3 Most thrilling marathon matches of Rafael Nadal in 2018

As Rafael Nadal retired at US Open Semi-Final stage there was a moment of unapologetic irony to go with a cascade of déjà vu. The Grand slam year ended the way it started for Rafa, injured and on his aching knees.The unstoppable force and immovable tendinitis.

Nonetheless, Nadal has had an impressive year at the Grand slams. He won at Roland Garros, reached the semifinals at Wimbledon and flushing meadows and quarters at the Australian Open. In total, he only lost one match while winning 21 matches. Golden by any standard unless it his own. This was not a year of multiple Slams and golden cups. It was glittering for another reason, his sheer will to slog through the toughest opponents in the longest of matches writing the most thrilling of scripts. A triumph of indefatigable self-belief and defiance to quit! His 49-4 win/loss record for 2018 is ample evidence for that.

He lost in some sensational tales but won in a lot more. Here are the three of the most memorable of matches that any tennis aficionado in any era has witnessed:

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#1 Wimbledon quarterfinal with Juan Martin Del Potro (7-5, 6-7 (7), 4-6, 6-4, 6-4)

Result: Won Duration: 4 hrs 48 mins

Nadal at his regal best - Wimbledon 2018

Nadal was forced to come back from a set down before breaking in a thrilling fifth set to win in almost five hours.

Nadal squeezed a pivotal break in the opening set for a 6-5 lead and wrapped up the set when Del Potro missed a backhand in the next game. Playing in his first Wimbledon quarter-final since 2011 could not capitalize on four set points in the second set.

The Argentine won the tiebreaker to level Nadal’s lead. Then, Del Potro dominated the third set and claimed the only break of the set with a rapier-like forehand to go 2-1 ahead.

Nadal, unyielding as ever, raced back to level the tie to set a pulsating fifth and final set. It was replete with spectacular shots, acrobatic dives and dramatic falls. After a routine hold by both in the opening two games. Del Potro was pushed to deuce four times in his next service game. But he held on only to be broken in his next service game.

Nadal went 3-2 up with the break and defended break points in the sixth and eighth games before finishing off the tie to set up his sixth Wimbledon semi-final. Del Potro finished with 33 aces and 77 winners even forcing Nadal into the crowd once.

Brilliant advertisement for Tennis-a lesson for one Serena Williams

#2 Wimbledon semifinal with Novak Djokovic (6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (9), 4-6, 10-8)

Result: Lost Duration: 5 hrs 15 mins

Another installment of the Spanish-Serbian rivalry

Novak Djokovic survived the Rafael Nadal test in a draining slugfest that crossed the 5-hour red mark. Another memorable episode in the duo’ incredible rivalry is the second longest semi-final in Wimbledon history.

After two contrasting sets, the third set went produce more friction. The tiebreaker eventually went the Serbian’s way but the match had to go for a sleep interval. Djokovic and Nadal could only complete three sets on Friday night before the 11pm curfew as the match was preluded by the 6hr+ marathon between John Isner and Kevin Anderson.

Next afternoon, Djokovic with a 2-1 lead going into was stunned the brutal start by a roaring Nadal. He did have to save two break points as Novak settled but eventually made it all even at 2 sets apiece.

The fifth set had it all. Both players had multiple break points. Nadal survived at 3-4 and Djokovic saved hi serve at 15-40 to make it 4-4. Nadal again raced 15-40 on Djokovic's serve at 7-7.

The Djoker stretched the game but Nadal was not reading from the same page as he got a third break point. Now Nadal went in for the kill, moving to the net after a big crosscourt backhand but Djokovic smashed a brilliant forehand pass across him while he stood stranded and flustered.

A match not for the tenuous-hearted

Nadal, always the fighter, brought a sumptuous drop shot out of the bag while facing another break point to make the score 8-7. Something had to give and finally, it did. Djokovic seized his first match point at 0-40 on the Nadal serve as the Spaniard’s forehand went off the mark.

A loss for Nadal in the record books but a win for millions of Tennis connoisseurs!

#3 US Open quarterfinal with Dominic Thiem (0-6 6-4 7-5 6-7 (4-7) 7-6 (7-5))

Result: Won Duration: 4 hrs 49 mins

Sizzler at Flushing Meadows!

This one is the most recent and no less startling. Nadal was handed a set 6-0 thumping and a harsh reality check ninth seed Austrian looked hungry for revenge (finals at French Open 2018). Thiem fired one thunderous groundstroke after another in a 24-minute blitz. Thiem dished out 13 winners and five aces to hand Nadal’s first ‘Bagel’since 2004, in front of a disbelieving Arthur Ashe stadium. Nadal won just seven points.

What does Nadal do? 32-year-old Mallorcan rallies back in his inimitable panache rediscovering his service game in the second set. He went leveled the score by gobbling two of the three straight breaks at the end of the second set.

Unwilling to relent his high-impact strategy, Thiem continued to throw the kitchen sink at the Muscleman from Spain. Nadal continued to make hay under the floodlights as the unforced errors counted continued to swell for Thiem.

Thiem was both brilliant and temerarious in a tough fourth set. He twice salvaged his service games from 40-15 down but collected just one of seven break points. He took the tie-break 7-4 to force a decider.

Nadal pushed the Austrian close again of his service but he held on to take the fifth set into another tiebreaker. Nadal, 17-time Grand Slam champion clinched the match on his first match point as Thiem overhit an overhead smash.

Thiem won 171 points in the match, five more than Nadal, and hit 74 winners compared to 55 by the Spaniard.

Ever the gentleman, Nadal hurdled the net to embrace the 25-year-old Thiem as the crowd( whoever stayed till 2 am!) venerated them with a deafening ovation.

Thiem had never been in a 4hr+ match his whole career while this was Nadal’s 17th, just at a Grand Slam. A testament to Nadal’s indomitable spirit as much as his intimidating strength and peerless skill.