Rafael Nadal's golden journey at Beijing 2008 | Athlete highlights

[@Olympics]

Is Rafael Nadal your all-time favourite tennis player? Let us know in the comments below!

[@blagoevski336]

Not really

[@niklas1426]

He is one of my favourites

[@chandanpulavarthi8904]

Yes

[@dalina4009]

He’s the embodiment of the Olympic athlete!

[@rushabhmurali3181]

He is my favourite..the king of tennis

[@Braselton21]

2008 Roland Garros *Clay* 2008 Wimbledon *Grass* 2008 Olympics *Hard-Court* I don't think people understand how amazing that achievement was.

[@NazriB]

Lies again? President Beijing

[@ha-qg2ug]

Not only that, but he's also beaten Federer in both of those slams finals, and Djokovic in that Olympic and Roland Garros semifinals.

[@safkathass]

2010 Roland Garros clay 2010 Wimbledon grass 2010 US Open Hard He did it twice

[@25-eishitkumar-7a2]

Yeah true

[@jibranulhaq9043]

He also leading djokovic 11-7 in GrandSlam meetings .

[@helgageraldine513]

I remember watching this live on TV and that final seconds of the semis vs djokovic was so thrilling especially because Rafa was so far behind the baseline that you couldn't see him on screen , and then all of a sudden they showed him lying on the floor... he won! I will never forget that. Watching Rafa's matches gives me tremendous anxiety sometimes but I don't care.

[@akshaymeena8577]

Ohh, Great.

[@foodreacts837]

The camaraderie couldn’t see a thing

[@BinaryRex18]

Hopefully he wins RG 2022

[@manuelsanjose5926]

@@BinaryRex18 pues tú ilusión q también és la mia nos ha sido otorgada, ahí lo tenemos, el Roland Garros del 2022 ganado por Nadal, ARRIBA NADAL, GRANDE CAMPEÓN!! 🎾🏆💪💪🇪🇦

[@moviefan4life166]

HKM! Who knew he’d be 16-0 in slams this year as I write this having won not only the French open, but the Australian as well. Let’s see how deep he can go at Wimbledon.

[@rishbahpandey8697]

Who is here after Nadal won his 20th slam. Edit- Nadal just won his 21st slam

[@Atlargein]

I am. The video popped up and its a visual gourmet for me not knowing the olympic run.

[@RaheesKhan-sn5oq]

Me

[@rishbahpandey8697]

@@RaheesKhan-sn5oq rafa the GOATda

[@ngaza214]

Of course me

[@707ladytee]

@@Atlargein The Same. I knew he won, but didn’t remember who he played.

[@cynthialagraff4144]

Always a fan from the first game. Beautiful in spirit. He’s my all-time favorite.

[@fridaclaxton]

Point?

[@TheTmat007]

@@fridaclaxton Point made

[@fridaclaxton]

@@TheTmat007 Point?

[@TheTmat007]

@@fridaclaxton "He's my all-time favorite."

[@fridaclaxton]

@@TheTmat007 Point?

[@GY-yv5cz]

And he did it on a hardcourt.

[@rnsw4572]

And ignorant fools say he’s only good on clay..

[@kikaa1884]

@@jjfutbol11 worst year 😂😂😂 He reached 3 grandslam finals and won 1st US Open title Djokovic or Federer it doesn't matter Only thing matter is winning titles

[@messishady]

This was my favourite Olympics because my 4 favorites and 4 greatest players In their sports all won Gold - Messi, Nadal, Bolt, Phelps

[@HimalayanRanger1999]

Messi won as team

[@arslaanpasha3334]

@@HimalayanRanger1999 still he won though

[@kokanikaran]

Also Serena Williams

[@nogoodnameleft]

Beijing 2008 was the best Olympics ever

[@healthylifehub8089]

@@arslaanpasha3334 Fed also won as a team with wawrinka

[@ashwinthejus]

Rafa was soooo at his best in 2008, he literally adapted very well with the varying conditions by winning French Open on clay, Wimbledon on grass and the Olympics on hard, all within a span of just 3 months. It is so hard to even go through such a huge court transitions even on Grand slams French-Wimbledon-USO within a span of 6 months that literally he is the only one who achieved that in 2010, but going through that transition within 3 months in 2008 is absolutely surreal.

[@PhotographerSen]

While most of the experts consider 2013 or 2010 as Nadal’s best year on the tour, for me it always has been 2008, particularly because of the Olympic Gold and that 'gratest Tennis match ever played' in Wimbledon. Bring back the three-quarter short, Rafa...!😅

[@timodoren2281]

2010 was amazing as well. So unlucky at the AO and injury issues that plagued him for his entire career, but the fact that he was able to win FO, W, USO all 3 within 4 months ? C-R-A-Z-Y. How many players in the history have won 3 slams within 4 months ? Rafa might still be the only one to do that.

[@RAUL7487]

Ohhh... That finan in Wimbledon 2008 the greatest sports event I can tell.

[@unforgettabletimes6636]

Don’t forget how in 2008 he won Roland Garros without dropping a single set and delivered a bagel to prime Federer in the final.

[@lesbiantrump4230]

@@timodoren2281 In 2019 he won FO, USO and got to wimbledom semi...

[@Aman-nk5uq]

Only idiots think 2013 was prime. What a joke. 2008 and 2010 are far better. 2005 to 2010 was prime Nadal on clay

[@Bratin_Basu]

He's my All Time Favourite. He's GOAT. Love from India🇮🇳

[@gezzarandom]

Thanks to him, Roger Federer, Andy Murray, Juan Martine Del Potro, and Novak Djokovic, Olympic tennis is now held in the same prestige as the slams. Where-as before the top players didn’t tend to take it seriously

[@HimalayanRanger1999]

Golden career slam is imp parameter in goat race

[@tobysweeney1762]

It isn't held in the same prestige it' more of a tie breaker for tennis...

[@claudioburgosgonzalez2844]

It´s not a joke. Since Beijing 2008 the only tennis players who have been able to win an Olympic medal in the singles modality are those who previously disputed a Grand Slam final. In this case: Nadal, Nole, González, Federer, Murray, Delpo and Nishikori.

[@BinaryRex18]

Olympics is important but not as important as slams. Slams are the only thing that matters at the end of the day which is why fed Nadal Djoker are joint-GOAT

[@writamchatterjee4676]

@@BinaryRex18 ok according to your logic now Nadal is the only GOAT 🐐🙌

[@SSR3010]

Imagine Olympic being held on clay. No chance for others then.

[@norm-bb3bb]

The Olympics will be held on clay in Roland Garros but I think Rafa will be too old to compete for another gold sadly.

[@rajpincha4820]

@@norm-bb3bb rafa will never be too old when playing on clay

[@TheKakarot_itachi]

@@norm-bb3bb Rio should have been held on clay

[@robertofenloch9595]

I think the last Olympics to have been on clay were the 1992 games.

[@TheKakarot_itachi]

@@robertofenloch9595 it depends on the local tennis federation. Latin America has had huge clay court players and traditions. Strange Rio was on HCs.

[@Victrola66]

When Rafa first appeared I wasn’t really a fan....but he slowly grew on me and today I back him 150%

[@Rafa_RG]

Gracias Rafa for all the incredible moments with you I may not have been able to watch all your matches but I am very grateful to see Bastad, the Olympics, the 6 Kings Slam and a bit of the Davis Cup you are my idol and Vamos Rafa !!!!!

[@ramongarciamarin3506]

London'12 was injured and Rio'16 had been whitout play tennis a long time ago because injured again but Rafa have won 2 gold medal. Great sportman,better person Sorry for my english. 🤗😊

[@marioalbertoungaretti4]

Wow, he demolished Hewitt. Still can't believe how the Australian was so dominant for 2 seasons in a row as world number one, played at a good level until mid 2005 and then became a punching bag untill his retirement. He was still pretty young from 2005 to 2008.

[@siddharthgollapudi07]

He had hip injuries unfortunately it sort of curtailed on what could have been a even greater career.

[@kenkozawa9810]

He's a counter puncher with injuries what you expect. Still, he held a respectable 4-1 advantage over Rafa that was nearly 5-1 but lost a close match to Rafa on clay. Lleyton still had some great success late in his career like his 2 finals wins against Roger.

[@marioalbertoungaretti4]

@@kenkozawa9810 clearly Roger didn't play his best and let Hewitt get some crums before finally hanging up his racquet.

[@kenkozawa9810]

@@marioalbertoungaretti4 well yeah, that is what a counter puncher is supposed to do, of course Roger couldn't play best tennis. Lleyton was amazing during those Halle and Brisbane finals especially on serve and caused Roger the same problems he used to have against him before 2004. Go watch those matches in full, in both matches Roger had like 13 aces, 1 double, 60% first serve percentage, lots of break chances but Lleyton was at his unrelenting best... Not really surprising, throughout Roger's career his toughest match up has been defensive baseliners.

[@juankruh6816]

weak era player, he would have never won if he played in djokovic nadal era

[@asdalol]

Thanks for this highlights, in my opinion this victory is the more important in Nadal career, I value it over a Slam. The timing was also perfect, Roland Garros, Wimbledon, Gold medal & finally world number 1

[@jacobschmidt2709]

Slam> WTF> OG= master 1,000

[@Ky-fm8ho]

Yeah man that timing makes it more legendary ☺️

[@georgem1425]

I have been a fan of Rafa since the first game I've watched him, in 2005 Monte Carlo final vs Coria. Still my favourite athlete in the world. He is my inspiration!

[@horsepower523]

The Best of the Best, the King of Kings, the Greatest Of All-Time.....Rafael Nadal. VAMOS RAFA!!!

[@maneebmasood]

ATP should again assign at least 1000 Points(Equivalent to the Masters tournaments) to the Olympics. This would make the better players play in the Olympics and not skip it. Similarly, for the WTA.

[@jovertr9716]

I agree, but I don't think players need extra motivation to join the Olympics

[@Anticommunism99]

Who skipped the Olympics? Cause I don't remember a single top player to make such a dumb decision.

[@707ladytee]

@@Anticommunism99 Lol, the Olympics is an honorable event to participate in.

[@ngaza214]

They should make Olympics as 3000 points. Olympics is more difficult to win because of 4 year format and it is one in a life time chance. Next time you join Olympics you’re already 4 years older and chances are slimmer. I think they should weigh Olympics better than any GS.

[@maneebmasood]

@@Anticommunism99 Many! Many! Tennis stars summon two watertight reasons for not taking the Olympics seriously. One, it breaks the rhythm of a tennis calendar, and two, in tennis, a Slam trophy carries substantially more mass than an Olympic medal. So, when the sport was reintroduced by the International Olympic Committee at Seoul, 1988, following a 64-year hiatus, only three of the men’s top 10 showed up (Miloslav Mecír won gold, Tim Mayotte silver). And the trend continues. Many of the top 10, 20,...skip the Olympics.

[@akshaymeena8577]

Roland Garros, Wimbledon, Olympic Gold Medal And World Number One Ranking In 2008, A Golden Year For Rafael Nadal.

[@syc9675]

2008 Summer Olympics - *singles* 2016 Summer Olympics - *doubles*

[@alirizaa6639]

Rafa is the Greatest of All Time..and my absolute ALL TIME FAVORITE athlete..Vamoss champ..❤

[@PL-qs1ig]

The most special one, not only for him, for Spain as well

[@bryancorts5389]

Depends. Tribal is more meaningful than the national level

[@nnkc362]

Nadal = Olympian! 🎾

[@mmaaarr]

Nadal is my all-time favorite athlete.

[@dorryoku919]

Too bad he was plagued with injuries. If not he'd be undisputedly the greatest. Still contesting for that spot tho

[@shermagustave837]

It makes him stronger no? I am so proud.

[@harshavardhan7237]

He is still great

[@ngaza214]

He is now the GOAT

[@harshavardhan7237]

@@ngaza214 he is if he gets 21 next year

[@N.Kishore]

@@harshavardhan7237 He will get next year,2 slams atleast i believe

[@vuhuynh7629]

I came here for Nadal and walked away with only the Djoko-Smash at 05:28 in mind. Such a legendary shot!

[@nabianfel1123]

Hahahah 🤣

[@marilynwasserman3273]

The "Djokosmash" was a regular feature of Young Djoko's game. James Blake played Gonzalez in their semi and said at the time that Gonzalez had failed to admit that Blake's ball late in the match had hit his racket, He got support from American TV but nothing could be done about it since a player has to call that on himself. Blake might well have won the final had he played since he gave Young Rafa a lot of trouble on hard courrts. Rafa credited the "Olympic atmoshere" for his gold medal win. He'd arrived there very tired from his run to #1 but was inspired by the other athletes. YES! Rafa is my all time favorite athlete and always will be. I'm 83 btw.

[@PasserBy869]

2008 Rafa was otherworldly Roland Garros - clay Wimbledon - grass Beijing 2008 - hard

[@cocafanta7940]

The year where tennis world learned Nadal was not only the king of clay

[@njmartybrodeur30]

I have such memories watching these matches. Thank you for posting!

[@vipulgupta]

Golden Slam!!! (All four Grand Slams + Olympics Singles Gold) One of the only two male players in the history to have it! One of the only four players in the history to have it!! Only one among the Big 3 to have it!!!

[@jacobschmidt2709]

Slam> WTF> OG>Master 1,000

[@ashleythomas4112]

@@jacobschmidt2709 Olympic Gold is easily worth more than Masters 1000. There are 9 Masters every year lol, only one OG every 4 years.

[@jacobschmidt2709]

@@ashleythomas4112 Yeah, my bad. I need to edit that. The finals being best of five(at least until this year) and more cache should put it above a master 1,000. What we do know is all 4 count as big titles.

[@zarnabaftab9257]

He is astonishing and marvelous , incredible player

[@mariegracesumbrado300]

What an incridible win from king of clay vamoooos

[@imstayinalive]

And this is where the djoko smash was seen for the first time!

[@mishrasaurabh8124]

I hope he wins again next year ❤️❤️ Gonna be not easy! But surely doable if he gives his best like Roland Garros 2020🔥

[@maneshipocrates]

He won the AO 21!

[@kaioliver576]

Big fan of the olympics

[@armaanbharatsingh4911]

Big fan of him

[@midhileshmomidi2434]

Nadal was on fire and olympics was at right time and got Gold Federer in 2012 was on form winning Wimbledon and lost his best chance to Andy Djokovic lost his best chance in 2016 to Del Potro Meanwhile Andy won 2 back to back Golds capitalising his form becoming first Tennis player to do so Unlucky Federer and Djokovic

[@viveknamikaze761]

For Federer, that 4h semi took everything out of him in 2012 and blake beat him once in his life and that too in olympics. What are the odds?

[@armstrongtixid6873]

@@viveknamikaze761 Federer had a decent change to beat Nadal at the Olympics, as he was still the best on hard until 2009 AO, but he screwed it up v Blake. In 2004, same v Berdych. In 2000, he could've got bronze by beating Haas. In 2012, the Delpo match killed him. In 2016, he was unlucky to miss by barely any time due to injury. In 2020, his last chance I'd imagine is just delayed another year. Djokovic lost to Nadal in a thriller SF, and he would've won the final and had to settle for bronze in the end. In 2012, he somehow lost to Murray and then Delpo. In 2016, he was unlucky to just start his decline from being unbeatable and to lose to a Delpo who just came back. He would've won it if it was in 2020, but we don't know about whether he has improved much on HC or gone worse. Murray was incredibly lucky that Delpo killed Fed in 2012, and Nadal killed Delpo in 2016. He was EXTREMELY lucky.

[@NamTran-xc2ip]

@@armstrongtixid6873 you just don't like Murray. Murray beaten Djokovic in the WImbledon final, something Federer never done. Considering Djokovic is currently the 2nd best grass court player and probably 1st in the future, Murray can win anyway

[@shoeperaturkiyeyuksekokcel5207]

Rafa is the Grand Master and Gladiator of Tennis. No one can play like him. My all time favorite player 😍🤗😍

[@BlacksmithMD]

2008 summer Rafa is the GOAT,he won RG on Clay by demolishing Roger,Olympics on Hard and won Wimbledon on Grass vs Grass King

[@TRUNGNGUYEN-bz9th]

Fantastico!🇪🇦🎾

[@WS-hr9nf]

My favorite soprt's man in my life 💪💪💪

[@glenroyreid2509]

No one else even comes close!!!! I was a visiting fan until the emergent of RAFA NADAL!!!!

[@logosinghi6574]

Rafael Nadal N01 gentilman talented honesty handsham player in the world forever ever

[@HimalayanRanger1999]

What a boy he was!!And what a man he is! Iconic

[@jayap3557]

Truly... he is an inspiration for people older than him too...watching his positive attitude puts a spark in our mundane existence... how he puts everything... the game... the country's pride... his pain... before his own self...hope the new generations learn something from this great kid...

[@HerdyDjamasKoe]

Rafael Nadal Legend Tennis 🎾🎾🎾 semoga sukses selalu di Lapangan Tenis dan masih bisa juara turnamen.

[@mna9211]

I want him to win 1 more Olympic gold

[@fg92626]

🐐broke Nadal at the Roland Garros again

[@nicholaslim9684]

Of the 3 players that has 20 Grand Slam only Nadal achieved Olympic gold in singles. Is he the greatest of all time?

[@timodoren2281]

Every time Djokovic hits an overhead smash to Rafa he gets PTSD. Happened at the Olympics and later at RG.

[@RITMIQUEANDOCONDAIRA]

El mejor del mundo 💖👏🇪🇦

[@kakashihatake1029]

Make a video on 2 time olympic gold medalist Andy Murray

[@rajeshs3467]

Vamos rafa

[@jeffwib7532]

is there any player like Nadal that has single and double olympic gold medal in open era?

[@garbanzo2687]

No

[@iamshadowbanned699]

Serena and Venus Williams

[@Atlargein]

Yes, Nicolas Massu in the 2004 Olympics in Athens

[@jacobschmidt2709]

Yet he has 0 WTF's, which is more important on a resume.

[@Raju-bf5ox]

@@jacobschmidt2709 but djokovic cried 2wice in 2008 n 2016 for very unimportant olympic🤣🤣🤣... I hope players know who is more imp. than toxic fans like u

[@sahilpanjwani2277]

Will be great to see a rematch of Nadal and Djokovic at 2021 Olympics ,could be even better if in the final

[@foodreacts837]

Murray and nadal are they only Olympic champions in the big 4

[@slc2466]

And remain so (in Singles).

[@kogniscent]

djokovic really nailed that slam at 5:28 lmaooo. imagine losing the match with that unforced error

[@sahithsudini9352]

who's laughing now

[@kogniscent]

@@sahithsudini9352 it’s a different match so doesn’t change anything lmao

[@ruckfules9441]

@@sahithsudini9352 22 🤫 🤐

[@kryptonian1371]

Will miss him at Tokyo 😔

[@arslaanpasha3334]

Hes does this after every olympics. Played 2008, 2016

[@arslaanpasha3334]

Takes break after one

[@kryptonian1371]

@@arslaanpasha3334 except this may have been his last Olympics. He's 35 now you know.

[@arslaanpasha3334]

@@kryptonian1371 yeah😕

[@arslaanpasha3334]

@@kryptonian1371 big 3 are gonna retire soon. Federer is already 40 and is pretty done. Then tennis will be forever done. Cuz next gen players are very inconsistent.

[@안문광]

🇪🇸Rafa nadal 🏅👍👏👏

[@ligma9597]

try as much as you want you'll never reach nadal greatness

[@owl938]

Rafa was beast at hard court in his early days🙌

[@pravindeshmukh5224]

All time Greatest Rafa,won 21St grandslam a day before!!!

[@ajeetchaturvedi8390]

Greatest of all time

[@michaelgow5922]

Whoever made this video, WHY put in random points of unforced errors? If you are going to show a point, it should be a good rally or winner. Who thinks, I know what will be great here - a clip of Rafa Nadal returning a serve long! Or a player hitting into the net!

[@piesdescalzos27]

lmfao at djokovic's smash

[@javiert.592]

Tremendous mistake. Lack of concentration maybe...

[@oguzcangunduz4160]

Great honour

[@khuzaimhyder8319]

all time favorite nadal❤️❤️

[@Rafaholicsdotcom]

Perhaps the Olympic games for tennis should be played on clay, grass not only hardcourts.

[@benparsons4979]

they're played on whatever surface the city provides, for example in the 2012 London Olympics, tennis was held at the All England Club on grass Maybe if the Olympics were next held in Paris the tennis would be on clay at Roland Garros

[@707ladytee]

@@benparsons4979 It will be.

[@AlejandroGarcia-wz1qi]

Paris 2024 will be on clay

[@davidjay_]

Minus the shadow, Djoker looks exactly the same as he did 16 years ago.

[@jasonsha5346]

still better than Roland Garros highlights

[@theaviator1152]

Everybody always forgets how full of unforced errors Djokovic was before 2010. He choked away multiple finals against Federer and was always super inconsistent on clay. Really topsy-turvy too, he'd be doing great one set and then be mentally in shambles half an hour later. Everyone has to start from somewhere! Unless you're Nadal, who was mentally indestructible from the day he turned 15.

[@robinsoncruise2228]

false

[@manuelsanjose5926]

@@robinsoncruise2228 verdad

[@oscartracey5364]

Greatest Athlete of All Time

[@drinkmilk007]

Good highlights but please spare us the music next time

[@PatouetPastis]

My hero.... Forever.... 💖🇪🇦💖🇪🇦💖🇪🇦💖

[@FGame2star]

Background music name please

[@lucianamavignier7285]

Nadal venceu em 2008 e derrotou Djochovic na semifinal. E o sérvio garantiu o ouro em 2024 vencendo o maravilhoso espanhol Alcaraz! Viva o espírito esportivo!

[@SHVideografie]

Never realized Gonzo had setpoint in that 2nd set.

[@arslaanpasha3334]

Yes

[@AkumaXone]

The only to B3 to win gold in Olympic Games.

[@karthikeyanksp]

Rafael Nadal ❤️😍

[@account-ll8ou]

If a player wins all four grand slams plus olympic gold medal next year, will this achievement considered as the golden slam? (considering the olympic suposed to be held this year instead)

[@gezzarandom]

I would’ve thought so.

[@SJ-di5zu]

Yeah. Even tho it’s definitely not gonna happen lol

[@707ladytee]

It doesn’t have to be all grand slams in the same year. As long as one has won all four gs’s and an Olympic gold during their career.

[@account-ll8ou]

@@707ladytee i mean if a player make it next year, would it considered the same as graf's 1988?

[@707ladytee]

@@account-ll8ou I know what you mean. It was a video done about it. It included, Aggasi, Nadal, Serrena, along with Graff. So it wasn’t necessarily all in the same year as far as grand slams.

[@badteethtv]

Can we get some full Nadal matches from Rio 2016?

[@atanudey8998]

He is the GOAT rog & Djoko can never emulate him Olympic winner 👍👍👍👍👍

[@z1az285]

Olympics gold in singles and doubles...Go ahead, top that. Only Nicolas Massu from Chile has matched it.

[@khoihoangba9156]

Song name please?

[@Phil_OG]

pls tell me if you know the song

[@sebseb8047]

Nadal served so well at this time

[@eldon9443]

GOAT 🙏🏼❤️

[@maximmihaylov4440]

Music?

[@joshuam5035]

Does 5:31 remind anyone else of Nadal's Qf at the US Open against Thiem?

[@Conish22]

And we thought ATP highlights were badly edited…

[@HSA-]

Does anybody know the music track name?

[@mujaffarzamader4253]

Rafa the king 👑😍❤️

[@catsarecool8913]

Could u turn the music louder I can’t really hear it

[@ngaza214]

Sorry Federer fans. Federer has no more chance for Singles Olympic Gold Medal. That is why aside from 2O GS, Olympic Gold Medal makes Nadal the undisputed Greatest of All Time!

[@juliashireen6195]

From the look of it, I should've gone to the Final Tennis Match of this Olympics - there were so many seats EMPTY!!!! GAH!!!!!!! MISSED OPPORTUNITY!!!

[@florencebudoya3814]

Yes

[@ianrobinson4200]

It's a bit sad watching this and seeing how explosive he was back then compared to now...

[@Pmcm11]

The GOAT🇪🇦🐐🏆

[@kiklocus4660]

Novak always gracious in defeat

[@shubhammohapatra1582]

Did you watch him after Tokyo lose?

[@kiklocus4660]

@@shubhammohapatra1582 did you watch him hugging busta?

[@shubhammohapatra1582]

@@kiklocus4660 Did you watch how he broke his racquet and withdrew from mixed doubles ? What was the fault of his partner. He could have atleast played with her and lost than to step back....

[@kiklocus4660]

@@shubhammohapatra1582 you are not Novak djokovic