During the Sports Shutdown, There has been Classic Tennis To Watch
Taking a Coronavirus Pandemic Break with Classic Sports Tennis
Dr. Lox has a lot of tennis players he treats, and he follows the game of tennis closely. So weekends are loaded with great classical matches of some of the best players of all time. Last week was Rafael Nadal at the US Open. His 2010 first US Open championship victory. It was against his rival Novak Djokovic. Perhaps that 2010 loss to Nadal was the inspiration for Novak Djokovic’s remarkable 2011 season. Much like Nadal’s loss at the 2007 Wimbledon Championship to Roger Federer, was so upsetting he was so close to winning, and let it slip away. Nadal vowed to not let that happen again. In 2008 Rafael Nadal finally beat Roger Federer at Wimbledon, in what many consider the greatest tennis match of all time. Watching these matches again, now that we have seen how many more grand slams Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic have obtained in the 10 years since that March was played, truly sheds some light on their earlier wins, that may be more significant than we thought at the time. It makes good discussions with Dr. Lox and his tennis history buff patients. It also is enjoyable to watch again, as those 3 tennis greats Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic are quite possibly going to be the 3 top names of all-time grand slam championships for a very long time, if not a feat that is ever accomplished again.
Another Match was Nadal 4th US Open Championship
It was not built up as a classic, as it did not involve the top 3 tennis players of all time. Rafael Nadal was favored to win his 4th title at the US Open over a game Daniel Medvedev. Nadal was easily up 2 sets to love. It appeared Rafael Nadal was going to make an early day if it. However, Nadal’s game dropped ever so slightly and Medvedev pounced. It remained very high-quality tennis, but Medvedev willed himself to make the impossible shots and suddenly it was 2 games all. Now we are at 5 sets. Nadal is strong, and can never be counted out. Years of mental discipline, heartache, and coming back to win big in the 5th set gives the confidence that the game is not over till the Champion sings. Nadal answered upping his game-winning 5-2 on the 5th.
The Last Match I saw was Nadal and Djokovic at Rome in 2012
Now both these Champions were in there primes, and have played each other enough in big games, every match is big. Nadal was reestablishing himself as the king of clay after Djokovic’s stellar 2011 season. A great Champion never quits. Nadal made quick work of Djokovic on his preferred surface clay, wining in straight sets. Rafael Nadal remains at that time, and now the greatest clay court player of all time.
Federer and Djokovic have intermittently found success beating Nadal, however neither player has been consistent in owning Rafael Nadal on clay, especially at Roland Garros The French Open. Federer and Djokovic each have one French Open title.
Rafael Nadal has 12. That mark May will be the same as Secretariat’s records from 1973, unassailable marks in sports history.
