Rafael Nadal: The Match That Changed Everything | Turning Points

Описание: Rafael Nadal: The Match Which Changed Everything | Turning Points

Let me introduce you to "Turning Points".

In this new series I want to highlight important victories or defeats of tennis players, which marked a turning point in their career.

They say, there are three things which are certain in life.

Death - taxes - and Rafael Nadal winning on clay.
In April of 2012 the Spaniard entered the center court of the Monte Carlo Country club for what was going to be his 8th final in a row at the prestigious Masters 1000.

His record at the principality of Monaco? 41 and O. He had never been beaten at this tournament. Rafa was also the reigning six time French Open champion and the undisputed King of Clay.

However, despite all of this, Nadal was not the favorite going into this match but a heavy underdog.
"Why?" - you might ask yourselves. To answer this question - let's turn back the clock and find out.

In 2010 Rafa was the king of the tennis world. He finished the season as the world number one and with three consecutive Major-titles. He went into the Australian Open in 2011 as the heavy favorite with the chance of completing the "Rafa slam" with a potential fourth Major trophy in a row.

However a hamstring injury in the quarterfinals against David Ferrer ended his dream.
Nadal had to watch Novak Djokovic winning the tournament from the sidelines.

A few weeks later, the two rivals met in the final of Indian Wells, with the Serb triumphing after three sets. Nadal had the chance to settle the score at the final of Miami but again it was "The Joker" who won the match after three sets.

When the clay court season started, everyone thought Rafa was going to strike back. But Djokovic didn't let him,The Serb beat his bitter rival again in the finals of Madrid and Rome - making it four wins in a row in their head to head.

For Nadal it got frustrating, as he was still able to beat everyone else in the draw, like he used to in the year prior. But as soon as he faced Djokovic in the finals, he did not stand a chance.
The next chapter took place in the Wimbledon final. This defeat was particularly painful, as Djokovic's triumph also meant he took over the position of world number one from Nadal.

Their final meeting in 2011 took place at the final of the US Open. After four hard-fought sets the winner was - you guessed it: Novak Djokovic. In 2012 Rafa was looking to claim back his position as the world number one. The Warrior made it back to the final of the Australian Open - only to get beaten by Djokovic in what turned out to be the longest grand slam final in history.
Nadal once again left a tournament as a runner up - having now lost seven consecutive finals against his bitter rival.

After this, the Spaniard had to pull out before the semi-finals of the Masters tournament in Miami with knee problems, starting the clay court season with cracked self confidence. Despite all of these set backs, Rafa made it back to the final of Monte Carlo. His opponent waiting for him? Novak Djokovic. So here we are back at the beginning of our story.

And now you know why Nadal was a heavy underdog going into this match.He had lost seven straight finals against Djokovic, who was the undisputed world number one at the time, had just won the Masters in Miami and also four out of the last five grand slam tournaments.

But then, with his back against the wall and the world doubting him, Nadal proved everyone wrong.He reminded the world of tennis that he was called "the King of Clay" for a reason. The match turned into a Demonstration of power from Nadal.The Spaniard was finally able to beat his nemesis after two dominant sets and break the streak of defeats.

This victory changed everything as it gave Nadal back his confidence. When the two rivals met again a few weeks later in the final of Rome, Rafa beat Novak again in two sets. The power between the two began to shift. At "Roland Garros" 2012 they faced each other again. For the tenth consecutive time they met in a final. It was also the fourth Grand Slam final in a row in which they battled out the trophy - This was a testament of how much Nadal and Djokovic dominated the tour at the time. The French Open final lasted two days and four sets - and at the end Rafa triumphed again.

With this victory, Nadal managed to finally turn this rivalry around. He won three out of their next four duels, including a five set epic at Roland Garros and the US Open final in 2013.

In 2014, Rafa once again denied Djokovic the French Open title he had so longed for.It took Djokovic over three years to finally beat Nadal again at Grand Slam stage after their legendary final at Melbourne in 2012. All because the King of Clay regained his confidence in the final of Monte Carlo.A match - which truly changed everything for Nadal.

Thanks for watching and please: feel free to subscribe.