2009 Shanghai - Final: Davydenko vs Nadal (part 1/2)

[MysteriousStealthMan]

Nadal's nemesis.

[jaitock1991]

Those moonballs that Nadal desperately throws in every time he's outclassed on tempo are just such cowardish shots!!!!! Redicilous...

[devillived]

After watching Novak's great 2011 season his game reminded me Davydenko's at the end of the 2009 - very clean and ball-crushing performance off both swings.

[Bossosunga]

The doped Spaniard losing: always great.

[mechkapechka]

@Swordsman808 i thought the same :D

[andy316800]

nadal was so passive back to 2009!!

[iGo0ch]

Davydenko hugs the baseline and takes everything on the rise, which is key against top-spin players such as nadal. He's so good at it as well, wish he could still play like this

[hordak83]

@tarckbear I agree, dude. Nobody gives credits to Davydenko's tactics against Nadal, and Djokovic have been using the same strategy, forcing Nadal's backhand, making those insane angles. Mighty Davydenko! :)

[12kevdawg12]

that...is just simply awesome :D

[ibanezatleti]

@andyroddickfan83182 even Murray complained about it you punk

[ibanezatleti]

@andyroddickfan83182 prove it you faggot

Oh you're a fan of that dump punk Rod-dick ? he's getting his ass handed to him now by the likes of cipolla

[youziness]

@andyroddickfan83182 i believe it too. No reason to train until injured and play with injuries unless he is not feeling pain. Its hard to say because spain is reputed to protect their sportsmen. People still dope regardless the punishment. Also, the payoffs are better than we think. Because the tennis anti-dope test is likely done by own country's tennis authorities.

[bjarktron]

Davydenko is one of the few guys who can really overpower Nadal like Nalbandian does

[JordanjamesX]

The other ATP players if they had brains would be watching and studying this match to see why Davydenko beats Nadal. Davydenko rushes Nadal it is obvious for Nadal's topspin shots he needs a lot of time and Nikolay robs him of time. I hope Nikolay can get back to the top he is too talented not to win a slam or reach a slam final. In this match Nikolay just overpowered Nadal and was super aggressive attacking the net and pushing Nadal all over the court. Well done!

[hordak83]

@JordanjamesX Djokovic realized that he has to use the strategy in order to beat Nadal, especially hitting that ball on the rise with his backhand. To bad Davyd never got credit for his patent ;)

[mechkapechka]

@hordak83 yes .. i fell sorry for Davydenko because he is in my opinion very talanted player but no one pays credit to him :S and no one pays him attention ..

[arisklms13]

@JordanjamesX  yes, that's why davydenko is the only player who has a winning record against nadal

[mechkapechka]

He have beaten Nadal again in DOHA :)

[mogofou]

davydenko has got very clean mechanics!

[MoDaTinh]

BRAVOOOOOOOOOO DAVYDENKO, NADAL A PERDU 4FOIS DE SUITE CONTRE DAVYDENKO, C'EST 1 PEU COMPREHENSIBLE, CAR CE NADAL N'A QU'1 SEUL TACTIC, C'EST DE JOUER SUR LE REVERS DE SES ADVERSAIRES, MAIS DAVYDENKO A 1 REVERS SOLIDE, IL PEUT JOUER FORT ET IMPREVISIBLE, POR CELA IL FAIT DES POINTS GAGNANTS SUR LES 2 COTES DE NADAL, ET CE DERNIER NE SAIT PLUS COMMENT JOUER CONTR'1 JOUEUR COMME DAVY. SI TOUT LE MONDE JOUE COMME DAVY, ALORS NADAL DEVIENT NADA KAKAKAKA

[TJFederer15]

@Rafathaman94 - yer its really coming to an end ye sorry what happened at the WTF's?

[dwilliams02]

I agree with you that 2010 Rafa is a different animal, but people were saying that about 2008 Rafa too. Until you can sustain that level of play consistently, there isn't really evidence for the claim you're making. I still think that guys like Davydenko, Djokovic, Del Potro, Murray, and probably still Federer as well, have the edge on him on a hardcourt. He didn't play Fed or DelPo on hard this year, Djokovic and he are pretty much 50-50 on hard, Davy beat him in their one meeting, Andy wins.

[dwilliams02]

True, but that was before the injury troubles that I was referring to. His injuries didn't really become prominent until he revealed that they may have contributed to his shock-loss to Soderling at Roland Garros. After that, they pretty much kept him from playing his best for the rest of the year.

[89Pleasek]

Maybe because their performances have been below par? Nalbandian since 2006 (with the exception of Madrid/Paris 2007) has been playing awefully, Davydenko lots of injuries lately

"Rafa would have destroyed Davy if they met more this year"

If it was on hard courts i'd put my money on Davydenko. He's beaten Nadal almostt every time on the surface regardless of the period they played in

[89Pleasek]

Don't make a big deal out of it, Nadal hates playing guys who take the ball on the rise, are tough from both wings (mostly double-handed backhands) and hit fast/flat balls at high speed. Guys like Davydenko, Nalbandian, Blake, Del Potro, Djokovic (I'm talking about hard courts here, on clay Nadal can easily run every ball down just like he loves to). A 25-year old Agassi would be a nightmare for Nadal.

[89Pleasek]

Youre one fucked up bias. So when Nadal's not in his absolute best shape, Davydenko's wins don't count but when Davy's not at his best that's his problem. How fucked up can you be. Nadal struggled in almost every match he played with the Russian with only 2 exceptions, Monte Carlo/Barcelona in 2008 when Nadal was in his clay peak (I haven't seen Nadal play that well on clay since).

[89Pleasek]

crap, Davydenko always caused trouble to Nadal, even on clay. In fact all the matches that Davydenko's lost to Nadal have been mighty close (2006 Masters Cup, 2007 Rome), so it's not like Davydenko only took advantage from Nadal's 2009 post injury period cause that's not true. Nadal has always struggled against guys who play at a high tempo, take the ball on the rise vide Davy himself, Nalbandian, Blake

[Ignozi]

Davydenko has had Nadal's number in the last few meetings. Hopefully he recovers from his injury soon so we can see him in action. 

[dwilliams02]

Yeah definitely. Nadal is borderline unbeatable when healthy and on his game, his weakness is that so far he hasn't shown that he can sustain that level for very long. The danger for him is that the last time he looked this dominant (2008), he had a relatively subpar 2009. In my opinion, if a player's injured or not at his best, it's not an excuse, because it's either a weakness in their training or technique or a consequence of their play style that they aren't in optimal condition. Just imo

[ownthelaws]

Davydonkey absolutely mauling everything that's short here from Nadull, pure exhibition in ballstriking and poise. Great to watch, hope this Davy is back asap.

[ownthelaws]

Nadull only ever loses when he's 99% or less fit

LOL

[dwilliams02]

Obviously Rafa in this match wasn't the same Rafa as the one who won the Open, but it's hard to deny Davydenko credit in this match. Nikolay has proven on many occasions that he can take Nadal on any given day. Actually, I'm pretty sure he's the only top 10 player who has a winning record head to head over Rafa.

[supersonic622]

wow.. if you've got a great and aggressive backhand, you can take down nadal

[dwilliams02]

Yeah, well the key to beating Rafa is to attack his forehand. He likes to loop the ball a bit too much off of it, especially crosscourt, a.k.a. to a righty's backhand. If you can attack it, like guys such as Murray and Davydenko, you can get him out of his comfort zone. On the other hand, if your backhand is not exceptionally strong, see Roger Federer, you may struggle against him. But you have to attack his forehand to have any chance of penetrating Nadal's ridiculous defense.

[HornyGates]

Rafathaman is just thinking that all the defeat of Nadal in this year's part are coz of his health... funny.

[TJFederer15]

@Rafathaman94 - In doha rafa was playing extremely well yet still cudnt close out davy when having match points, stop taking everything away from the opponant and give credit to them even if nadal wasn't fully fit here, he still played very well.

[TJFederer15]

behind fed, davy is my favourite player to watch when he's playing like this, he's just sick, takes the ball incredibly early, so fast, amazin, hope he gets back to this form here again when it starts in a week or so. This match was so entertaining to watch, when nadal or fed play davy its always a gd match.

[bikhamawarag]

davi is the best



[Ignozi]

Davy looks about 10 years older than his actual age. lol

[imogenf]

where is rafa??

[BrotherTree1]

after davydenkos fantastic performance against nole in the SF's i knew there was no way in hell this recovering-rafa would stop davydenko in the final. and i was right lol.

[rolf85]

4.14 :D:D:D

[RafaelNadalElToro]

I've got cousins in shanghai and an uncle and my aunt =D I dunno where they're sittin' but ofc everyone for my fav player RAFA!!!!