(AP) – Rafael Nadal’s quest for a third Wimbledon singles title ended in remarkable fashion in London on Saturday as the world No. 1 was beaten 4-6, 6-3, 6-7(9), 6-3, 10-8 by Novak Djokovic.
As intense as any athletes in any sport, these two didn’t exactly slowly ramp things up when they returned to Centre Court about 14 hours after they’d departed. Having the roof shut meant every sound was amplified as it ricocheted off the dome — the thwack of ball off racket, the players’ grunts, the spectators’ applause.
This was high-decibel, high-stakes, high-quality tennis between two of the greats right from the get-go, beginning with an 18-point, six-deuce game that last 15 minutes and felt truly pivotal. It included a 23-stroke exchange and three others of at least 11. Rafa saved two break points and when he finally held, the owner 17 major championships, two at Wimbledon, punched the air and yelled as if he’d won the match, not a solitary game.
When Rafa broke in Saturday’s second game, a dismayed Djokovic grabbed a spare ball and whacked it with his racket against the wall behind the baseline. Fortunately, he was at the end of the court farthest from the Royal Box, where the pair of visiting Duchesses, Kate and the newly married Meghan, sat in the front row.
There were other such displays of emotion from Djokovic, who is prone to yelling at himself or at his coach. He reacted by getting broken again to trail 5-3 in that set by raising his left shoe and violently pounding his racket against it — one, two, three, four times. Moments later, he got to love-40 before Rafa took five points in a row to serve out the set.
But it was Djokovic who tended to be better down the stretch in his 52nd career meeting against Rafa in a contest that seemed as if it should be worth a trophy.
Positive things to come out of this situation:
1. Renewed belief in Rafa’s grass court game
2. A huge surge of goodwill towards Rafa from the Wimbledon crowd*
3. No more room for Novak to complain about unfair treatment at Wimbledon
4. An important show of tactical and technical prowess from Rafa against Novak – they are really toe-to-toe again, and I believe future meetings could go either way (besides which, they will always be great tennis to watch)
5. A fabulous clay court season
6. An appreciation from Rafa that he does not need to play a grass tune-up or practice excessively to go deep at Wimbledon
7. And most of all… a healthy and fit Nadal 🙂
* let’s be careful to distinguish one or two tournament officials from the majority British public, who usually favour an underdog, and always favour fair play
Firstly…Many Many Congratulations to Rafa on reaching the Semi-Finals at Wimbledon 2018 despite no competitive warm up event and being penalised once again because of the arrangements agreed between the ATP and Wimbledon regarding men’s seeding. Perhaps when these were agreed in 2002 it was not envisaged that excellence on another surface could have such a detrimental effect on the seedings for Wimbledon (being very charitable here!) when Rafa is only trying to avoid injury (Federer now misses the entire clay court season but suffers no adverse effects). Rafa would probably have had a better draw as the No 1 seed and we almost certainly wouldn’t have had the ridiculous final set score line in the first Semi-Final.
Secondly it has been heartening to read all the fans’ views that mirror my own – my husband is a little fed up with my venting about the hypocrisy that has surrounded the 2018 Wimbledon Championships.
I admit I am fanatically pro Nadal, who is the consummate gentleman and all round good sport both on and off court. A pity one particular opponent is not. I was hopping mad to learn that it is only “a convention” for the roof to remain closed for an entire match and as one other fan has said it is ludicrous that the roof has to be closed in dry weather for there to be light when football and cricket stadiums around the UK have mastered floodlighting without a roof! It is also maddening that when it suits the AELTC they say “Wimbledon is an outdoor tournament” but it seems that when it suits a “favoured” player for the roof to be shut, it can suddenly be an indoor tournament. If the players can’t agree and the game goes to a second day then toss for the decision.
A similar situation happened at this year’s AO when Cilic was expecting an outdoor match but Federer wanted to play under the roof so the roof was closed even though temperatures weren’t as hot as for the Ladies Final between Halep and Wozniacki. So, many cases of “who you know” etc.
One final comment on seedings – it seems somewhat disrespectful to interfere in rankings that have been earned by hard work and success – clearly many of the players agree – including Cibulkova obviously and interestingly players like Kvitová who could also have “lost her life”and is working her way back up the rankings. Is it me or did I miss similar consideration for Azarenka who came back 6 months after having Leo?
So I hope Wimbledon are happy with their two damp squib finals but congratulate Angelique Kerber on her win and being able to shut out the hype etc regarding the seeding issue.
Here’s to a healthy, successful Rafa for many years to come and a big thank you to him for all the enjoyment he gives his fans without the need for gamesmanship.
Congratulations to American team Mike Bryan and Jack Sock for winning Wimbledon’s men’s doubles title; it was Mike’s 17th and Jacks’s first.
Well Done Rafa you are the BEST.
You didn’t lose u r the far better player. On court and off.
Take heart all your fans r with u.
Come back Soon.
Dear fellow Rafa fans !
I rarely post but I always follow your nice discussions regarding our beloved Rafa !
However, today I would like to post in excess so I would like to ask you to excuse me for that.
Let’s start with Rafa himself during this year’s Wimbledon campaign.
I think he has made a fundamental mistake letting his main coach take a leave during Wimbledon. I don’t know why he did it. It could be of course based on the fact that his success at Wimbledon since 2011 was rapidly deteriorating so he thought that reaching even QF would be something that could be attained without special help, so be it. However, last year it seemed that he was getting back in form and this year it clearly showed that he was going to be back to Finals. On the contrary, all his main rivals came to Wimbledon with full staff. I was amazed to witness Rafa producing aces and stable servicing during Vesely match, which did not appear during the matches with Del Potro and Djokovic. Presumably, stress and anxiety kicked in and he started to feel anxious and insecure, which resulted to losing second set and effecting the outcome of the third set in Del Potro’s match, plus the increased match time. That was a situation where full coaching would be absolutely necessary before match.
Let’s start with the events from Friday night till yesterday. Regarding the roof issue after match suspension, it was witnessed by BBC TV commentators there was no specific rule rather a convention. Here starts the first absurdity of it all. First, why on earth should an arena be roofed in order to provide light? Even the smallest football stadium around the world has independent spotlight assemblies and so it is with some ATP Master tournaments. Why on earth the most prestigious tournament like Wimbledon would need to incorporate the lighting system in the roof? The absurdity continues with the fact that while you try to provide light, you eventually change the environment from outdoors to indoors and then you say that this absurdity should be sustained after suspension of the match to provide similar playing environment. This is outrageously absurd. Players come to play to outdoor tournaments and prepare outdoors. Only natural phenomena should lead to environment changing, not the free will of the organisers or the biased will of some of the players.
This is where I blame organisers firstly and Djokovic secondly. They gave him an unfair ability to choose something that would be eventually unfair.
Let me explain what I mean. Yesterday’s match between Rafa and Nole was the ultimate definition of draw in tennis terms. Equal winners and UEs from both players and just some points more won. Which means that it was not by any means a clear and undisputed win. That is the main reasoning of my argument. In order to win this match somebody had to take a full advantage of environmental factors both in his favour and in disadvantage of the other player.
By choosing to play under the roof, you have the following situation. First, no wind which firstly favours flat hitting (small advantage to Djokovic), secondly produces a small greenhouse effect, which is definitely NOT in favour of Rafa in health and tennis terms.
Regarding health terms, everybody knows that Rafa sweats extremely profusively and that he needs open and relatively non humid environment for the sweat to evaporate and thus cool his body efficiently. This is his very great physical disadvantage compared to Roger or Novak or Andy which sweat far less. Surely all his peers know it ! Additionally as I saw myself during broadcast there was heat inside the arena as people were trying to cool themselves. So Rafa’s body cooling does not work well in “closed” environments and human brain suddenly changes priorities. From complete devotion to thinking during playing to part-time devotion to thinking since first priority is to cool down in order to survive. Which means that Rafa will eventually crack in hot and “closed” environments mentally and physically without fail. Please remember what he said after the match: “I gave it all, I had nothing left to give”. This is the pattern that follows Rafa while in Melbourne and has been translating into usual injuries as well. Let’s not forget that smaller temperature differential between human body and environment produces ineffective human body function. In other words, Rafa’s body due to excessive sweating and in especially hot environments is severely stressed in order to function even at a decent level.
Tenniswise Rafa was missing otherwise easy shots (overheads, forehands) that I greatly doubt would be enhanced in the open environment.
This is where Nole’s choice is based. He knows he is not by any means 100% back both mentally and physically. He knows that he was beaten by Rafa twice since 2017. He also knows that his win would be decided by the smallest possible margins and that Rafa detests playing in closed environments even while it is cold outside, even more now that it is hot outside. He accepts the unfair ability that is given to him by the organisers to choose the roof which is something that all conscentious fans have outrightly dismissed: “The travesty of the roof under the sun”. His choice eventually proves successful in its whole unfairness and Rafa goes home gutted and gassed.
It was really painful for me to write down my thoughts. By no means I am disregarding Rafa’s mistakes or deficiencies. It would not matter to me, if he lost playing in fair terms, that is in outdoor conditions, as natural phenomena did not command otherwise.
But this, a million times no !!!
It’s good to have a vent. We all needed to take the roof off our feelings on this one!
If Rafa had won roof-off, so be it. But I agree with you entirely that it was the tiniest of margins that made a difference in this match.
I hope the positive taken from this is that despite so much being against him, he still pushed his opponent to the limit. Rafa is back in the grass game. And the Wimbldeon crowd is with him.
Watch out, Djoker. You won’t be able to rely on tricks every day. Rafa is patient. And he’s coming for you.
Well said Nikos( and welcome) and Alex , Rafa would have won this match with the roof open ,I’m sure of that but it wasn’t to be, and even with the roof closed it could have gone either way in the end just like the Anderson/ Isner match , it came down to who got luckier first and Novak and Anderson just pipped the post. I’m gutted still at the result as I feel this may have been his best chance ever at taking another Wimbledon title and it was snatched away by some stupid rule and Novak. On the positive side Rafa looked fine in his press conference and knew the game could have gone either way , and was very upbeat about his own performance (and so he should be , he played magnificently on the grass these last two weeks) I hope the spectators and viewer’s enjoyed yesterday’s match and counted it as the finals , as I have just looked at the match today and no surprise that Novak is running away with it, just glad I don’t have to watch it
I still don’t understand why they asked Djokovic about the roof, but not Rafa? Can someone explain to me, please. If Rafa said…I want open roof,so what’s going to happen?
Aww! 🤦🏼♀️😔😥
Keep your head high sweet Rafa and be proud – you’re amazing 😍
Win or loose always with you.
VAMOS CHAMP#1 – ❤️U! 🎾💪🏼😘
Hugs 🤗🇩🇰
Rafa lost but he should be, and was, proud of himself. In his own words ” He deserved to win. I deserved it too.”
I think it was Djokovic’s first serve which gave him the edge in both tie breakers. I congratulate him on his win, although I must admit I am not a fan of his in any way.
At least he moderated his on court behaviour somewhat during his match with Rafa and celebrated his win in a more restrained manner than usual.
The closed court decision by the Wimbledon authorities for the second day of play did not impress me. This does not happen in other Grand Slams. If the weather is fine the next day play resumes outdoors unless it is an indoor competition, which Wimbledon is not.
No more to be said except that the cards were stacked against Rafa to some degree. But he still put up the fight of his life and showed himself to be the champion that he is..
Rafa is still number 1, and always will be for me.
Even though it won’t have helped Rafa’s mentality that he faltered on some key points, and Djoker notched up another win in the H2H, what WILL have helped Rafa’s mentality is that he *brought it* to Djoker and looked to have the better of him at key moments. Okay, he didn’t capitalise; but there was no domination here. Rafa is sussing it out. Being flexible and creative. It’s a joy to see him adapting his game and making chances for himself.
Now, the next step is to take them.
He’s come a very long way. Let’s congratulate him for that.
This loss hurts very badly. The roof issue sucks and it is ridiculous to stick to tradition to this extent – but that’s British. It they wish to ask the players and they can’t agee then they should use their judgment – open the roof if weather and light permit and shut it if it’s raining or if not bright enough.
But alas, Rafa just didn’t bite back when needed to most and missed crucial opportunities to get the break or clinch the set. All this usually happens when he plays Djokovic and that worries and depresses me most. His team and family have to help him get over ‘boogy man’ image of Djokovic.
Never mind! Rafa you played well otherwise – 5 sets and no matter you are the best for me and for tennis. You are the King where all of us fans are concerned and always will be.
Love you!!
VAMOS
The roof shouls have been open.. where dose novak have the say so in the issue.. wimbledon wake up u ass, and liston to the tennis players.. rafa would have won if roof open. doko behaver on court shoud have been given a point for on court behaver !!!!!!!!!.
FELICITACIONES!!!!!!!! Por tu nivel d juego…tu forma d jugar…uno u otro teniais k ganar….sois dos grandes y habeis jugado igualados…pero tu Rafa estas cada dia mejor…con mas empuje y competitivo…k nivelazo….sorptendente…
Pero en el ùltimo trek brek la ventaja la lleva el k va por delante al llevar bola d partido y tu Rafa iba por detràs…sino hubieramos visto…sigue asi xk estas SORPRENDENTE…k ganas tenia d verte asi…SIEMPRE CONTIGO….VAMOSSSSS RAFA….
Congratulations Rafa my boy. You played a tremendous game n always a gentleman even in defeat. My heart is aching for you. I prayed for you right thru the game n will continue to do so. Djokovich went into the Game with an advantage when they closed the roof! Damn their stupid rules. Hope Anderson wins tonight, but the poor boy is also going in with a disadvantage – 2 exceptionately long matches previously! You are our Champion. Every past Tennis Legend predicted you to be the winner, so that speaks for itself. You will win the U S Open n Aus. Open Rafa.
You are still The King n No.1 n your fans old n young love you. God bless you my son. Vamooooos Rafa. Love n blessings from your Aussie Abuela Nan Shirley. 🐂🏆👑🎉🎉🎉
Rafa you are still the best no matter what!! I cried when the match was over. You will win Wimbledon next time.
This loss is too difficult to digest guys.
*uck Wimbledon for those stupid TRADITION rules closing the roof while sunshine out there.
The chance to eclipse Federer’s slam record was there but it was shut down immidately…
Rafa I am sure you would have won if the roof had of been open.
You did your very best.
All the best now for a rest and some relaxation,
and time with Maria and your family,
Love and prayers,
AlaineXXSydneyXXAustraliaXX
I HOPE THAT RAFA KNOWS THAT HE ALMOST BEAT NOVAK AND REALLY SHOULD HAVE WON TODAY HE NEEDS TO WORK ON A FEW THINGS I KNOW THAT HE KNOWS THIS BETTER THAN I WE ALL LOVE YOU VERY MUCH THERE IS NO ONE AS EXCITING AS RAFA TO WATCH PLAY A MATCH KEEP ON PLAYING AND SOON YOU WILL BEAT NOVAK
Ok who am I kidding! It hurts, still hurts badly. No matter how positive I try to think. So glad there wasn’t this stupid roof in 2008 or they would have it closed to protect their beloved Federer. Arghhhhhh 😤
It hurts like hell Rafan
Yep…that’s the truth
I just can’t be positive at that moment…miss huge opportunity. Doesn’t matter how great he played…he lost…end of the story
I am very disappointed. It’s hurting a lot
Yep…that’s the truth
I just can’t be positive at that moment…miss huge opportunity. Doesn’t matter how great he played…he lost…end of the story
I am very disappointed. It’s hurting a lot
Rafa still the better man in every respect is you ,your fans love you all over the world .the best tennis player .and the best human being,we love you .🎾🎾🎾❤️❤️❤️🎾🎾🎾❤️❤️❤️👍👍👍❤️❤️❤️👍👍❤️❤️❤️🎾🎾🎾❤️❤️❤️
Rafa, you are still the best in my book! Don’t really give a shit about the final now ; (
We love and respect you Rafa no matter what. Always here to support you. Can’t wait to see you in the U.S. Take care.
Vamos Rafa, You played great tennis. The roof should have been opened. Novak said he wanted the roof closed since they started the match that way…..Rafa disagreed – he wanted to play with the roof open. So, since Rafa and Novak couldn’t agree they resumed play with the roof closed; the Wimbledon rules are that both players must agree. So, Djokovic got his way. There was no reason to play with the roof closed, after all it was a sunny, clear day. I think Novak was thinking that Rafa doesn’t have a good winning record playing on indoor courts so he figured he would have a better chance to win. Wimbledon never plays with the roof closed unless they have too. So there you have it, a perfect example of Winning Ugly.
I think they should have had a coin toss to determine whether the roof be opened or closed. God bless you Rafa and please stay healthy. Love, Marylynn
RAFA ありがとう
RAFA 世界1位 全てが素晴しい
宝物です皆んなもっともっと大事にしてください
RAFAの健康と幸せを祈ります
大好きRAFA
Rafa thank you so much for the GREAT tennis you played since day one so good and continued to the end . I think if you didnt slip on that grass there would have been a different out come . The humidity is so bad in there from what i here they should have had the roof open . Any way you are still our champion in all ways . Get some well deserved rest with your girlfriend and enjoy your self see you next time . love you Rava Bravo well done..
Another thing joker is not going to win tomorrow i dont think he has the fight in him like RAFA . That roof was bs.. a advantage to joker i guess he needed all he could get ..