Rafael Nadal has lost in straight sets in the Miami Open final to Roger Federer.
Fifth seed Rafa was defeated 6-3, 6-4 in Miami, in what is his fifth loss in the Miami Open final, two of which have been to Roger Federer.
After the match, Rafa said:
Well done to Roger, I am very happy for him.
I just want to say thank you to everybody here, it’s been a good two weeks for me in Miami. It’s been a good start to the season and it’s disappointing for me to always be in this position here with the smaller trophy…
I’m going to keep trying hard over the next couple of years and hopefully I won’t have to wait three years again to fight for the title.
Rafael Nadal of Spain and Roger Federer of Switzerland pose at the net before the final at Crandon Park Tennis Center on April 2, 2017 in Key Biscayne, Florida. (April 1, 2017 – Source: Julian Finney/Getty Images North America)
Rafael Nadal of Spain in action against Roger Federer of Switzerland in the final at Crandon Park Tennis Center on April 2, 2017 in Key Biscayne, Florida. (April 1, 2017 – Source: Julian Finney/Getty Images North America)
Rafael Nadal of Spain returns a shot against Roger Federer of Switzerland during the Men’s Final and day 14 of the Miami Open at Crandon Park Tennis Center on April 2, 2017 in Key Biscayne, Florida. (April 1, 2017 – Source: Al Bello/Getty Images North America)
Rafael Nadal of Spain returns a shot against Roger Federer of Switzerland during the Men’s Final and day 14 of the Miami Open at Crandon Park Tennis Center on April 2, 2017 in Key Biscayne, Florida. (April 1, 2017 – Source: Al Bello/Getty Images North America)
Rafael Nadal of Spain returns a shot against Roger Federer of Switzerland during the Men’s Final and day 14 of the Miami Open at Crandon Park Tennis Center on April 2, 2017 in Key Biscayne, Florida. (April 1, 2017 – Source: Al Bello/Getty Images North America)
Roger Federer of Switzerland is congratulated by Rafael Nadal of Spain after the final at Crandon Park Tennis Center on April 2, 2017 in Key Biscayne, Florida. (April 1, 2017 – Source: Julian Finney/Getty Images North America)
Rafael Nadal of Spain meets Roger Federer of Switzerland after losing the match after the Men’s Final and day 14 of the Miami Open at Crandon Park Tennis Center on April 2, 2017 in Key Biscayne, Florida. (April 1, 2017 – Source: Al Bello/Getty Images North America)
Roger Federer of Switzerland (left) and Rafael Nadal of Spain (right) shake hands after Federer defeated Nadal in the men’s final match on day 14 of the Miami Open at Crandon Park Tennis Center on April 2, 2017 in Key Biscayne, Florida. (April 1, 2017 – Source: Rob Foldy/Getty Images North America)
Winner Roger Federer of Switzerland with the trophy next to runner up Rafael Nadal of Spain after the final at Crandon Park Tennis Center on April 2, 2017 in Key Biscayne, Florida. (April 1, 2017 – Source: Julian Finney/Getty Images North America)
Winner Roger Federer of Switzerland with the trophy next to runner up Rafael Nadal of Spain after the final at Crandon Park Tennis Center on April 2, 2017 in Key Biscayne, Florida. (April 1, 2017 – Source: Julian Finney/Getty Images North America)
Roger Federer of Switzerland holds the winner’s trophy after defeating Rafael Nadal of Spain with the runners up trophy after the Men’s Final and day 14 of the Miami Open at Crandon Park Tennis Center on April 2, 2017 in Key Biscayne, Florida. (April 1, 2017 – Source: Al Bello/Getty Images North America)
Rafael Nadal of Spain holds the runners up trophy after losing to Roger Federer of Switzerland after the Men’s Final and day 14 of the Miami Open at Crandon Park Tennis Center on April 2, 2017 in Key Biscayne, Florida. (April 1, 2017 – Source: Al Bello/Getty Images North America)
Better luck next time, Rafa!
Aw shucks Rafa… I guess he came to play his best but it wasn’t enough to beat Federer.
We may have to face it now, that Rafa’s game, as good as it is to get him into finals, is not enough to beat Federer or the other top guys. I saw no passion from him today, and the killer instinct was not there. It’s painful to watch Rafa lose to someone he used to be able to beat in his sleep… and to know that that play has elevated his game to higher heights and doing seemingly impossible things while Rafa simply… well, what? I think he’s physically diminished somehow. He’s succumbing to the stresses of time on his body.
Anyway, bring on the clay court season, but I’m not expecting much from Rafa. Djokovic will be back and he will instantly try to go for the double grand slam at the FO. Rafa is now like a deer in headlights.
Always with my Rafa… but this is so depressing. And if it is so for me, I wonder what it must be like for Rafa:(
Get your head straightened out Rafa, mwah!
Yes to much of what you say, but I don’t think it’s the body, never did.
It’s the head. Which is better than the body as a prognosis.
Gen, I understand your frustration. Roger is now a level above Rafa which only adds to Rafa’s frustration. I didn’t like Roger’s smug comment in his post match interview after his semi final victory aover Nick. He said he’d beaten Rafa three straight times, he might as well do it a fourth time! Roger is riding the crest of a wave at the moment but it won’t last much longer. Enter Novak and Andy!!!! Now Rafa has to figure out the Roger riddle as well as the Novak riddle! I don’t think Rafa would have been able to handle red hot Nick either if he’d got to the final. The game has changed. Hard flat shots and explosive serves are dominating.
Elizabeth Howard we have to be real and tell it as it is. There’s no harm in being critical about Rafa’s play. Constructive criticism is healthy and many comments have offered that. If we didn’t care we wouldn’t bother. I think it will take me many days to get over Rafa’s loss and I can only imagine how bad it is for him. Back to the drawing board Rafa. Meanwhile he should gain strength and comfort in knowing that the clay court season is next. I’ll be going to Roland Garros this year and I’m hoping I’ll be lucky enough to see him play.
Win or lose, always with Rafa <3! I am very happy for Rafa that he is healthy again and still playing good tennis,
I thought that it was over with Rafa after his wristinjury in 2016. But ooh boy he came back stronger than ever! I know he lost in 3 finals this year but i am very optimistic about his chances of winning big titles this year.
Vamos Campeón and bring the the Triple La Decima back home please (MC, Barcelona, RG)!
THE RAGING BULL NEVER QUITS AND WILL STILL FIGHTING TILL THE VERY END!
One last thing before I really go.
To the person, or people, who likes to click the dislike buttons so much.
People are writing their heart out here. Even if someone said he’s so frustrated he wished Rafa just quitted, it means he CARES so much.
It may sound rude and distasteful to you. It does. But ask yourself this, have you ever said sth just as harsh out of frustration?
If you don’t agree with what he or she has to say, fine. But when I saw almost every comment here or on other “threads” gets at least one dislike, even the most harmless ones like Hi” and “Goodnight”, it got me thinking. What is it that you’re doing with your life?
Well, I hope this comment will get a lot of dislikes, because it would be so “epic”. The clearest prove I could hope for. (Not that I care abt it anyway.)
But seriously, everyone, be more open-hearted and open-minded please.
Great comment Vy. I don’t see any really disrespectful comments here, except for all the dislikes–which I dislike! LOL. How easy to hit the dislike button in anonymity!
It’s a coward’s move.
A lot of comments on the previous “thread”, Rafalite. And thanks. How’s your birthday? Sorry Rafa has unknowingly “spoiled” your birthday a little bit but I hope the rest of it is still great. 🙂
Hi,
thanks Vy.
I kind of expected a loss today, still difficult to witness. In fact I knew Rafa would lose.
But I did see moments where Rafa the winner appeared very briefly. Tennis is a spectacle of submission and domination, and of course you need the right tools and means to dominate, but Rafa actually had them, but couldn’t access them. It will take enormous confidence for Rafa to find his best shots against Fed, fearlessness, beleif, which he did not have.
It looked all too familiar, it looked like Rafa vs. Djok. Maybe we expect too much of Rafa? maybe Fed is just better and that’s that. Same with Djok, maybe just better. (Murray is not better, not even a chance). But I think Rafa has it within him … very hard to understand. But in a way not …. It’s his head, undermining his ability, I am convinced.
When the FH is firing at max efficiency, he can beat Fed. He played more with his BH today, but that was a tactical choice. The FH had to be waiting in readiness, and it was not.
Well that’s how I saw it. It was ugly.
My Bday was OK otherwise. Had a nice steak and some good wine and I try to remember this is better than Rafa injured or not making finals at all.
Elizabeth
In my rant I NEVER said Rafa should be arrogant or ill mannered. What I said was he should show some emotion, I know he was upset he lost he shouldn’t have to smile through it. Roger the gentleman doesn’t give a hoot about RAFA really, it’s all about winning.
You should know we have to put up with media and commentators constantly fawning over Roger and Nole. Even when RAFA was winning NO respect for him hardly any except for a few. I remember Pete Bodo/ Tennis.com calling a period when Rafa was winning almost everything Rafafatigue. That really upset me.
After all the injuries and writing Rafa off and the doping allegations he has been through it. So I just want him to blow off some steam because he is entitled to and this MAY put the fire under his butt like when he was younger. Swing for the fences winning or losing that’s what Nole did when he started to dominate in 2011. When press ask stupid questions, don’t answer. He needs to remind the NON fans that he is GREAT and that he once owned a lot of these guys.
The same reasons you love RAFA is the same for me. He is GREAT.
RAFA fan forever.
He is indeed GREAT. Perhaps sadly his greatness on the court has passed a little and try as he may he may never be able to recapture the glory of his earlier days. But that does not mean he is finished. He is still GREAT in my opinion. He has been in the top 10 in the world for over a decade and is now back at no.5.
Without the passion and the fire, which some think he has lost, he would have dropped out of those rankings long ago.
Smiling during the trophy ceremony shows a strength of mind over matter because he would never wish to be a bad loser.
I am sure that with his family and team he will let off some steam if he needs to.
Next time Rafa is a bad luck.,your fans love you ,you can do it get ready for the French Open. No one had 9 wins in this tournament wins .bravo Rafa is nice to se you play .xoxo🎾🎾🎾👍👍👍🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸❤️
Well said Elizabeth!!
Listen up folks, Rafa is back playing after injuries that kept him out of the game for long spells in 2016, Be grateful for that, He has reached three finals, I too would like him to win but all this criticism is futile. He knows what needs improving
Small margins v Federer and a rotten net got in the way. Let us support him. I hope that he will always remain the gracious and lovely man he is. We have more than enough arrogant and ill mannered people.
Well said Elizabeth agree with all your comments
Listen up?
Fans can talk about what was missing in Rafa’s game without it being taken as disrespectful or an insult.
Really don’t see who you’re accusing here.
He’s been back from injuries for awhile now and that’s great.
But at a certain point one can only start expecting him to win in winnable finals. To expect less would be the disrespectfull thing.
Elizabeth, how true. It was indeed small margins that were responsible for his loss in the final . I am sure that Rafa is well aware of that and we should keep that in mind also.
He was as always gracious in defeat in the trophy ceremony. That is in my mind the mark of a true sportsman.
A wake up call for Rafa, that his HC tennis (or rather clay court tennis on a HC) is just not good enough. If he really wants to win title (s) on the HCs, please go back and study how other HC players play on the HCs and perhaps learns to play HC tennis on the HCs. Clay court tennis not going to work on HCs these days, when players can hit hard and serve big.
Or, go back and watch how he played on the HCs in 2010 and 2013; even his 2005 self was better than this current one, as that 2005 version was fearless and would not hesitate to step in to attack when opportunities presented themselves.
This present Rafa is just too tentative, more counterpunching, and having a subpar FH, very unsure of himself, hitting right back at opponent and worse still, sometimes couldn’t figure where his opponent was going to hit the ball.
There are many things he could improve on, but first improve that FH; followed by his footwork. He mistimed his FH I feel due to his slower footwork these days. If I’m right then I think he should play more inside the court, that way he will cut down on the angle (therefore the area)he needs to cover so he will have more time to react or to reach the ball.
His serve is fine in this final but there’s still room for improvement. His ROS needs improvement, and he should learn from Murray, i.e. after returning from far behind the baseline, moves up to the court to prepare to hit the next shot, that way he will take away time from the server, his opponent. Murray has done that effectively and his ROS is so good. Also, for goodness sake moves to the net to attack as much as possible when his volleying skills and feels/soft touches are so good and it’s a waste that he’s not putting them to good uses more often.
Actually, he was playing aggressive attacking tennis in set1 and unfortunately the net cord went against him (I think 3 times). Yes, his positioning was not ideal on returns throughout, and no question he was mentally out of it in set 2 where he played abysmally on returns except the last game when Roger served for the match. I think Moya is trying to implement a more aggressive game plan which is evident in his serving, and occasionally his backhand but no question his mental focus is spotty and inconsistent, plus he is not flattening out his forehand (wonder why)
I also resented Roger’s condescending remark about the clay season, but rafa should take a cue first by shortening points / saving himself for the french , even on clay and ESP at Madrid. My biggest worry is his ability to hit thru the court at the French when conditions are overcast/ raining. We saw this in 2012/2016, and the only way for him to succeed in such conditions is by hitting deep and playing like on a hard court.
I wonder if and when Rafa will offer an assessment of where he perceives he is with regard to his game. The clock is ticking, Rafa.
RAFA ROCKS
Me again,
RAFA needs to let his emotions fly, stop smiling with the smaller trophy and BE upset, VENT.
We, the fans will understand he is human. No harm in that, I think it would put a fire under his butt. He really needs this, I know he loves the sport and the competition and all that. It’s fierce competition out there and RAFA should NOT have to be put under the bus. The commies always fawn over Roger and then the press, RAFA I love you and I believe in you, I’ll NEVER leave your side.
Go out there and kick some butt SERIOUSLY. You have it in you.
RAFA fan forever.
I think Rafa’s target is to win titles on clay esp the FO. I think if he can do that, his confidence will return. Thereafter, I think he will do better in the USO series. It’s strange that these days, he tends to do better at the USO series than this IW/Miami sunshine doubles, when in the past it’s the other way round.
He tends to play with more aggression during the USO series, perhaps knowing that being aggressive is the way to go on quicker HCs (USO series are on quicker HCs than AO/IW/Miami, with this year’s AO being the exception).
His results from 2010-2016:
3 AO finals, I IW title (2013) +1 final; 2 Miami finals.
2 USO titles + 1 final; 1 Montreal and 1 Cincy title. (didn’t play in 2012, 2014)
luckystar, thanks for all the detailed comments. Agree with most of what you said. Keep them coming and don’t mind the dislikes.
His topspin is actually more effective on fast hc, (Indian wells is slow but the ball flies faster thru the air in desert conditions), plus he does play far more aggressive attacking tennis. But if he can hit a 96 mph fh return winner, he can certainly play more aggressively.
Indeed, the fire needs to burn longer in a match. He was intense in the beginning, but gave up too quickly.
Sorry guys,
I didn’t want to come on here today but this loss is eating me up. This start with Roger is starting to resemble Nole/Rafa 2011. I mean what’s going on here, I really cannot take Roger just outplaying OUR guy. It hurts too damn much, I could imagine how RAFA feels……………. and being such the gentleman as always.
RAFA has to just don’t give a crap about anyone and really fester some hate for his opponents because they are not going to give him any matches.
RAFA has the goods I know it, I saw it and I believe it. Rafa, stop being a nice guy and blow these guys off the court because Kyrgios and Zverev are already chomping at the bit, then Andy and Nole return.
SORRY again, I am just spewing here and NO disrespect to all his fans and RAFA.
RAFA fan forever
Meant to say “….shackled by nerves….”
MY PREDICTIONS CAME TRUE AGAIN – THANKS TO RAFA: PLEASE READ THE BELOW:
Nick should really have won, but decided to ‘give’ the match away to Fed!
Yes, I had predicted that it would be a NICK-DAL final with Nick winning in the end. Up until yesterday’s match, my predictions were always accurate to the T 100%!
Nevertheless, the good news is that Rafa does have a chance tomorrow against good, old Roger. I see Rafa winning in 3 tight sets tomorrow: 4 – 6, 6-4, 7-6
But this can only happen if Rafa can play without fear and fully exploit Roger’s weaknesses.
However, if Rafa allows the fear factor to come into his game, then Roger will once again prevail, most likely in 2 sets: 3-6, 4-6
EVERYTHING DEPENDS ON WHICH RAFA WILL SHOW UP TOMORROW!
But as always, we’d see………………..hmmnn
I doubt its fear; rather the belief is not there.
He was basically playing a clay court tennis, playing from so far back and hardly moved up to the net. There were so many BP chances but he failed to take any whilst Fed took his.
It’s not a high quality match, Fed wasn’t even playing that well, quite ordinary by his standard but Rafa was below par. He looked resigned in the second set, perhaps after losing the first, he felt his chances of winning just slipped away from him.
Imo, this was a winnable match and this Fed was beatable; Rafa had so many BP chances, meaning Fed wasn’t that great in this match but Rafa made errors and not being able to convert, not even one.
I agree with all you write. Not a great match–for Fed either, and Rafa squandered a lot of BPs.
The big thing was he did not have a FH. He was hitting short on it, (or when going for the ISOCC winner, hitting out) which spells death for him.
He mainly played like he was already beat for a lot of it.
Also, that standing so far back on the serve return. I used to hate it when posters told Rafa where to stand on serve returns, but I am beginning to think it’s a problem. Rafa has a big backswing on the FH so he needs the extra time. The game now belongs to those with the compact backswings (look at NK’s BH) who take the ball early. This is a big problem for Rafa against the more aggressive players.
To be fair, the conditions were very tough today so no players could play his best tennis, luckystar. Plus Rafa was playing so… well, we all know how. So Fed didn’t even need to play lights out at all to beat him. Even Bautista Agut did play much better and smarter than Rafa did today, it’s just so disappointing…
So sad:( but not unexpected. Keep the hope up. I’m need to give up on tennis for a while.
It should look better in a few weeks, on clay. Djok will be back then though. Who knows playing how well.
Let’s be real!! On hard & in three sets against Federer uhmmmm !!! Will be difficult ! Federer is no more fears he plays relaxed and has all to win! Let’s hope on clay where the effect of the ball is not the same!
Berdych got to a 3rd set against Fed. Are you saying berd is better than Rafa? Agut also did better against Fed.
It was not a good performance by Rafa.
No wonder Roger relishes the chance of playing against Rafa these days. Rafa is handing matches to him on a plate. Roger’s game has evolved so much more and although Rafa has generally improved his BH, his overall game style is predictable. It’s awful to be shacked by nerves and it’s difficult to know how he can be freed of it! In contrast Roger is full of confidence and his victories in close matches against Berdych and Kyrgios must make him feel invincible!!!! Someone bring him back down to earth, PLEASE!
Terrible irony: he can only be freed of his nerves by winning and he can only win when freed of his nerves.
When you are told by the world you are GOAT you tend towards confidence. LOL. Then you act like GOAT and swing with freedom and confidence.
There are a few people who could beat Roger on grass, (Nick and Djok) and more still that could beat him on clay.
I could not bear to watch the match since I did not expect a Rafa win today. Rafa has still had a great year so far and maybe he will be more confident in the clay season. He is still up to 5 so MC here we come! Roger is really playing on a different level now.
Rafa started strong–it did not look like IW, more like AO–but after being broken, mainly played like he expected to lose. He kept trying of course, but bottomline, couldn’t find his FH. Ironically, he stayed in it to the extent that he did with his serve and BH, but even the BH returns started going awry in the 2nd set.
Fed controlled the court.
NO denying Fed is the better player at this time, at least on HC.
Frankly I expected him to lose, I saw no sign since AO of the game that would beat Fed in his current form.
There were a few points today, in the first set, where it looked like Rafa could turn the tables on Fed, where Rafa was boosing Fed around with his FH, but it didn’t last. Without the FH, Rafa was roadkill.
It was a tough problem to solve, because Rafa didn’t go to Fed’s BH as much today, which left Rafa playing his own BH to Fed’s FH. That’s not a good recipe either. Rafa needed the confidence and freedom to go FHDTL and BHDTL (this is what Djok does so well) in order to take control, and he didn’t have it. Plain and simple.
Hopefully, an answer will be found in the coming year. I don’t think Fed will sustain this level all year anyway, and I think someone (probably not Rafa) will get their teeth into Fed and then his confidence my deflate a little. Please make his confidence deflate! Someone! I hated having to look at his mug for two hours.
EXTREMELY HAPPY FOR YOU. BUT , AT THE SAME TIME SAD , ALSO FOR YOU.
NEXT TIME BETTER LUCK. BUT ALSO VERY HAPPY TO SEE YOU IN THE FINALS.
LOVE YOU ALWAYS. 💖💗💘💝💞💕💔💓💜💛💚❤💟🌹
So sad. Loosing again against Roger is very tough 😌😌