However, it could have been a few more had luck sided with the Spaniard. He’s had his fair share of heartbreaking losses on route to the top of the charts as TIBS NEWS explores.
Wimbledon Final 2007 – Roger Federer beat Rafael Nadal 7-6 (9-7), 4-6, 7-6 (7-3), 2-6, 6-2.
Having lost to Roger Federer at Wimbledon the year previously, it felt like this year it would be different for Nadal. His confidence was high after defeating Federer for the second year running in the final of the French Open, a month prior to this match. The match could’ve been so different had Nadal not made an unforced error off his backhand at 7-7 in the first-set tie-break. The point would’ve set up a set point and who knows what could’ve happened after. Instead Federer went on to win in five sets, to inflict his revenge on the Spaniard.
Australian Open Final 2012 – Novak Djokovic beat Rafael Nadal 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7 (5-7), 7–5
Losing in a six-hour battle is bad enough as it is but to add insult to injury Nadal won the first set and was up a break in the final set. The Spaniard had an easy backhand down the line to bring up a game point at 4-2 (*30-15) but skewed the shot with Novak Djokovic moving very early to cover the cross court passing shot. Had he made the shot and held serve Djokovic would have had to win three games in succession to avoid losing. Instead Djokovic used the miss to urge himself on and broke that same game and went on to win the match 7-5 in the final set.
Australian Open Final 2014 – Stanislas Wawrinka beat Rafael Nadal 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3
It was a match set up for Nadal to be crowned champion, and the only player in the Open era to win the career Grand Slam twice. Nadal was 12-0 in matches against Stanislas Wawrinka prior to the match, and he hadn’t even lost a set against the Swiss. So, a certain win, right? Well not so quick…
Nadal lost the first set 6-3 and was down a break in the second before the first clear sign that something wasn’t quite right. The matador is a fighter who refuses to show weakness to his opponents however, at 6-3 2-0 (30-40*) Nadal hunched over and clutched his back in obvious discomfort. Nadal battled on and an unimaginable comeback was on after receiving lengthy and regular injury timeouts, he somehow battled to win the third set. Yet, he couldn’t quite find the extra gear needed to beat an inspired Wawrinka who saw the match out to win his maiden Grand Slam title.
Following the match, an emotional Nadal said ‘I knew I had no chance of winning but I had no intention of retiring. It was the worst hour and a half that I have spent on a tennis court, it’s tough when you are working for a moment like this for the whole year and a moment arrives when you are not able to play at your best. I tried hard until the end to finish the match as well as I could for the crowd, for the opponent, for myself, but it was impossible to win this way.’
Australian Open Final 2017- Roger Federer beat Rafael Nadal 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3
Nadal had gone two years without reaching a Grand Slam final for the first time in his career prior to getting to the Australian Open showpiece. He was to be met by his famous rival, Federer, in the final for a record ninth time in a Grand Slam. The players and fans acknowledged the nostalgia of the mouthwatering final, as it could potentially have been their last one together as both players had entered their thirties.
Federer hadn’t won a Grand Slam himself for four years before this final and fans were revelling in the prospect of ‘one last dance’. To add to this the record books were calling – with Nadal potentially moving to within two Grand Slams of Federer at the time. Meanwhile, Federer was looking to extend his record to 18 Grand Slam wins and put distance between him and the Spaniard.
The final was extremely back and forth and lived up to all expectations. Federer won the first set, before Nadal won the second. Federer took a set lead once again winning the third, but Nadal drew level winning the fourth to set up a thrilling fifth set.
Nadal broke the Swiss in the very first game of the final set then staved off three break points the following game to consolidate the break. The finishing line was in sight but Nadal stumbled. An unforced error on the Nadal forehand at 3-2 opened the door for Federer to break and he duly did so. After holding himself to take the lead for the first time in the final set, Federer made back-to-back breaks of serve. Nadal served a double fault to give Federer three break points but it took a further two for Federer to deal the decisive blow. Federer then served it out winning five consecutive games to win the match.
It felt like an opportunity missed for Nadal to really take a march on the Swiss legend as the almost guaranteed French Open win was still to come that year which could’ve closed the gap to one. Instead, Federer opened the gap up to four and the record looked out of reach for Nadal.
