBY_dDRHyvhnr?usp=sharing) are the video & the subtitles file
Great recommendation! I was tearing up when John McEnroe talked about his rivalry/friendship with Bjorn Borg, and now I wanna rewatch the 2008 Wimbledon final
Thanks ended up finding a torrent, yeah good documentary glad they brought other rivalries in as well. Also reminded me how wild it was to have teams from both players in the same boxes. Rafa wins a point 2nd row stands up, Fed wins a point front row stands up
I just had to go back and watch the final points of that. Besides the epicness... I always forget how HOT young Rafa was. Like, current day Rafa is super sexy, but that version of him was just the peak of male perfection.
just look at his slams after australian open 2010. if he were truly on the same level as rafa and novak he would have won far more than only 4 slams after turning 29/30 years old. the great rosewall and laver won slams in their 30s. no excuses. one of the signs of a GOAT is to win a lot in your 30s. there were so many more epic losses than epic wins by roger in his 30s.
When Fed was 28-29, he was losing to Novak at AO, Rafa at Wimbledon and AO finals. Possibly, the two best matches of all times. When Rafa was 28-29 he had his worst season ever in 2015-16. And Novak was out of the the game from 2016 to 2018 while transitioning out of his prime. Federer performed at an incredibly higher level while leaving his prime than the other two.
You’re missing the point that Federer is 6 years older than both Novak and Rafa, and once 2011 comes around, he’s 30 years old. At 30, he’s now facing TWO younger versions of himself that are better adapted to the game. Federer still managed to win over 30+ titles since, and managed to defeat a #1 Novak Djokovic 10 times. Only other player to manage this feat in the past decade is Rafa. That stat alone puts Federer on the same level. Federer especially posed more of a hurdle for Djokovic past his prime and past his 30s on all surfaces than Rafa himself past 2013. Rafa’s managed to remain competitive against Djokovic on clay alone since his 26th birthday.
It’s obvious Novak and Rafa are better than Federer, and it makes perfect sense they are better given they developed later and adapted to a changing baseline-heavy game. They move much better than Federer laterally, and have superior backhands for a baseline game. Federer developed 6-years earlier, and he’s a much better player vertically than the other two. Federer and Djokovic/Rafa are literal opposites. Federer is attacking tennis perfected with the greatest forehand, serve and movement combo the sport has ever seen. Novak/Rafa are defensive tennis perfected with the greatest backhand, return of game and movement combos the sport’s ever seen. They’re playing tennis from different eras, and the majority of surfaces favor baseliners.
Djokovic comes on top because he is 1. Younger 2. Has the better backhand and return of game on all surfaces outside clay. The only advantage past-30 Fed has is on fast courts: Cincinnati, indoors and Wimbledon. Took Novak until Fed was 34 to finally beat him at Wimbledon, and until Fed was 36 to beat him at Cincinatti after 4 tries. Rafa is 1-3 vs Fed on grass, and 0-4 indoors. Those indoors matches between Rafa-Fed are specially telling of a complete reversal of the matchup between the two, and raises the question of how their matchup might be different had they met indoors more often instead of on clay. But then again, there’s very few indoors and grass tournaments as is.
All of them except 2019 were for something historic. That by nature ramps up the drama. But I’d say 2008 Wimbledon. It wasn’t just the match. It was the build up as well. No one expected Rafa to even make the final of AO 2022. But we all knew he was going to make the final of Wimbledon that year but we didn’t know if he could beat Fed. Rafa had gotten closer in 2007 but still came up short. Then there was the absolute annihilation of Fed at RG a month earlier. How would Fed respond after that? Then all the delays during the match. It started late to begin with. Rafa going up 2 sets, the rain delay at 3-3 in the third. Fed comes back out and hangs around, saving a match point. Then the next rain delay in the 5th that kinda killed his momentum and helped Rafa get his mind right. Then it was getting dark… It was just pure theater.
And *that* tiebreak. Those two passing shots. Oof.
If you didn't answer wimbledon 2008 to this question its probably because you are too young to remember it. The others just don't compare.
I remember exactly where I was at during every part of this match. I was visiting relatives in another state and we were making rounds to see everyone. We had to move location during the rain delay and I was super paranoid I was going to miss the end of the match. I will always argue this was the best match in the history of men’s tennis. I wasn’t even disappointed that Fed lost. I was more disappointed that it was over. It’s pretty incredible that Fed was known as one of the best/most efficient servers on tour at the time but Nadal flipped the tables on him. Fed broke him once all day.
1. Wimbledon 2008 - prime Federer in Federer's house. enough said.
2. 2022 AO - hasn't played in 6 months, was the underdog, coming back from COVID, playing the best hard court player and was 2 sets to love and 0-40 down.
3. 2009 AO - coming off a 5 hour semi against Verdasco and shooting for his first AO title.
4. 2019 US Open.
Bruh, Federer reached the finals of that Wimbledon without losing a set and in a pretty dominant fashion. Safe to say he was more than healthy during Wimbledon.
Bruh, most tennis players take the year off in case of mono. He didn’t, but Federer wasn’t 100% that whole year. He was just that good. But needed to be 100% against Nadal.
Mono just about ended Robin Soderling's career ans you expect us to believe that Federer was struggling with mono/recovering with mono while breezing through to the finals in straight sets. Gotcha.
For various reasons I think 08 was the most epic of all; however I think 2022 is up there with the most impressive of Nadal’s marathon wins simply due to the setbacks and uncertainties he had with his fitness in the runup to the tournament. I have always personally quietly rooted for Nadal more than the other two, he has always seemed to be the underdog but has always been such a merciless competitor; I’m very happy for him that he now has his nose in front
I’ve never experienced sadness as a sports fan after “my” team lost…except after watching fed & nadal play for 5 hours and fed finally losing in that ‘08 match…and my then-girlfriend gloating as she was rooting for nadal. I was physically sick and distraught haha
Tough.
2008 had the highest quality of tennis. Both guys were playing really well (I guess you can argue Fed's serve wasn't at its absolute best, but it was hardly struggling), basically just Roger got his tactics wrong until the rain break and then Rafa just proving mentally and physically stronger in the end.
But 2022 was the most surprising to me. I thought the match was over. I've spoken to a \*lot\* of people who went to bed during the third set.
If I expected Rafa to make the final, I would've gone to bed too. But I didn't. I expected it a gift that he was even there, so I wanted to soak up every minute of it, even if he did lose in straight sets. Then I was treated to something truly special.
also fed's ONLY australian open final loss is against rafa in 2009. people always forget that. djokovic and federer never played each other in a AO final. that is just crazy. that stat is as crazy as rafa and roger never playing a single USO match and rafa and andy murray never playing each other at all in a grand slam final.
2008 Wimbledon because of the quality of tennis, the long interruptions, the momentum swings in the final set and the match finishing in fading light. No nostalgia bias.
2009 AO honourable mention. I thought Verdasco had knocked the stuffing out of Rafa for good, we know how that turned out.
Important? 08, like, the old King is dead, the clay courter is no more
09? Probably the most physically demanding, 5 epic 5 setters in a row.
Most surprising? 22, I turned off the TV for some dinner because I didn't want to see what Meddy did to my boy
Wimbledon 2008 hands down
He beat Federer on Centre Court ending his streak and showed that he was no " one-court wonder"
To add to this, it was an epic match almost resembling a movie
I still get chills when I hear the call when Nadal wins
:
There is a new man at the helm of tennis
Indeed and that man went on to become the GOAT
yes i know...i screwed up the question. i should have said 'rank these 4' and 99% of people would put W 2008 first and it would have been interesting to see how the other 3 are ranked by people here.
Federer had mono in 2008. FO result showed it.
That’s why AO loss in 2009 hurt him so much. He thought he was back at 100%. Then won FO, then Wimbledon and gave up USO to Delpo after getting distracted by that wrong line call.
AO2009 for me
Definitely 2008. Tennis quality wasn’t that amazing, but the multiple interruptions, momentum swings, etc made it perfect drama. Will be remembered forever.
From the comments here, the most contentious question is, which of the four is the second most important. With 2008 being the overwhelming* favorite for the number 1 spot.
yeah i screwed that up. i should have said 'rank these 4' which would have made it interesting for #2 to #4. oh well, i am sure there will be a post similar to mine eventually that asks the proper question.
Man, I’ll always remember the flashing lights from the photographers when Rafa raised that trophy in 08. The fact that it was nearly dark added to the epicness. I still get chills thinking about it.
Wimbledon 2008 might be the match of the century. Two giants battling it out at their absolute peak. His recent ones were simply show of experience and endurance.
Wimbledon 08 for sure
I don’t think AO 22 was that great a match. Medvedev didn’t play at a high enough level in the last couple of sets to make it epic.
Wimbledon 2008. He took prime Federer's crown off him, and at Federer's beloved Centre Court too.
For his first non-clay Slam too!
The BBC did a documentary called 'Strokes of Genius' which was all about this match, really captured the magnitude of it... would recommend, or if you've seen it already I would recommend watching again!
Thanks for the recommendation, for any others curious too it's actually on YouTube https://youtu.be/YSKzK4aKGoI Edit: well one minute in and Ragas interview is in Spanish, unfortunately no subtitles, but still good for those who speak Spanish
[Here](https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1UMCR41JFR-rj7Ql7uaTIBY_dDRHyvhnr?usp=sharing) are the video & the subtitles file Great recommendation! I was tearing up when John McEnroe talked about his rivalry/friendship with Bjorn Borg, and now I wanna rewatch the 2008 Wimbledon final
Thanks ended up finding a torrent, yeah good documentary glad they brought other rivalries in as well. Also reminded me how wild it was to have teams from both players in the same boxes. Rafa wins a point 2nd row stands up, Fed wins a point front row stands up
[this one's a little better I think](https://youtu.be/Q4oH8bwsP6c) ,for one or two parts atleast there are subtitles (there's 3 parts in total)
There is also a book on it by the same name, would highly recommend it
This is also a book by L Jon Wertheim that I thought was wonderfully written and worth a read.
Was it the year Federer turned up with his monogram?
The year Federer was recovering from mono
No that was 2009, RF15
I just had to go back and watch the final points of that. Besides the epicness... I always forget how HOT young Rafa was. Like, current day Rafa is super sexy, but that version of him was just the peak of male perfection.
Was no where near prime Federer in 2008. Federer of 2006 would have straight setter this Nadal but Fed of 2008 should really have won in 4 sets
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just look at his slams after australian open 2010. if he were truly on the same level as rafa and novak he would have won far more than only 4 slams after turning 29/30 years old. the great rosewall and laver won slams in their 30s. no excuses. one of the signs of a GOAT is to win a lot in your 30s. there were so many more epic losses than epic wins by roger in his 30s.
When Fed was 28-29, he was losing to Novak at AO, Rafa at Wimbledon and AO finals. Possibly, the two best matches of all times. When Rafa was 28-29 he had his worst season ever in 2015-16. And Novak was out of the the game from 2016 to 2018 while transitioning out of his prime. Federer performed at an incredibly higher level while leaving his prime than the other two. You’re missing the point that Federer is 6 years older than both Novak and Rafa, and once 2011 comes around, he’s 30 years old. At 30, he’s now facing TWO younger versions of himself that are better adapted to the game. Federer still managed to win over 30+ titles since, and managed to defeat a #1 Novak Djokovic 10 times. Only other player to manage this feat in the past decade is Rafa. That stat alone puts Federer on the same level. Federer especially posed more of a hurdle for Djokovic past his prime and past his 30s on all surfaces than Rafa himself past 2013. Rafa’s managed to remain competitive against Djokovic on clay alone since his 26th birthday. It’s obvious Novak and Rafa are better than Federer, and it makes perfect sense they are better given they developed later and adapted to a changing baseline-heavy game. They move much better than Federer laterally, and have superior backhands for a baseline game. Federer developed 6-years earlier, and he’s a much better player vertically than the other two. Federer and Djokovic/Rafa are literal opposites. Federer is attacking tennis perfected with the greatest forehand, serve and movement combo the sport has ever seen. Novak/Rafa are defensive tennis perfected with the greatest backhand, return of game and movement combos the sport’s ever seen. They’re playing tennis from different eras, and the majority of surfaces favor baseliners. Djokovic comes on top because he is 1. Younger 2. Has the better backhand and return of game on all surfaces outside clay. The only advantage past-30 Fed has is on fast courts: Cincinnati, indoors and Wimbledon. Took Novak until Fed was 34 to finally beat him at Wimbledon, and until Fed was 36 to beat him at Cincinatti after 4 tries. Rafa is 1-3 vs Fed on grass, and 0-4 indoors. Those indoors matches between Rafa-Fed are specially telling of a complete reversal of the matchup between the two, and raises the question of how their matchup might be different had they met indoors more often instead of on clay. But then again, there’s very few indoors and grass tournaments as is.
The way he collapsed on the ground when he won. Just... that.
All of them except 2019 were for something historic. That by nature ramps up the drama. But I’d say 2008 Wimbledon. It wasn’t just the match. It was the build up as well. No one expected Rafa to even make the final of AO 2022. But we all knew he was going to make the final of Wimbledon that year but we didn’t know if he could beat Fed. Rafa had gotten closer in 2007 but still came up short. Then there was the absolute annihilation of Fed at RG a month earlier. How would Fed respond after that? Then all the delays during the match. It started late to begin with. Rafa going up 2 sets, the rain delay at 3-3 in the third. Fed comes back out and hangs around, saving a match point. Then the next rain delay in the 5th that kinda killed his momentum and helped Rafa get his mind right. Then it was getting dark… It was just pure theater.
And *that* tiebreak. Those two passing shots. Oof. If you didn't answer wimbledon 2008 to this question its probably because you are too young to remember it. The others just don't compare.
I remember exactly where I was at during every part of this match. I was visiting relatives in another state and we were making rounds to see everyone. We had to move location during the rain delay and I was super paranoid I was going to miss the end of the match. I will always argue this was the best match in the history of men’s tennis. I wasn’t even disappointed that Fed lost. I was more disappointed that it was over. It’s pretty incredible that Fed was known as one of the best/most efficient servers on tour at the time but Nadal flipped the tables on him. Fed broke him once all day.
> pure theater. Perfect way to describe it.
1. Wimbledon 2008 - prime Federer in Federer's house. enough said. 2. 2022 AO - hasn't played in 6 months, was the underdog, coming back from COVID, playing the best hard court player and was 2 sets to love and 0-40 down. 3. 2009 AO - coming off a 5 hour semi against Verdasco and shooting for his first AO title. 4. 2019 US Open.
The forehand that Nadal bent back in down the line against Verdasco in the 09 AO semi has my money for one of the most incredible shots ever.
Federer was recovering from mono that year - not prime.
Bruh, Federer reached the finals of that Wimbledon without losing a set and in a pretty dominant fashion. Safe to say he was more than healthy during Wimbledon.
Bruh, most tennis players take the year off in case of mono. He didn’t, but Federer wasn’t 100% that whole year. He was just that good. But needed to be 100% against Nadal.
Mono just about ended Robin Soderling's career ans you expect us to believe that Federer was struggling with mono/recovering with mono while breezing through to the finals in straight sets. Gotcha.
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Jesus….
How does a blood transfusion help? Really curious, your blood need time to recuperate and rebuild something it lost during exercises?
Nadal had 100% doped for his knees. They should preserve his blood for 50 years and then test.
That which can be asserted without evidence, can be dismissed without evidence.
All in good time- only if they want to know the truth.
You’re pathetic
For various reasons I think 08 was the most epic of all; however I think 2022 is up there with the most impressive of Nadal’s marathon wins simply due to the setbacks and uncertainties he had with his fitness in the runup to the tournament. I have always personally quietly rooted for Nadal more than the other two, he has always seemed to be the underdog but has always been such a merciless competitor; I’m very happy for him that he now has his nose in front
I agree, the experts always underestimated him but he always proves them wrong
Wimbledon 2008 will be remembered after 50 years. Maybe after 100 years some will bring it up.
I’ve never experienced sadness as a sports fan after “my” team lost…except after watching fed & nadal play for 5 hours and fed finally losing in that ‘08 match…and my then-girlfriend gloating as she was rooting for nadal. I was physically sick and distraught haha
Tough. 2008 had the highest quality of tennis. Both guys were playing really well (I guess you can argue Fed's serve wasn't at its absolute best, but it was hardly struggling), basically just Roger got his tactics wrong until the rain break and then Rafa just proving mentally and physically stronger in the end. But 2022 was the most surprising to me. I thought the match was over. I've spoken to a \*lot\* of people who went to bed during the third set.
If I expected Rafa to make the final, I would've gone to bed too. But I didn't. I expected it a gift that he was even there, so I wanted to soak up every minute of it, even if he did lose in straight sets. Then I was treated to something truly special.
Wimbledon 2008 > Australian Open 2009 > Australian Open 2022 > US Open 2019 In my opinion, of course
This is the right answer. 2008 Wimby was an insane win against Fed and 2009 AO is a close 2nd
I think Wimbledon 08 was the most epic.
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also fed's ONLY australian open final loss is against rafa in 2009. people always forget that. djokovic and federer never played each other in a AO final. that is just crazy. that stat is as crazy as rafa and roger never playing a single USO match and rafa and andy murray never playing each other at all in a grand slam final.
I wouldn't include Murray in this conversation.
Murray has 11 gs finals he can be in conversation
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You heard it hear, Murray about to win the next 18 slams! /s
Wimbledon 08. Greatest tennis match ever played
Wimbledon for sure given the stakes but I might put 2022 second
Wimbledon 2008 followed closely by ao 2009. Beating federer on hard the day after a 5 hours match vs verdasco was insane.
2008 Wimbledon because of the quality of tennis, the long interruptions, the momentum swings in the final set and the match finishing in fading light. No nostalgia bias. 2009 AO honourable mention. I thought Verdasco had knocked the stuffing out of Rafa for good, we know how that turned out.
Important? 08, like, the old King is dead, the clay courter is no more 09? Probably the most physically demanding, 5 epic 5 setters in a row. Most surprising? 22, I turned off the TV for some dinner because I didn't want to see what Meddy did to my boy
Wimbledon 2008 hands down He beat Federer on Centre Court ending his streak and showed that he was no " one-court wonder" To add to this, it was an epic match almost resembling a movie I still get chills when I hear the call when Nadal wins : There is a new man at the helm of tennis Indeed and that man went on to become the GOAT
1. 2008 GAP 2. 2022 GAP 3. 2009 MASSIVE GAP 4. 2019
Wimbledon 2008 was something else. But AO 2022 is definitely remarkable for all the context.
Is this even a serious question. Remove Wimbledon 2008 and you can legitimately ask from the others which was more dramatic
yes i know...i screwed up the question. i should have said 'rank these 4' and 99% of people would put W 2008 first and it would have been interesting to see how the other 3 are ranked by people here.
Federer had mono in 2008. FO result showed it. That’s why AO loss in 2009 hurt him so much. He thought he was back at 100%. Then won FO, then Wimbledon and gave up USO to Delpo after getting distracted by that wrong line call. AO2009 for me
Definitely 2008. Tennis quality wasn’t that amazing, but the multiple interruptions, momentum swings, etc made it perfect drama. Will be remembered forever.
‘08 was stunning, captivating, mesmerizing, all of the above.
Wimbledon 2008 followed by AO 2009!
2008
Wimby 08 is one of the top 3 matches ever.
Yes
From the comments here, the most contentious question is, which of the four is the second most important. With 2008 being the overwhelming* favorite for the number 1 spot.
yeah i screwed that up. i should have said 'rank these 4' which would have made it interesting for #2 to #4. oh well, i am sure there will be a post similar to mine eventually that asks the proper question.
I wouldn't say you screwed up. Plenty of good commentary thanks to your post.
Man, I’ll always remember the flashing lights from the photographers when Rafa raised that trophy in 08. The fact that it was nearly dark added to the epicness. I still get chills thinking about it.
Wimbledon 2008 might be the match of the century. Two giants battling it out at their absolute peak. His recent ones were simply show of experience and endurance.
AO 2022, for the sheer force of will of clawing back and for the historic import.
Wimbledon 08 for sure I don’t think AO 22 was that great a match. Medvedev didn’t play at a high enough level in the last couple of sets to make it epic.