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My favorite version to watch of Rafa play is the pirate Rafa! 2005-2008 were my favorite because of the crazy physicality he brought to this match! Thank you for sharing!
Rafa took Delpo by surprise. And that pirate inspired outfit that Nike tailored for Rafa truly fed that aura that Rafa ravaged anyone across the court from him. Andy Roddick said Rafa was the most physically gifted player at this point in Rafa's career. Rafa is magnificent! Thanks Wivo.
I remember during this pirate pants and headgear era a lot of people became interested in tennis for the first time. I'd go to work raving about Rafa after sitting up to wee hours watching his matches. People took notice of tennis that previously didn't enjoy the sport. He really made tennis a must watch. I miss him already 🐂
Fantastic footage, thank you so much for showing it. I miss Del Po to this day. Coincidentally, I just today (28/11/24) read an article in The Guardian about him. It seems he still suffers pain from his injuries, can't play tennis or football, it was sad. He was a marvellous player, and I have no doubt would have given the Big 3 a run for their money, if he'd been injury free. He's a really nice guy, and it was great to see the sportsmanship between him and Rafa, applauding each other's shots.
It wasn't just his speed that was so spectacular but that he could also finish with a jaw-dropping shot from an impossible position at the end. The best highlights show him doing that over and over. Running down balls that seem totally unreachable and then hitting a blistering winner to end the point. Many of the GOATs (Fed, Nole, Murray, Stan) could all do that but I don't think anyone did it as consistently and impressively as Nadal.
I will never forget.. He reached the top of Garros for the first time in 2005. The tournament was still in the first week. If I remember correctly, he won the first round with his spectacular play.. Then in the following rounds, no matter what match Eurosport broadcast, they always showed Nadal on a split screen, as he got close to the ball in a set or match. It was as if everyone felt that nothing should be missed about him. He immediately became my favorite. Then no one could stop him until 2009. Many people thought then that Nadal was beatable and that was it.. They were terribly wrong. The rest is history....
That Del Porto forehand was still work in progress back then. Didn’t look good aesthetically nor did he have the accuracy. Amazing how he turned that shot into perhaps top 3 best shots of all time.
The bent elbow on his hitting arm almost made me not recognize him. I always associate him with the booming, straight-arm FH he developed later. Probably the biggest FH I've seen, when DelPo was locked in.
He was a top spin reliant player back then. Later he adopted his unique grip that allowed him to hit flat with such a force, but unfortunately it was not good for his wrist. Delpo might've had a longer career had he continued his early style but much more difficult to be a top 5 guy.
That's insane. Delpo is barely recognizable. He developped so much power and lost so much mobility. Not that he was fast in the first place, but it's amazing how his game changed.
Highest peak level of nadal ! 2005-2010 ! His best version super human fast that can return any shot ! And then djokovic fans had the guts to say he is still the same in 2015, 2012-2017 bulky injury prone nadal was losing against low rank seeded player, this best version of nadal went to to wimbledon finals 4 times and won 2
Indeed, I agree 100%. And they were continuously talking crap about Fed being a weak era champ 2004-2007, but when their weakest era champ started to win multiple GS in 2018-2022 in his 30s when the best tennis could offer were Tsitsipas, Ruud, Kyrgios, Anderson, Berrettini, Medvedev, etc, while Nadal was multi-injured and Fed was way past his peak due to age, then they fall silent.
2006-2010 Prime Nadal at his strongest... young, not slowed down by injuries, insanely fast, fantastic shootmaking, strong as an ox. Only man that was able to put resistance against Prime Federer
@miljkoni3404 Go watch his breaktgrough year 2005 then you will see how much faster he was, not even gonna bring 2006-2010. Only thing i will agree is he did declined slow, Federer as well, and djokovic as well... but that is because of proffessionalizm and discipline
Delpo's forehand is different from the one in the second half of his career. This takeback looks a lot like kuerten's forehand. And yes, a loopier takeback promotes more topspin while a straight takeback makes you hit a flatter forehand..Either way, Delpo's forehand is one the most feared shots in all tennis.
i like when a player is on the far right and the other player still send the ball on the far right i have seen some matches where a player was sending one ball on the left and the following on the right He almost killed the opponent one on the left one on the right one on the left one on the right its that easy
This announcer made me press mute… he said Delpos last name incorrectly every time… then, he said “vintage Nadal” he was like 17… can we please wait until he’s 20 (or 25 ) to say vintage 😅
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My favorite version to watch of Rafa play is the pirate Rafa! 2005-2008 were my favorite because of the crazy physicality he brought to this match! Thank you for sharing!
Glad you enjoyed it buddy ❤️
Rafa took Delpo by surprise. And that pirate inspired outfit that Nike tailored for Rafa truly fed that aura that Rafa ravaged anyone across the court from him. Andy Roddick said Rafa was the most physically gifted player at this point in Rafa's career. Rafa is magnificent! Thanks Wivo.
Already miss him 😢🎾
I don’t know why I continue to watch these videos. My heart is so heavy and sentimental about Rafa retiring 💔
This is so nostalgic! Thank's for uploading! I really enjoyed it.
My pleasure! ❤️
As a Fed fan that Pirate outfit Nadal was what I miss the most. That bull way of playing tennis.
I remember during this pirate pants and headgear era a lot of people became interested in tennis for the first time. I'd go to work raving about Rafa after sitting up to wee hours watching his matches. People took notice of tennis that previously didn't enjoy the sport. He really made tennis a must watch. I miss him already 🐂
Yes, he did, he made tennis more fun to watch❤
Fantastic footage, thank you so much for showing it. I miss Del Po to this day. Coincidentally, I just today (28/11/24) read an article in The Guardian about him. It seems he still suffers pain from his injuries, can't play tennis or football, it was sad. He was a marvellous player, and I have no doubt would have given the Big 3 a run for their money, if he'd been injury free. He's a really nice guy, and it was great to see the sportsmanship between him and Rafa, applauding each other's shots.
Nadal from 2005-09 might just be the fastest player in tennis history. Knee problems made him slower after 2010 although he was still fast.
I think Carlos Alcaraz is just as fast.
Early Rafa, Monfils, Alcarez and DeMinaur are the fastest players I have seen since 2000. Pre-2000 Chang and Borg were super fast.
@@Mntguy-nr9vlNo he's not. Young Nadal was faster. I've watched them both.
It wasn't just his speed that was so spectacular but that he could also finish with a jaw-dropping shot from an impossible position at the end. The best highlights show him doing that over and over. Running down balls that seem totally unreachable and then hitting a blistering winner to end the point. Many of the GOATs (Fed, Nole, Murray, Stan) could all do that but I don't think anyone did it as consistently and impressively as Nadal.
I will never forget.. He reached the top of Garros for the first time in 2005. The tournament was still in the first week. If I remember correctly, he won the first round with his spectacular play.. Then in the following rounds, no matter what match Eurosport broadcast, they always showed Nadal on a split screen, as he got close to the ball in a set or match. It was as if everyone felt that nothing should be missed about him. He immediately became my favorite. Then no one could stop him until 2009. Many people thought then that Nadal was beatable and that was it.. They were terribly wrong. The rest is history....
That Del Porto forehand was still work in progress back then. Didn’t look good aesthetically nor did he have the accuracy. Amazing how he turned that shot into perhaps top 3 best shots of all time.
Yes, agree. The Del Po forehand was a scorcher, and he hit it much harder than in this early period.
The bent elbow on his hitting arm almost made me not recognize him. I always associate him with the booming, straight-arm FH he developed later. Probably the biggest FH I've seen, when DelPo was locked in.
He was a top spin reliant player back then. Later he adopted his unique grip that allowed him to hit flat with such a force, but unfortunately it was not good for his wrist. Delpo might've had a longer career had he continued his early style but much more difficult to be a top 5 guy.
Pirate Nadal is GOATED 🏴☠
That's insane. Delpo is barely recognizable. He developped so much power and lost so much mobility. Not that he was fast in the first place, but it's amazing how his game changed.
Damn..Rafa was on fire here..
Rafa the most successful GS player of his era with 73 % success rate
22/8 in
68 GS entries
Both guys were absolutely smoking the ball on some of these points
Pirate nadal is definitely an interesting name 😂
Most people usually associate this part of his career with his tanktops
bandnanas tank tops, 3/4 pants.
Nobody does.
@@rjschahal2006 uhhh... maybe you don't, can't help you with that though.
Highest peak level of nadal ! 2005-2010 ! His best version super human fast that can return any shot ! And then djokovic fans had the guts to say he is still the same in 2015, 2012-2017 bulky injury prone nadal was losing against low rank seeded player, this best version of nadal went to to wimbledon finals 4 times and won 2
Indeed, I agree 100%. And they were continuously talking crap about Fed being a weak era champ 2004-2007, but when their weakest era champ started to win multiple GS in 2018-2022 in his 30s when the best tennis could offer were Tsitsipas, Ruud, Kyrgios, Anderson, Berrettini, Medvedev, etc, while Nadal was multi-injured and Fed was way past his peak due to age, then they fall silent.
Those Rafa 3/4 pants are extremely comfortable hence why Ronaldinho also wore them regularly.
yes, I wish Alcaraz would take them back, I'm sick of these short shorts
2006-2010 Prime Nadal at his strongest... young, not slowed down by injuries, insanely fast, fantastic shootmaking, strong as an ox. Only man that was able to put resistance against Prime Federer
He was fast in 2011 to 2013, in 2014 he was declined slowly
@miljkoni3404 Go watch his breaktgrough year 2005 then you will see how much faster he was, not even gonna bring 2006-2010. Only thing i will agree is he did declined slow, Federer as well, and djokovic as well... but that is because of proffessionalizm and discipline
@@RealisticAndTrue he was maybe faster but he gained more weight and has more powerfull groundstrokes from 2010
@@miljkoni3404 Go look at him in 2006 then come back and delete that 😂
@@RealisticAndTrue are you saying to me that he was stronger in 2006 than he was in 2010 ?
4:16 DP’s forehands🥶
Delpo's forehand is different from the one in the second half of his career. This takeback looks a lot like kuerten's forehand. And yes, a loopier takeback promotes more topspin while a straight takeback makes you hit a flatter forehand..Either way, Delpo's forehand is one the most feared shots in all tennis.
Man that first clip made me miss Delpo so much, truly a big what if in tennis
‘Pirate Agassi’ in 1995 was also a monster. Nike were onto something there 😊
Thanks for your amazing finds
My pleasure buddy ❤️
Delpos forehand backswing was so different here
We need pirate Alcaraz with long hair. 😂
Yeah good idea, he sure will bring more fans to watch him, he need to bring back the era of longer shorts
Delpo’s backhand was way better than his forehand at that time
How that changed! Certainly became one of the best forehands of all time.
2007-2010 rafa is arguably the most explosive player ever imo
title of this video is amazinggg
Haha thank you ❤️
The Shot follows the point that begins at 5:40
Rafa was incredible 👍
"Why join the navy, if you can be a pirate" eh ?
Thiem may have played the best tennis ever on clay in 2018 and 2019 at RG, still lost to Nadal.
Both players and umpire have now retired
Me to
i like when a player is on the far right and the other player still send the ball on the far right
i have seen some matches where a player was sending one ball on the left and the following on the right
He almost killed the opponent
one on the left one on the right one on the left one on the right its that easy
Rafael Nadal vs Rafal Natall
Did Delpo come off an injury this match? His serve looks off.
Thinking he was only 20 years old here
Pirate Nadal won IW and lost in Miami QF to eventual champ and GOAT Djokovic.
#PirateNadal
Dr. Nadal
Not Pirate but Comanche!
This announcer made me press mute… he said Delpos last name incorrectly every time… then, he said “vintage Nadal” he was like 17… can we please wait until he’s 20 (or 25 ) to say vintage 😅
Pirate Nadal is when Nadal started balding and he wanted to hide it. Don't know why he never shaved his head like Agassi.
No he wasn't started balding then,it started in 2010 but was not noticed until 2013
Del got licked, and how!
😂😂😂
I wish someone would return these long shorts, this new trend is bulshit and gayish
And then Navy Admiral Goldkovic slayed the "mighty pirate" in the next round 🤣
That was swift revenge for Novak's Indian Wells final defeat to Rafa just before this tournament.
2024 Jannik Sinner is far better than him, even on clay
buhahahaha!! ;DD
never..
Nobody will surpass Nadal's level on clay for a long, long time
"Even on clay" XDDDD
Sinner would have to win RG every year until 2039 if he wants surpass Rafa's record
Nadal who won 14 RG in the era of peak Fed and peak Nole... Yeah right 🤣🤣