Rafael Nadal v Fernando Verdasco - Australian Open 2009 Semifinal | AO Classics

[@kriznan97]

This is for me the best match I've ever seen. The angles, power, serving, finesse and passion these guys played with was insane. I feel this match keeps getting underrated because it was not a final , it was Verdasco instead of another big 3 player/grand slam winner and it didn't have the historical significance of some other great matches but this is hands down the best in terms of quality I've ever seen. Neither held back with their shots. Not a single rally did I see where atleast one player wasn't all out attacking. Even the unforced errors they made never felt like poor shots because they were always looking to land killer blows. Credit to Verdasco for putting on such a show and extracting such a performance from Nadal.

[@ZATennisFan]

It is definitely in the list of the greatest matches I’ve ever seen. I’m honestly not sure I could only pick one but this would be a contender. Roddick vs ElAyouni is another

[@iancheshier9026]

Agreed. Beating Verdasco, who played the best tennis of his career in this match, then beating Federer in a five setter in the finals is probably rafas greatest grad slam achievement. The only match I would put above this one is 2008 Wimbledon.

[@JJJJ-fi9dg]

The recent zverev vs nadal Roland Garros semi final had this level of quality for two sets before zverevs injury. Shame it ended

[@pnunezaguila]

In my top 10 tennis matches ever played for sure.

[@drestarman]

In my top 10 matches of all time. It's only not the greatest because it's not the final and non rivalry. Skill wise it probably is though. But the best matches due to rivalry and weight of history are (in no particular order) - - Novak vs Stan Aus Open Hard R16 2013. - Nadal vs roger 2008 Wimbledon final. - Novak vs Nadal 2012 Aus open final. - Novak vs Rafa 2018 Wim SF. - John McEnroe v Ivan Lendl - FO final, 1984. - Rafa v Novak - 2013 FO SF. - Novak v Federer - 2019 Wimbledon Final. - Federer v Andy Roddick - 2009 Wimbledon Final. - Bjorn Borg v John McEnroe - 1980 Wimbledon Final.

[@joshuam5035]

How Nadal could even walk for the next few days let alone beat ROGER FEDERER in the finals is astonishing.

[@therealbs2000]

Dude had taped up knees before the SEMIS...then went 10 hours on the ground with verdasco and federer over a single weekend. What is that about lol

[@musthafamv6844]

He is not a human

[@cindygirlification]

He takes plenty of rest between points 🤨

[@dormosev]

Doping

[@babasemka]

Drugs are powerful drugs :)

[@mutton7891]

This match and Verdasco's performance had such a big impact on me. Rafa is my favourite athlete ever but I remember going from barely watching Verdasco's matches to being a super fan of the guy. I even styled my hair into a mohawk and bought the same Tecnifibre rackets as he used in this match. Sadly Verdasco couldn't maintain this insane level of tennis for much longer and became a very inconsistent player. I don't sport the mohawk any more but still use Tecnifibre rackets almost a decade later which should tell you how much I love them.

[@youshenglv5616]

Mutton he's just choking. See he still played two double fault in final game.I'm his fan too. He's now using head. C'mon go buy one

[@eyeofhorus1301]

@@youshenglv5616 Tecnifibre is better brat

[@C_AVATAR]

I agree with you about what you mentioned above. But I think throughout his career Verdasco should have taken medication for his ADHD. Would have really helped but it's too late now.

[@bd3531]

LOLOLOL me too. I was such a fan of his hysterical antics that I was doing that crazy open palm pump

[@parthupmanyu4366]

How did they not include the legendary banana shot in this 25 min video?!

[@CHOPSTYX93]

IKR!!!!?!?!?

[@farhansarkar2561]

yeah i mean i was eager to see that action and crowd and commentary but they just cut that

[@aishwarya5973]

Tey missed several beautiful points. Anyways, Goats

[@noahkhimasia6437]

S23G ha ha! Nice!

[@serenaistheb.o.a.t]

Imo the greatest point in tennis history.

[@Cinemadaptation]

Verdasco's fourth set tie-break IS a masterpiece

[@spideyocd]

It should've been won 7-0 but was won 7-1

[@silvialedesma6061]

Verdasco was a beast in that tie-break

[@MrBen51309]

2009 and 2012 were the greatest years of the Big 3 era. So many iconic matches.

[@kyroseven]

You lot really done highlights of this and missed out the point at 5-4 40-40 in the second set where Rafa hit the banana forehand down the line? Lol.

[@FeatureTennis]

I spent 10 minutes looking for that shot...

[@aishwarya5973]

@@FeatureTennis yeah they missed several interesting points

[@PolKsio]

Yikes bro

[@sebbyh9764]

This is probably the best match I've ever seen

[@gobackdjokovicgreatestliar4502]

2022 Australian open men final

[@Teddy_Gautier]

This match hurt me so much for verdasco. He was never quite the same after this...

[@youtuytumaddrre]

Not really. Verdasco's best rank was four years later, 8th on 2013. Maybe he will improve if he wins that Match and reach the finals. But we didnt know really, although he had tennis to be a top player

[@bryanladroup8603]

Por que dices que verdasco no volvió a ser el mismo. Verdasco fue un jugador muy intermitente en el circuito esta fue una de las pocas veces que verdasco llegó tan lejos en un grand slams en máster series tampoco era muy común verlo en etapas decisivas de estos torneos así que verdasco fue un gran tenista no más que eso. En esos años estaban los 4 fantásticos djokovic, nadal, federer y murray detrás estaban berdich, del potro, Fernando González, cilic etc

[@youtuytumaddrre]

@@bryanladroup8603 Ya digo yo mas abajo que el mejor ranking de Verdasco no es en 2009, si no cuatro años después, 2013. Si tengo una teoría enrevesada a ver si me la compras. Verdasco es un personaje muy pasionaje, un poco gilipollas, un algo torero. Ya se ve en estos puntos o como actúa contra Gasquet en Francia. Mi opinión es que Nadal ha impedido que Verdasco fuera mejor con sus altibajos, siendo un tenista de sensaciones, Nadal absorbe un foco mediatico que antes de el estaba más repartido entre Costa, Moya, Corretja y Ferrero. Dos de ellos consiguieron el número uno y tres ganaron Roland Garros. Mi opinión es que Verdasco hubiera intentado con más fuerza si conseguir una Semifinal de GS se viera como algo increíble como antes y no como algo común con Nadal. Si los españoles hubieran estado pendiente de Verdasco, yo sinceramente pienso que siendo tan pasional como era, hubiera conseguido más motivación por conseguir mejores objetivos. No los de Nadal pero haber llegado a un par de finales de GS en dura. De hecho Nadal evita que juegue una final. Joder, Verdasco gana en ese Aus Open al 4 del mundo (Murray), al 5 (Tsonga) y lleva a cinco sets al 1 (Nadal). Es obvio que tenía tenis de sobra.

[@godandguns9302]

Unreal tiebreak from Verdasco in that 4th set

[@ertugrulkorpinar51]

Samuel Brown the best tiebreak ever played by an individual, no one in tennis history would’ve taken that tiebreak from him

[@godandguns9302]

Ertugrul Körpinar Totally agree

[@aleksamilosevic8792]

@@ertugrulkorpinar51 Except federer!!!Federer goat invincible !!!!1!!!

[@imaginesleeping9640]

@@aleksamilosevic8792 not goat anymoree

[@aleksamilosevic8792]

@@imaginesleeping9640 I was sarcastic.

[@casey4664]

Nadal knew he'd won one of the greatest matches of all time. Celebrated like it was the final

[@abhyuditnagar1319]

They new that who won this semi final will win the championship

[@djordjenikolic9059]

@@abhyuditnagar1319 Verdasco would have no chance in final looool

[@CBendana]

@@djordjenikolic9059 I agree, only Nadal at that time could of beaten an in form and rested Roger Federer after such a brutal match.

[@ashishnair12]

Remember watching this match as a young kid rooting for Nadal. Looking back at it again 13 years later it is just as good as I remembered it to be.

[@thisnamealsotaken]

And after such a match he went on to play and win an even better match. How this is still not considered the goat is beyond my belief.

[@untilmorning9634]

This match was better

[@BinaryRex18]

GOAT is whoever has most majors. So technically he is the goat

[@nelsonhamilton8262]

@@untilmorning9634 Agreed…mostly cause the 5th set in Nadal/Federer was completely one sided. The most memorable thing is Federer crying because he thought he was done/completely surpassed.

[@davidbosquette2940]

Verdasco's absolute career highlight. Standard epic Grand Slam match for Rafa. 🔥

[@atharvathatte9335]

2-2 set,4-4 in 5 th but still Rafa is running from one side of court to other.He won this & another 5 setter final! His stamina is beyond infinity!!! Frankly speaking no one in the history could lit a candle to Rafa in case of stamina!!!

[@dimitrijeigic3176]

Atharva Thatte Djokovic in 2012 played 5 hours and 5 sets against Murray in SF and then beat Rafa in 5 sets and 6 hours match of atomic tennis. 💪

[@dimitrijeigic3176]

But yeah, Rafa is amazing player and human too. I love them both 😍

[@atharvathatte9335]

@@dimitrijeigic3176 Rafa played nearly 4 hours against Berdych & then Federer. Then 6 hours against DJOKOVIC!

[@babasemka]

But time proved that this is not the most efficient way to play this sport :)

[@atharvathatte9335]

@@babasemka Obviously. Not only this sport but any sport we can say.

[@kushanshah8040]

The final also deserves a spot in this series.

[@thorragnarok3386]

unbelievable is almost ten years since we watched this amazing match

[@cbp117]

Man looking back at these matches of Nadal and the 2022.... GOD DAM HIS FOOT SPEED!!!!

[@riderphoenix5359]

a contender for one of the greatest matches of all time . Its criminal how buried it has gotten over time.

[@catedoge3206]

Who's here because Thiem said this is his favorite match ever?

[@kakashihatake1029]

where did he say that? Tbf this is also one of my favs

[@catedoge3206]

@@kakashihatake1029 on a interview where he was on a golf cart something

[@martinzen]

lol me for one!!

[@jonaheifetz]

yep, me.

[@rijulsharma4453]

Well Thiem also produced a similar marathon match against Nadal at US Open 2018. He surely learnt a lot from this match!

[@Marc-vk7rl]

I genuinely think the tennis Verdasco played in that 4th set tie-break is the best tennis there ever was in the history of this great sport. I don't think any version of Fed, Rafa or Nole could have won that tie break. And I really think it will take decades before anyone reaches that level again, because - as we saw over the last 3 years - the big 3 generation was the best generation ever. And the ones after them were worse. And I don't know, if that will change in the next years Maybe we will never see that level again... Tennis really peaked in those 7 Minutes imo, and I think we should apprectiate those 2 players for giving them to us To this day I still don't understand how Rafa won that match. One of the greatest matches ever. One of the best perfomances ever by Verdasco, but Rafa somehow managed to beat him. What a Warrior...

[@deepakmahajan4978]

that fourt set was GOD mode. Not even nadals legendary defense could do anything

[@MartaelenaRivasdelopez-bt4qr]

Sin duda la final de Wimbledon 2008 y la semifinal de Australian Open 2009 las mejores que voy a recordar para siempre!!! Gracias Bendito Teniss!!! I love you!!! ❤❤❤

[@FAonYoutube]

One question : what happened to the AO vault ? It was an official website with hundreds of videos of classic matches from the AO, for some reason it disappeared a few years ago. Please bring it back guys.

[@alanledesma4945]

It's been 15 years, and I still remember this match as if it was yesterday. What a match!

[@z1az285]

Verdasco was inspired after leading Spain to a Davis cup win in 2008 over Argentina on a medium fast to fast indoor hardcourt. He was hitting 100 + mph FH winners and literally threw the kitchen sink at Rafa, but Rafa was clutch and then some

[@TheRafaelBond]

A TRUE classic

[@therealbs2000]

I speak for everyone here when i say that these official videos are made and edited by people who seem not to understand tennis fans AT ALL. They take history's most exciting matches and iconic moments and somehow make them less intense, interesting, and inspiring. It's almost as if they WANT to make us mad. How can you not include tennis history's most famous banana shot?!?

[@CalebPereira9123]

Exactly.

[@BinaryRex18]

The music is godly tho... and the moment at the end when the winning point happens and it kicks in...

[@mrmaxmo1670]

i mean for the average viewer this video is great. everyone is mad because they didnt include the shot. you can't insult everything else about the video and just chalk it up to the fact that they didn't include the shot. these are the types of videos that get people in to tennis imo

[@BinaryRex18]

@@mrmaxmo1670 fully agree. I knew nothing about tennis until 2 months ago. Then, I started watching these AO highlights of rafa and roger and got hooked. They are HD, free to watch, lengthy and have good music and helpful voice over commentary. For a beginner these are great videos.

[@honestabe6359]

You are right. I mean, I am a huge fan of this match. So much so that I even remember bits of the commentary during the match, and the fact that in the pre-match segment, Verdasco was called "Nadal on hard court". It is blasphemy that that shot isn't here.

[@MegaMrhieu]

I could never forget this match. One of greatest match. Incredible Nadal but super and lovely Verdasco conquered all

[@hojalin]

If my cousin had kept this level during half of his career he sure would be alongside Murray and Wawrinka in the GS table

[@devinotero1798]

Not really lol. I beat him pretty bad in a practice match

[@devinotero1798]

Not really lol. I beat him pretty bad in a practice match

[@haiderraja4533]

How on earth did Nadal beat federer in another 5 setter after that!

[@Emre-fk6hm]

Well thats a Rafa thing :)

[@haiderraja4533]

Emre Kaya true that!

[@89Pleasek]

@@Emre-fk6hm peds

[@casey4664]

Federer choked the last set, the pressure probably came from breaking Sampras’s record

[@matteo964]

@@casey4664 please shut up. Nadal was just a beast

[@vidhead85]

Someone recommended this match in the comments of another video....and I see exactly why. A good ass match! Nadal and Verdasco fought like crazy!

[@superg3962]

Wow its going to be 10 years since this epic match and they are both still playing- Nadal in the top 3- wow!

[@commondirtbagz7130]

Super G! Verdasco is not in the top 3...

[@123abcdef3]

This truly was an epic match. Verdasco's forehands were like ⚡ and he played legendary tennis. But Nadal in AO 2009 was a monster. Going after every ball, he just was not going to be denied.

[@benefactortomillions2223]

Watching in 2021 @ midnight 1am, Just loved watching Nadal and Verdasco

[@quest9133]

This has always been my favourite Australian Open match. I always think of that 4th set tiebreak where Verdasco went lights out! Didn't he hit 90+ winners but still lost to Rafa?!? PhenomeNadal!

[@maryyyxiao8581]

I remember watching it from home almost 15 years ago… time has passed so fast. Heartbreaking

[@lampushoute5580]

I vividly remember watching this match with my friends ,.... It's a nice memory

[@swift_aus]

Still imo the greatest match of all time

[@adithyanaren519]

Novak vs rafa ao 12 and stan Vs novak 2013 are right up there

[@mayankranjan9370]

This match made me a tennis fan, At last it was the game of stamina and nadal wins it there What a match... It's a shame that I never seen Verdasco at this level again... Btw I was looking for Nadal's banana swing across the net forehand winner.. Not included in this highlight

[@ComplexNumbersUK]

I will always remember this match, the quality, the drama : amazing! 👏🏾👏🏾💪🏾💪🏾🎾🎾♥️♥️

[@watchyourmouth8232]

Imagine,watching this live..i sat in front of the tv in my house for almost 6 hours for this match..crazy.. Good old day ❤ Graetest match ever i guess..

[@Muathalshareef2]

I can’t forget this match it’s like yesterday! Why verdasco can’t performance like this the next year’s of his career ?

[@arjunsuresh430]

Anyone here after Rafa's 2022 AO final?

[@allfun9876]

The most epic and physical match in the history of tennis. Such Power!

[@bdr12121]

In This tournament, verdasco had the best performance ever

[@shadowx7461]

One of the Best Match in history

[@shahg25]

Love the reactions from Verdasco camp! The guy knew it will be a 5 setter

[@spiritfarhan]

Feel sorry for Verdasco he threw everything only to be on the losing side

[@ЮраМаятников]

6-0 Надаля на тайбрейке - это наверное правда лучший сет Фернандо в жизни . КАКАЯ энергия , КАКИЕ эмоции .

[@hellodavey1902]

My favourite match of all time.

[@ndaofary]

Thanks AusOpen but you guys have a sort of moral obligation to put the full match on KZbin after teasing us with these breathetaking highlights !

[@luissanhueza1]

De los mejores partidos que he visto!

[@MrAykut23]

I still have to resort to watching a non-HD version because i wanted it to be the commentary version with Jim Courier

[@richieortiz5]

Where do I find this?

[@MrAykut23]

@@richieortiz5 I came here to watch the 4th set tie-break, i only know that, that is on YT with Jim Courier commentary

[@nashklasher4292]

Who's doing the commentary here

[@vladomontezuma626]

This match had the best angles shots, I have ever seen in my life.

[@liberalegypt]

I consider the most 5 toughest GS Hardcourt for Nadal and deserves to be finals is Vs Federer in AO 09 Vs Verdasco in AO 09 Vs Dimitrov in AO 17 Vs Thiem in US 18 Vs Medvedev in US 19 So i consider those 5 mathces deserve to be semi finals Vs Murray in AO 07 Vs Djokovic in US 10 Vs Federer in AO 12 Vs Djokovic in US 13 Vs Delpotro in US 17

[@strikerbowls791]

AO 2017?

[@liberalegypt]

@@strikerbowls791 ?? What's wrong

[@molacmarius2701]

Dreamed them last night ... They were climbing a road, severe weather, Rafa in fron, 2 more men in between him and Fernando, I was behing, concerned, and I asked Fernando: - is your strength still on? They turned to me, but Rafa was the one to reply with an yes ... Then I asked same question again to Fernando who was now looking at me ... He was surprised that I adressed him the question, and gave me same yes answer :)

[@Jimsvfx]

This and Wimbledon 2008 Finals are the best matches ever played

[@birajsharma9618]

I remember watching this match till the end, was like 5 hours!

[@Jagaraujo]

Verdasco looks possessed in that 4th set tie break.

[@jeancarlosberasgoico8445]

I am a little shocked this 2009 Australian Open tournament was Rafa's only win. He may win some in the next several years, but the older he gets the harder it'll become to win a hard court tournament. We'll see he is Rafa Nadal, and has proven people wrong before.

[@devanshdwivedi7811]

Worked out well didn't it?

[@Romans8-9]

This aged well. haha

[@clasher101]

Double fault again versus Cilic at match point this year...

[@ovatsug8383]

No hay nada más triste que perder con una doble falta

[@kennymarshall2197]

2-2, 4-5, opening point: one of the best ever points.

[@robertlugton6800]

Verdasco nadal semi final aus open semi final 2009. One of the most impressive games I have ever seen and someone almost out nadal at his best.

[@Braselton21]

I remember watching this match as a kid thinking "Wait, there's another Nadal from Spain OMG! Federer is going to be done" Too bad Verdasco couldn't keep up this form

[@SHVideografie]

That 4th set tiebreak was insane.

[@shanevinson845]

First tennis match I watched start to finish. Still the greatest ever contested. I felt like I sprinted 6 miles,m just sitting in the couch.

[@incognito7994]

My dream could be to watch this match on live

[@insanedegeneratemoron9794]

13:09 what an insane shot

[@Dudu10ototoso]

New type of angle creates om thia day

[@sameersingh3282]

EXCELLENT, EXTRA EXCITED, ATTRACTIVE AND NICE GAME.... SUPER POWERFUL, SUPER STRONG AND SUPER TOP RANKING PLAYERS IN THIS GAME........... BOTH PARTICIPANTS IS SUPER PRACTICE, TECHNICAL FULL, STRONG FULL, STAMINA FULL, ENERGY FULL AND POWERFUL....... BEAUTIFUL SERVICE, ATTRACTIVE FOREHANDS, FANTASTIC RETURN, STRONG SHORTS AND MANY ACTIVE ACTION SEEN THIS GAME....................... POWERFUL AND STRONG GAME ,BUT IT IS NATURAL, WINER IS SUPER WONDERFUL.........

[@LegendaryGenetics]

Watched this live until late in the morning, it was fucking scintillatingly exciting

[@jacksonkoko413]

BEST MATCH EVER..

[@nccamsc]

Nadal has been in most of the greatest tennis matches in history.

[@serhiikozak1704]

Great thing Nadal could pull it thru. Verda would've been an easy target for Fed

[@atharvathatte9335]

That opening music is great!

[@leonardobraynen1524]

This was the most brutal match of Nadal i ever watched. Close 2nd was 2012 AO Vs. Djokovic. But the best Verdasco had ti offer.

[@yoak2041]

I remember seeing it live... One of the best thing I ever witnessed....I hated verdasco that day

[@Guru-xe3ou]

Ese partido era De Verdazco jamás volvió a jugar un partido en ese nivel en el Tour...

[@nikhilvaibhav5167]

best match ever

[@ciaranbrady2592]

13:58 even Verdasco's dad wants his coach to calm down 😂

[@TheRafaelBond]

This is the official channel and they couldnt muster up better viewing quality/resolution than this?

[@sinusdrudnielsen]

Rafael Mertin this is the original quality

[@TheRafaelBond]

Not just is this not upscaled, they also had much better quality options in 2009. Lol

[@Max-yp1iw]

Rafael Mertin 1080 is not enough?

[@fretstain]

what's up with the quality on this? is this really the best footage we have from this? It's not like it's vhs era

[@drstew1]

This has finally been matched US Open 2022 QF Alcaraz vs Sinner . And I feel Alcaraz will have all the power he needs for his Semi. It seems playing epic matches carry’s onto your next . Nadal was 23 here . Alcaraz is 19

[@iliasseabdeljalil9165]

Un des meilleurs matchs que j'ai jamais vu

[@jemand8462]

13:08

[@anonymous_435]

Thank you hahaha 👋

[@tadeokrzos2550]

If verdasco would have won this match ain't no way he is winning against Roger. I know for a fact Federer was wishing for the upset lol

[@iammituraj]

25 min replay and you skipped the entire second set which had at least 10 epic rallies.

[@saadparvez165]

It's amazing how players can perform so incredibly and then slowly completely fall off the radar. Verdasco just could not emulate a performance like this ever again. Nadal did so time and time again.

[@sanrafaa]

Federer fans were rooting for Verdasco in this match, just like Rafa fans rooted for Murray in the 2012 Aus open SF...:P

[@panagiotisanastasakis7908]

12:22 dude is spitting a gum on the floor

[@МираРоманова-с7ы]

Игра на высшем уровне❤❤❤

[@Kidgloves1984]

Gotta feel for Verdasco..

[@kwoktony6416]

but where is that iconic forehand banana shot from nadal ?

[@kaddou1]

What happened at 7:24 ?

[@altruism8637]

8:49 who's the strawberry blonde girl behind the black guy and the other blond girl, I've seen her in the Grigor vs nadal ao2017 pretty sure she was in grigors box?

[@catedoge3206]

Dimitrov's girl.

[@skyzx0]

legendary match

[@danielm.valenti9607]

Partidazos. 👍🏻🇦🇷

[@mr.40-15]

The editor is a n word for not including banana shot

[@nashklasher4292]

Who's doing the commentary?