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12/17/09 6:07 AM | Ricky Dimon
The Tennistalk panel has voted and the writers have come up with the Top 10 matches of the year on the ATP Tour. Part 3 of 4 includes matches 2-4.
Australian Open final: Rafael Nadal d. Roger Federer 7-5, 3-6, 7-6(3), 3-6, 6-2
Nadal had spent five hours and 14 minutes on the court in a semifinal victory over Fernando Verdasco. Federer had needed less time to win his quarterfinal and semifinal matches combined (straight-set wins over Juan Martin Del Potro and Andy Roddick). Furthermore, Nadal only had one day off before the final and Federer enjoyed two. What many thought would be a blowout given Federer’s undeniable advantages turned into yet another thrilling five-set installment of the Federer-Nadal rivalry. The top two players in the world battled for four hours and 23 minutes before Nadal finally got the best of his opponent to win his first hard-court Grand Slam title. The top-seeded Spaniard struck 50 winners and 41 errors while Federer blasted 71 winners at the expense of 64 mistakes (both stellar ratios, especially considering how well both men play defense). It fell well short of the other-worldly standards set by the 2008 Wimbledon final, mainly due to the lack of fifth-set drama, but some of the outrageously entertaining points even surpassed those of the All-England Club classic. As if the match itself was not good enough, the emotional trophy ceremony made this year’s Australian Open title showdown even more memorable.
Madrid semifinals: Rafael Nadal d. Novak Djokovic 3-6, 7-6(5), 7-6(9)
It was not a Grand Slam match. It was not best three-out-of-five sets. But Nadal vs. Djokovic in the Madrid semifinals was just about everything else. It was, among many other things, the longest three-set match in Masters Series history. The two competitors traded brilliance for an unimaginable four hours and three minutes until Nadal was the last man standing at the end of a 16-point final-set tiebreaker. Trying to hand Nadal his fifth loss in 154 clay-court matches, Djokovic put forth a heroic effort and came within one point of victory on three different occasions in the decisive 'breaker. On two of the three match points, Djokovic appeared to have clinched the upset before Nadal came up with impossible-to-believe retrievals and winners. Just how amazing was it? "I played one of my best matches ever and I've still lost," explained Djokovic. "That's very disappointing and hard to take. I was a couple of points from the victory and even though I played above my limit, I've lost."
Wimbledon final: Roger Federer d. Andy Roddick 5-7, 7-6(6), 7-6(5), 3-6, 16-14
One year after what was arguably the greatest match of all time, the 2009 Federer-Roddick Wimbledon final had some big shoes to fill. And the showdown did not disappoint. In fact, it far exceeded expectations. Roddick had succumbed to Federer three straight years at the All-England Club, including twice in the title match, but he came closer than ever to winning his first Wimbledon championship this time around. The underdog American did not go away until four hours and 16 minutes of edge-of-your-seat tennis had expired, nor did he drop serve a single time until the 77th—and final—game of the match. So good was Roddick that he nearly scored a colossal upset despite firing 23 fewer aces than Federer. And speaking of statistics, they were borderline mind-blowing. Federer came up with a shocking 50 aces to just four double-faults; Roddick struck 27 aces at the expense of four doubles. Federer finished with a whopping 107 winners at the expense of only 37 unforced errors; Roddick cracked 74 winners while making only 34 mistakes. Even without the backdrop of history (Federer passed Pete Sampras with 15 slam titles), the match itself was a moment for Wimbledon lore.
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i think destiny was a factor in everything Federer losing in the AO after bunch of break point Soderling takes care of Nadal so Federer would have the chance to mark the 14 th in Paris the one city that wasnt nice to him but the crowd did do him a great favour for Roddick lost he did play well but you have to give Roger the credit he did play wonderful tournment and good final the difference in the the winners wouldve won him a set great loss for Roddick but Roger deserved the magical 15th!
keep them coming champ
tennislover , 12/17/09 9:15 AM
Yes what a fantastic year again for tennis! that match between Rafa and Djokovic was unbelieveable, it defines what makes Nadal so special, Rome 2006 semifinals anyone? another unbelievable match in which Nadal one, his will is incredible, its so coincidence that in most of the greatest matches, Nadal is a contender!! Vamos Rafa and good luck for 2010!
afrodite7 , 12/17/09 8:22 PM
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Poor Nole and poor Rafa. I think it was this Madrid match that caused both of them to perform badly at the FO.
Poor Roddick too! What a defeat for him! I seriously wanted him to win and felt really sad for him. He came so close of winning. Had he won the 2nd set tie-break, the outcome of the match might be different, as Fed also mentioned that if Fed was two sets down, it would be very difficult to come back and beat Roddick in 5 sets, given how well Roddick served on that day.
luckystar , 12/17/09 8:03 AM