Rafael Nadal failed to reach the semifinals of the Italian Open on Friday after losing to Novak Djokovic 5-7, 6-7(4).
Rafa wasted five set points in the second set of an encounter that went nearly two and half hours.
While Djokovic has won 15 straight sets against Rafa, this marked their closest match since Rafa won the 2014 French Open final.
After the match, Rafa said:
I was not disappointed. Overall, I am playing well. … I have been competing at the highest level against the best player.
Our champ will now prepare for the second Grand Slam of the year which gets underway in Paris on May 22.
ROME, ITALY – MAY 13: Rafa Nadal of Spain in action against Novak Djokovic of Serbia during day six of the The Internazionali BNL d’Italia 2016 on May 13, 2016 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)
ROME, ITALY – MAY 13: Rafa Nadal of Spain in action against Novak Djokovic of Serbia during day six of the The Internazionali BNL d’Italia 2016 on May 13, 2016 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)
ROME, ITALY – MAY 13: Rafa Nadal of Spain in action against Novak Djokovic of Serbia during day six of the The Internazionali BNL d’Italia 2016 on May 13, 2016 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)
ROME, ITALY – MAY 13: Rafa Nadal of Spain in action against Novak Djokovic of Serbia during day six of the The Internazionali BNL d’Italia 2016 on May 13, 2016 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)
during day six of the The Internazionali BNL d’Italia 2016 on May 13, 2016 in Rome, Italy.
ROME, ITALY – MAY 13: Rafa Nadal of Spain looks on, during his match against Novak Djokovic of Serbia during day six of the The Internazionali BNL d’Italia 2016 on May 13, 2016 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)
ROME, ITALY – MAY 13: Rafa Nadal of Spain looks on, after losing a point against Novak Djokovic of Serbia during day six of the The Internazionali BNL d’Italia 2016 on May 13, 2016 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)
ROME, ITALY – MAY 13: Rafa Nadal of Spain looks on, during his match against Novak Djokovic of Serbia during day six of the The Internazionali BNL d’Italia 2016 on May 13, 2016 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)
ROME, ITALY – MAY 13: Rafa Nadal of Spain looks on, during his match against Novak Djokovic of Serbia during day six of the The Internazionali BNL d’Italia 2016 on May 13, 2016 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)
ROME, ITALY – MAY 13: Rafa Nadal of Spain looks on, during his match against Novak Djokovic of Serbia during day six of the The Internazionali BNL d’Italia 2016 on May 13, 2016 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)
ITALY, ROME – MAY 13: Rafael Nadal of Spain receives medical timeout against Novak Djokovic of Serbia during quarterfinals match ATP Tennis Open tournament at the Foro Italico on May 13, 2016 in Roma, Italy. (Photo by Andrea Spinelli/Corbis via Getty Images)
during day six of the The Internazionali BNL d’Italia 2016 on May 13, 2016 in Rome, Italy.
ROME, ITALY – MAY 13: Rafa Nadal of Spain looks on, after losing a point against Novak Djokovic of Serbia during day six of the The Internazionali BNL d’Italia 2016 on May 13, 2016 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)
ROME, ITALY – MAY 13: Rafa Nadal of Spain looks on, after losing a point against Novak Djokovic of Serbia during day six of the The Internazionali BNL d’Italia 2016 on May 13, 2016 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)
ROME, ITALY – MAY 13: Novak Djokovic of Serbia and Rafael Nadal of Spain after the match during day six of the The Internazionali BNL d’Italia 2016 on May 13, 2016 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Giuseppe Bellini/Getty Images)
ROME, ITALY – MAY 13: Rafa Nadal of Spain looks on, after losing his match against Novak Djokovic of Serbia during day six of the The Internazionali BNL d’Italia 2016 on May 13, 2016 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)
ROME, ITALY – MAY 13: Rafa Nadal of Spain looks on, after losing his match against Novak Djokovic of Serbia during day six of the The Internazionali BNL d’Italia 2016 on May 13, 2016 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)
ROME, ITALY – MAY 13: Rafa Nadal of Spain looks on, after losing his match against Novak Djokovic of Serbia during day six of the The Internazionali BNL d’Italia 2016 on May 13, 2016 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)
ROME, ITALY – MAY 13: Rafa Nadal of Spain looks on, after losing his match against Novak Djokovic of Serbia during day six of the The Internazionali BNL d’Italia 2016 on May 13, 2016 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)
ROME, ITALY – MAY 13: Rafael Nadal of Spain after the match during day six of the The Internazionali BNL d’Italia 2016 on May 13, 2016 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Giuseppe Bellini/Getty Images)
Rafa you are an amazing champion you played your heart out today and joker had to fight very hard like he never have to with any other player he knows you are back and be happy with such a close match you broke him and was up in both sets ! Don’t be hard on yourself you played incredible today ! You will get him in Paris for sure keep positive and keep strong and healthy live from Toronto
It was certainly a super-thrilling and suspenseful match. Rafa brought the heat but
just couldn’t close it out in the 1st set or capitalize on break-points. However, Rafa
really elevated his game throughout the match and maintained his composure.
So many positive signs today. I was so happy for him!
I wasn’t bothered that he was defeated today. Novak always has the upper hand no matter who he faces because he is the # 1 player and that alone carries a lot
of weight. That status and ranking certainly goes a long way. However, I find it so disturbing how Novak becomes so aggressive with his awful hissy fits and bad behavior
especially after winning the first set. I just don’t understand his temper tantrums with his winning record. Sometimes it just so hard to like this guy. Just maybe there is some
validity to Andy Murray’s claims recently that were so vehemently criticized by Boris Becker. Sometimes I do wonder what makes Novak tick and what exactly is the cause of his bad temper and aggressive behavior. Maybe it isn’t really a level playing field when facing the joker. Sorry to go there, but how can only one player right now be so far above the rest, and never suffer injuries or fatigue. My curiosity continues to be peaked by this. Especially since, both Andy at Madrid and Rafa, 2 super fit athletes played their hearts out against Novak.
For those who watched the match, can you provide some context on the squandered set points? Was Nole just defending that well or did Rafa make stupid errors? Asked differently, were the points lost to unforced errors or winners or exhaustion?
So sorry you didn’t win Rafa,you played very well,good luck for the French Open.
Remember when RAFA lost that epic 2012 Australian open. It was a tough loss mentally and physically, almost 6 hours of battle. I watched it from start to finish when I had cable.
After the match RAFA felt confident because he knew he made a turning point against Nole. He pushed him hard today and Nole knows that he was lucky. Seeing RAFA smile sheepishly in his post match presser made me smile, because he knows that he got into Noles head, just before RG 2016.
Nole has been shaken.
I also want to remind you guys of the 2013 US OPEN final, the third set when RAFA fell and he fought his way to win that set. I watched that clip so many times, because RAFA was owned by Nole starting in 2011 in mainly finals. He then thumped Nole in the final set 6-1, because Nole was mentally broken. Between these guys it’s more mental, that why Nole finds that extra gear because he knows that if he doesn’t he will feel the way he did when Roger and Rafa ruled tennis. I admire Nole as well, he is a great tennis player just NOT my guy.
RAFAs’ interview on Charlie rose about that US OPEN win was just fantastic.
I’ll never forget it. I haven’t seen todays match, but based on the reviews, comments and articles, it sounds like RAFA is coming back for Nole.
RAFA fan forever.
Rafa may have lost this battle, but he may well win the war based on his showing today. So supremely frustrating to watch him go ahead and yet get reeled in by the Djoker. Credit to Novak, that man is ICE when it counts. He truly deserves to be world number 1.
Djoker beat our Rafa, but Rafa helped him plenty!
And it is noticeable that Rafa keeps improving against Djoker. Step improvements. Going by this, the next time they play, Rafa should know what to do to get it done, whether on clay or otherwise.
Rafa needs to protect his serve more, and calm himself during the big points, which is where Djoker came up tops today. That killer instinct needs to return! Gone are the days when Rafa fans could switch off the tv after Rafa breaks an opponent, resting assured that he would go on to win. Like that nightmare case with Fognini at USO2015. Rafa gets rattled and broken so easily now.
Get it together Champ! Well done today, even though you lost the match, you can hold your head up high. Keep improving, and Djoker wouldn’t know what hit him next time you two clash. Vamos baby!
excellent and perfect comment, you said it all. But one more thing: “I have never seen someone lucky like the serbian today, he was lucky in an umbelievable way”. Anyway, our champion will do it again, because that’s exacrly the definition of Rafa.
People are calling this the ‘match of the year’ and ‘Classic’ (ESPN). Any thoughts…
Dear Rafa, I’m SO GLAD that the comments today are so positive for you, although you lost today’s match. Count me as one who has loved watching you win time and again during that wondrous ten year stretch!!! Please also know that, along with many other fans, I too look forward to seeing you bite that French Open Cup this year. You CAN and YOU WILL WIN IT!!! VAMOS!!!
This was an extremely high quality match from Rafa and he played it to the end with marvelous shots. Only thing missing that I see is that he was up breaks in both sets and failed to hold onto them and that’s one thing he needs to keep improving on is converting his breaks without being broken back. He could’ve won the 2nd set without going into a tiebreak as he held serve comfortably to go 6-6, but struggled with his serve in his previous service game and that is what caused him to lose the break conversion. I think his nemesis will crack once again when Roland Garros starts and I think Rafa will be holding his 10th trophy there on June 5th giving him a really good belated birthday present! Vamos Rafa all the way to victory Roland Garros!
This was the best I’ve seen you play this year – a fantastic match. So sorry you didn’t win – just need to get those winning points. Keep it up
Great!! You played very well, congratulations!!!
I loved to see this play
Oh come on Rafa Roland Garros is yours for the taking. The court belongs to you and no other. Remember who you are the 9 times winner of Roland Garros a feat no other tennis player has ever achieved and it is going to be yours for the 10th time.Remember Novak has never won it and he wont win it now.You will probably meet him earlier than the finals and play that one like the final as though you are going to lift the trophy in the end.
Novak plays with more luck at the moment, and he is mentaly very strong. He is never injured. But our Rafa plays always better and better. I’m more hopeful than 6 month ago! Come on Champ and believe in yourself. We all your fans can never forget the wonderful sport moments you have given as in the last years! Always wirh you!!!!!!👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Wouldn’t say he “failed.” He played great, very disappointed he couldn’t convert set points, obviously. Break point 1st set in 12 min game and set 2. But 1st time in 2 long cld say match list on 1 point in each set.
Worst thing is that with Stan losing, Rafa had opportunity to get 4th seed for RG.
Very sad for Rafa. He played great but at the big-points he made some wrong shots:( take rest and good luck for the French Open. Always with you. Vamos Rafa!!!
I am so disappointed that Rafa didn’t win this he did have his chances and this was a very close match and I beleive he played so well againest Djokovic and could have gone either way but I beleive this proves that Rafa is getting back to his best and if this was a grand slam I think Rafa would have won so I feel much better for Rafa that he has played this match and this should give him so much confidence for RG
He is pleased with the way he played and he knows he can get better so look forward to watching RG and hope our champion can win there
So best wishes to Rafa for the FO
Rafa, your fans will always love you as did the fans in Rome! You are getting closer, so the third time will be the charm. The 5 set points hurt, but you will learn and have better success in RG! You are improving with every match!
Unless he does something about that serve, he is not going win against Novak and us going to have problems against good returnees like murray. It’s gotten to a point where his serve is a liability even on clay against Novak. No point hitting 80% of first serves if u cant serve out in the home stretch of sets. It’s obvious that his coaching team cannot help with his serve. He got help b4 2010 on serve and won uso. Rafa is doing himself and all his fans great disservice by being bull headed. He played awsome today. If only he improves his Damn serve.. it’s just plain bull shit that he can’t serve better.. even the midget kie serves better.. just so Damn frustrating. . That said.. Vamos.. I hope somehow u win RG again
You are doing all who have to read this a “disservice.” Rafa didn’t seek you out as a fan and owes you nothing.
I never said he owes me anything. Obviously reading comprehension just like tolerance to views other than just yours is not your strong suite.
I agree with your comments
I am supremely confident that Rafa will win the FO
He has got his Mojo back. He is playing well, he looks healthy, he has improved his forehand, backhand and yesterday, surprisingly, he used his devastating banana shots a couple of times.
He obviously has a few areas to improve upon i.e. serving, drop shots, more variations.
He is no longer an invisible force on the clay court but in my opinion, he remains the best for now. Ardent Rafa fans should know that in the last 4-5 years, Novak has often beaten Nadal on Masters Clay events before RG but the story changes when it comes to the best of 5 when Rafa has an advantage over all Tennis players.
Overall, he was competitive today and looked solid for most of the match. It is a different kettle of fish at RG. The central court is bigger which provides more scope for him to hit winners and naturally be more defensive and ultimately more lethal. He was brought up to win there and knows that court more than any other. He will beat Novak at the FO this year- assuming they even meet.
People are referring to his nerves. Yes it is an issue no doubt but Nadal has a momentum mindset. He talks about “feelings” all the time- in everyday English, it refers to his mental conditioning. He is at the right place at the moment. Lets not forget that out of all the big players, he is the only one that has played 4 back to back clay tourneys in the last 1 month. It is tough! But that is how he peaks!
Rafa is ready to get his crown back.
Vamos Rafa!!
He has a week to regroup, restrategise and refocus. I’m confident that he is on the right path.
i agree with you chris on the areas that need to be improved. The main one is the serve. If we look at rafa’s recent matches, he lost his serves easily to weaker opponents. this is not a good sign. He was a break up in both first and second set today but his serves were not good enough. When you are not serving that well, you have extra pressure and tensions starts creeping in as the opponent raises his game. I could never understand why Toni never did anything regarding that. In the tie break, if he had better serves he would make djoko uncomfortable and he would have been less tense, maybe even win one or two easy points. it was clear that there were several errors from Rafa due to tension and his inability to maintain the break. Today i did not feel that Djoko had the upper hand. I felt that Rafa had the key to defeat him which was his motivation but his serves were not good enough and that creeping tension let him down at crucial moments.
Totally agreed with you! He is finally coming back from the shadow of himself he was last year. He is playing good,but if he doesn’t play the important points with agression,strength and self believe ..he can’t win against Djokovich and partly Murry! And unfortunately this weakness of his….to be unable to close the set…it’s for a long time and it’s very frustrating. Rafa,please do something to improve your serve! !!!! You need easy points in though times to help you.
The oponents know that you are labile on important points and they push you exactly at that moments. …and really you can’t continue doing the same mistakes and expect different results!
I really hope you will win your 10 RG!!! IT will be one of the happiest day in my life! Vamos,Rafa! Love you!
So proud of you Rafa. You fight like no other. Hold your head up high – you deserve it. Little by little you are making them all nervous…………which is wonderful 🙂 <3