Roland Garros 2014: MOTD Day 15 Sun 08/06/2014

Tenez wrote:4 all the most important game by a mile!

And he loses it.

It isn't over yet.

Oh well.  #9 for Rafa it is.  He was the better player for most of the match.

It was very close at the end. Losing his serve from 30-0 up that was bad.

I would have pout my house that Djoko would have won convincingly in the 5th.

It is now...

Pathetic draw for Nadal and very lucky that djok was spent.  Boring plodding player, but eventually we will see the back end of him.  Let him have his dirt, it's Wimbledon titles that are the true measure

"For me it's amazing and emotional, I lost the final at Australia this year where I had a problem with my back and that was a hard moment

Classless bastard.  Fuck off, you twat.  You were outplayed.

Very impressed by Djoko's French!

     Came back from our sunday's tour just, when Nadal won the first BP in the fourth set. Djokovic broke right back to give some false hope, only to get broken when trying to serving to stay in the match with a DF!!!   

I thought, I'd be more indifferent to a Nadal win, but I am not , nothing to do there. I guess, this will take a while, even with all rationalizations, like: this is such a farce, the same guy winning the TdF, sorry the RG, 9 of 10 times.    There is so much wrong and who can put it right? where is the emoticon for heartbroken?  

Tenez wrote:Very impressed by Djoko's French!

Well, he is a resident of MC now, I would expect nothing less.

9 is a huge number. I remember when he won his first 2 I said he would never win 6.!!!!

9 is like the 1800s tournaments when one guy was good enough to play against a poor and scarce opposition.

Toni is a smart guy to have reinvented mooballing..... However for Djoko messed up both this year and last...in fact the last 3!

Djoko has messed up a lot of finals actually I think he could have won.

3 at the FO
1 Wimbledon
2 at USO!
and somehow messed up that AO semi this year!

That's 6 to 7 slams that I really think he could have won. he would be on 12 now!

Autumnleaf wrote:

Tenez wrote:Very impressed by Djoko's French!

Well, he is a resident of MC now, I would expect nothing less.

Sure that helps...though I doubt he is there very often.

Well, it is what it is.  Not the end to the clay court season I was looking for, but off to grass we go now.  Hopefully a different winner there.  TBH, hopefully neither of today's finalists wins there.

(when I said I would be a big Nole fan today, I really only meant until the RG is done )

Tenez wrote:9 is a huge number. I remember when he won his first 2 I said he would never win 6.!!!! (...)

Djoko has messed up a lot of finals actually I think he could have won.
(...) 
That's 6 to 7 slams that I really think he could have won. he would be on 12 now!

Nine is 10 (!) years minus the miraculous 2009    It's nothing short of ridiculous in my view, this guy cleans up the French since 2004 (!). Simply unbelievable and I mean that in the bad sense of the word. Nadal again looking superhuman, enhanced to ridiculous measures. Decline?  (give that a sarcastic twist, because it is a bitter laugh)

Djoko could have won? Sure, the ones against Murray were under unfavourable circumstances (one after an exhausting SF, the other one in a hurricane), but against Nadal - what can I say - the fitter player won.    (found it) There are always slams a guy could have won, but did not. (Though I'd be hard-pressed to find such a slam for Nadal, he has overachieved as it is!!!)

Tenez, will you now be supporting Djokovic  just because he possibly can stop Nadal? I think his chances of beating Nadal are no better than some others. Once Djokovic had the complete grip on Nadal but he let it lose last year in the Madrid and Rome losses and Nadal was totally free at RG. Djokovic finding it hard to deal with pressure, Nadal handles is so much better.

I don't think Gulbis would have done any worse than what Djokovic did today.

Nadal is by far the most dominant player on a single surface. 9 RG titles?? its shocking.

summerblues wrote:Well, it is what it is.  Not the end to the clay court season I was looking for, but off to grass we go now.  Hopefully a different winner there.  TBH, hopefully neither of today's finalists wins there. (...) 

Completely understand that. Djoko and Nadal have met each other now more than any other male rivals in history (!). A duopoly isn't much more interesting than a monopoly like the one we have at RG. (okay, maybe a little bit)

It is what it is - true and it's bad. The outlook is bleak. I hope Nadal crashes out early in Wimbledon like in 2012/13 but you never know, should he get a draw without big hitters in the first rounds. He could actually go far.

raiders_of_the_lost_ark wrote:Nadal is by far the most dominant player on a single surface. 9 RG titles?? its shocking.

Yes, it's shocking in how ridiculous it is and how it makes a farce of RG!

raiders_of_the_lost_ark wrote:Nadal was totally free at RG

I am not sure I agree with that bit; Rafa looked quite nervous to me in the first set and only started looking more confident midway through the second.  But it certainly looked to me like Nole quite significantly slowed down before Rafa became confident.

That said, I am starting to also think that Nole's chance has come and gone and someone else will need to take Rafa out at the French.  The problem is that I do not see anyone who I can imagine having anywhere near 50/50 odds against him come next year.

Autumnleaf wrote:

raiders_of_the_lost_ark wrote:Nadal is by far the most dominant player on a single surface. 9 RG titles?? its shocking.

Yes, it's shocking in how ridiculous it is and how it makes a farce of RG!

I don't mind him being dominant on the dirt.  I mind that crap style filtering onto grass (and Federer would be on 8 or 9 now had that not been slowed down).

FedererKing wrote:

Autumnleaf wrote:

raiders_of_the_lost_ark wrote:Nadal is by far the most dominant player on a single surface. 9 RG titles?? its shocking.

Yes, it's shocking in how ridiculous it is and how it makes a farce of RG!

I don't mind him being dominant on the dirt.  I mind that crap style filtering onto grass (and Federer would be on 8 or 9 now had that not been slowed down).

I do mind it because it's about time, that his dirty reign as king of clay was over. His ongoing wins at RG mean nothing but corruption to me. He edges closer and closer to the slam record ... well, as i say, every sport deserves the champions it's got. Personally I do mind some cheat going for the slam record though. He will be celebrated, but he is not worth it. It makes me angry that so many cannot see him for what he is - the biggest fraud the sport has ever seen.   if I am too harsh there.

Fed might have edged the 08 Wim on the old grass, but lost e.g. the 09 one. I don't mind him losing to good new players, like e.g. Gulbis at RG, much as I love him. It's normal and to expected. It's very human and so attractive in its vulnerability. He has got 7 Wimbledon titles which is more than any other, with the exception of Sampras. I don't want to compare him with the Clay Warrior. They are different species.

It will end.  And it's going to be glorious to watch, because he is a classless idiot.  Even today he couldn't help but mention the Aussie Open and how he was "injured".  Imagine what he is going to be like when he is losing all of the time.  I bet you 100000 that he starts banging on about his age.

Also, he would have lost this year too had it not been for the easiest draw I can remember.

I am very sad and disappointed.
I feel the same as when Nole's streak ended in that 2011 RG SF.

It's been a long day for me,  a theatre play and a tragedy. All part of life.

It's not the first time ugliness won and it won't be the last.

At least I made my voice heard. I asked Nadal about Fuentes, I told him to hurry up three times...he heard it all.
He is a fraud and he knows it.

haha!  class!

A little anecdote from today:
as we got into taxi to RG and started chatting to the driver, he asked us who we were supporting.
When we said Nole, he was relieved and said: "If you were Nadal fans, I'd take you back to the hotel. He is a monster."

noleisthebest wrote:A little anecdote from today:
as we got into taxi to RG  and started chatting to the driver, he asked us who we were supporting.
When we said Nole, he was relieved and said: "If you were Nadal fans, I'd take you back to the hotel. He is a monster."

He probably says the exact opposite to Rafa fans

It was definitely a unique viewing experience today. I got sunburnt, the heat was brutal.
I'll write about it when I get back home tomorrow.

As usual, met some nice and interesting people, tennis nation is really special.

Got a RG 2014 T-shirt to remind me of this day...the first ever time I saw Nole lose live.

I feel like I've let him down

The thing that got to me today was the support Nadal got during the match.
9 RGs is too much for someone who has stripped the beautiful clay tennis to the bare bones of sweat and retrieving.

Nole provided all the variety and flair today: his shots were smart and varied in length, spin and intensity, it was striking to see and especially hear it live.
Nadal was the opposite...all that ever came from his racquet was monotonous brute force.
Tennis on clay deserves a better king.

People are pathetic...  they always see greatness as a number.  They never see past it.  In most people's eyes, if Nadal wins 20 french opens and 0 others, he is the greatest because 20 is greater than 17.  It's such a short sighed attitude from know-nothings.  And even worse are the ones that don't understand skill and talent and flair are not things you can put a number to.  Nadal is just a brute force baseline defender.  If every player was like him, tennis would be dead; just like snooker with Selby.

Did they show on European TV as they did in USA- djokovic throwing up on court during set 2? Nice slow mo of him erupting as he walked towards ball kid- carillo said he had a stomach virus exacerbated by the heat. What rotten luck- win the 1st set with a continuation of clearly a better game than nadal for many matches in a row, then clearly lose a step and energy while throwing up and losing the match. I'll say it again- never has there been a luckier player than nadal. Clearly he has a style built on Peds and favorable technology that makes him a monster matchup, but even then- when he needs heat- he gets it; when it's damp and he starts to lose, it rains so hard they delay the match; when he meets a guy clearly able to beat him, the guy gets sick. It's nearly unbeleivable.

McEnroe was even more fawning than ever. To think this guy used to praise federer. He was babbling on about nadal going for 5 in a row and carillo said "think about how amazing federer has been, he's won two majors 5 times in a row". McEnroe shrugs it off and says "but nadal has had to face and beat the other top player in the world for every French open final!" Really? Puerta, Ferrer and soldering? A few of the easiest draws in history to get to the finals. Let's not completely lie McEnroe. The whole thing was a farce.

I firmly beleive nadal will not win another major this year, and might not win another non French either. To think he has 14 majors now though..... Shudder
ory

Autumnleaf wrote:Djoko could have won? Sure, the ones against Murray were under unfavourable circumstances (one after an exhausting SF, the other one in a hurricane), but against Nadal - what can I say - the fitter player won.    (found it) There are always slams a guy could have won, but did not. (Though I'd be hard-pressed to find such a slam for Nadal, he has overachieved as it is!!!)

But I think Djoko did not play nearly as well as he could in the last 3 slams he played v Nadal. Last year if he had not gone awol in that 3rd set and also had he put away that smash he may well have won. Same thing at the USO...plays a great 2nd set then goes back into his shell.....and Nadal did not win a single set on HC against him afterwards. So clearly if you can win 2 sets v Nadal you can win 3. And I also think that today, Djoko played poorly he only started to play better in the second half of that 4th set....that's why I think in the long haul he is actually fitter than Nadal. He just make the same mistake everytime to go for broke and try to shorten rallies whereas in 2011 he was trying to extend those rallies....and I think he plays better now (when not nervous) than in 2011.

To me he really threw his slams away v Nadal and Murray

raiders_of_the_lost_ark wrote:Tenez, will you now be supporting Djokovic  just because he possibly can stop Nadal? I think his chances of beating Nadal are no better than some others. Once Djokovic had the complete grip on Nadal but he let it lose last year in the Madrid and Rome losses and Nadal was totally free at RG. Djokovic finding it hard to deal with pressure, Nadal handles is so much better.

I don't think Gulbis would have done any worse than what Djokovic did today.

I think the match was much closer than it may appear. Djoko lost a few key games where he was 30/0 or even 40/15 up....in that 4th set. Nadal was really tired and cramping towards the end. Djoko is simply not playing his best in slams...very bizarre. If he were to win the first 2 sets and then lose in 5, maybe I'd understand it is a lungs issue....but he cannot win the first 2 sets like he does convincingly v Nadal outside slams.

raiders_of_the_lost_ark wrote:Nadal is by far the most dominant player on a single surface. 9 RG titles?? its shocking.

Yes and no. Sure 9 slams shows a huge domination but only because Djoko messed his last 2 FO finals ....even the last 3 with the weather messing it up then.

Courier said on ITV that Djoko has been extremely unlucky with the weather at the French and thought he could have won the last 3 years!

summerblues wrote:That said, I am starting to also think that Nole's chance has come and gone and someone else will need to take Rafa out at the French.  The problem is that I do not see anyone who I can imagine having anywhere near 50/50 odds against him come next year.

Only Djoko can take nadal out at the FO so far. Maybe Vesely in a year time. The guy is improving really fast...and Nishi if he gets back on form.

But it is clear that Nadal played better in his last 2 matches than he did in the entire clay season this year (and maybe last year) so we have to factor that in as well. Would have Nishi been able to play that well as in Madrid v today's Nadal?

Autumnleaf wrote:

FedererKing wrote:

Autumnleaf wrote:

raiders_of_the_lost_ark wrote:Nadal is by far the most dominant player on a single surface. 9 RG titles?? its shocking.

Yes, it's shocking in how ridiculous it is and how it makes a farce of RG!

I don't mind him being dominant on the dirt.  I mind that crap style filtering onto grass (and Federer would be on 8 or 9 now had that not been slowed down).

I do mind it because it's about time, that his dirty reign as king of clay was over. His ongoing wins at RG mean nothing but corruption to me. He edges closer and closer to the slam record ... well, as i say, every sport deserves the champions it's got. Personally I do mind some cheat going for the slam record though. He will be celebrated, but he is not worth it. It makes me angry that so many cannot see him for what he is - the biggest fraud the sport has ever seen.   if I am too harsh there.

Fed might have edged the 08 Wim on the old grass, but lost e.g. the 09 one. I don't mind him losing to good new players, like e.g. Gulbis at RG, much as I love him. It's normal and to expected. It's very human and so attractive in its vulnerability. He has got 7 Wimbledon titles which is more than any other, with the exception of Sampras. I don't want to compare him with the Clay Warrior. They are different species.

I also think that the balls at the FO are considerably slower than at the previous clay tournaments (Rome and Madrid).

truffin1 wrote:Did they show on European TV as they did in USA- djokovic throwing up on court during set 2?  Nice slow mo of him erupting as he walked towards ball kid-  carillo said he had a stomach virus exacerbated by the heat. What rotten luck-  win the 1st set with a continuation of clearly a better game than nadal for many matches in a row, then clearly lose a step and energy while throwing up and losing the match.   I'll say it again- never has there been a luckier player than nadal. Clearly he has a style built on Peds and favorable technology that makes him a monster matchup, but even then- when he needs heat- he gets it; when it's damp and he starts to lose, it rains so hard they delay the match; when he meets a guy clearly able to beat him, the guy gets sick. It's nearly unbeleivable.
McEnroe was even more fawning than ever. To think this guy used to praise federer.  He was babbling on about nadal going for 5 in a row and carillo said "think about how amazing federer has been, he's won two majors 5 times in a row".  McEnroe shrugs it off and says "but nadal has had to face and beat the  other top player in the world for every French open final!"   Really? Puerta,  Ferrer and soldering?   A few of the easiest draws in history to get to the finals.   Let's not completely lie McEnroe.  The whole thing was a farce.

I firmly beleive nadal will not win another major this year, and might not win another non French either.  To think he has 14 majors now though..... Shudder
ory

Yes this is what I have been saying. the way he was moving in the first 2 sets and half v Gulbis are completelty different from what we saw since. And this is exactly why he went for ridiculous shots today...cause he simply was not moving nearly as well. I am not sure whether it was stomatch or a muscle problem but just watch him v Gulbis before he was much lighter on his feet.

So true about the luck!

Yes 14 is ridiculous! But 9 on clay so to put in perspective.

Tenez wrote:

raiders_of_the_lost_ark wrote:Tenez, will you now be supporting Djokovic  just because he possibly can stop Nadal? I think his chances of beating Nadal are no better than some others. Once Djokovic had the complete grip on Nadal but he let it lose last year in the Madrid and Rome losses and Nadal was totally free at RG. Djokovic finding it hard to deal with pressure, Nadal handles is so much better.

I don't think Gulbis would have done any worse than what Djokovic did today.

I think the match was much closer than it may appear. Djoko lost a few key games where he was 30/0 or even 40/15 up....in that 4th set. Nadal was really tired and cramping towards the end. Djoko is simply not playing his best in slams...very bizarre. If he were to win the first 2 sets and then lose in 5, maybe I'd understand it is a lungs issue....but he cannot win the first 2 sets like he does convincingly v Nadal  outside slams.

I agree completely. The match was on Nole's racquet from start to finish. Even during his weak sick patch where his legs looked like they were heavy as lead.
It must have been so frustrating for him.
The heat was brutal and tennis extremely physical.

People don't realise how tough it was.

summerblues wrote: Nole

IDEMO MAJSTORE!!!!!!                

Excellent Nole fan job SB!   

truffin1 wrote:(...) McEnroe was even more fawning than ever. To think this guy used to praise federer.  He was babbling on about nadal going for 5 in a row and carillo said "think about how amazing federer has been, he's won two majors 5 times in a row".  McEnroe shrugs it off and says "but nadal has had to face and beat the  other top player in the world for every French open final!"   Really? Puerta,  Ferrer and soldering?   A few of the easiest draws in history to get to the finals.   Let's not completely lie McEnroe.  The whole thing was a farce. (...)

Not surprising. The commentators on Eurosport are the same. They have a product to sell, and when this product is as foul and rotten as Nadal, they must make it look better to the unsuspecting audience. It's not like his game speaks for itself.   It's ugly, brutal, physical (though I am told that Americans may prefer it that way because it reminds them of their own specific American sports). Personally I cringe whenever they do close up motionshots of Nadal - sweat dripping, muscles swelling, face distorted, disgusting is the word that comes to mind.

Tenez wrote:But I think Djoko did not play nearly as well as he could in the last 3 slams he played v Nadal. Last year if he had not gone awol in that 3rd set and also had he put away that smash he may well have won. Same thing at the USO...plays a great 2nd set then goes back into his shell.....and Nadal did not win a single set on HC against him afterwards. So clearly if you can win 2 sets v Nadal you can win 3. And I also think that today, Djoko played poorly he only started to play better in the second half of that 4th set....that's why I think in the long haul he is actually fitter than Nadal. He just make the same mistake everytime to go for broke and try to shorten rallies whereas in 2011 he was trying to extend those rallies....and I think he plays better now (when not nervous) than in 2011. (...)

Lots of ifs and could have detected here. Whenever there is a rather close match, there will be missed chances. Everybody makes errors, they just stand out more when the game is lost. Djokovic had chances to win these matches, much like Federer had chances to take a 2-0 lead in the FO 2011 - they both missed those chances. In 2011 Djokovic had a go-to strategy that was easier to execute than the more aggressive game-plan he had before and after.

How comes everybody misses his chances vs. Nadal? Just luck? Just that his opponents never play their best? If so, how comes that they inexplicably play worse against Nadal?

Djokovic does have the tendency to go on walkabouts against other opponents as well. I remember his AO match vs. Wawrinka which he could have won too. It's not really unusual, it's very difficult to keep high intensity over a long match. So he does it against Nadal who will make him pay, because that guy does not lose intensity.

About Nadal and two vs. three sets: Nadal was not at his best in the autumn, not a huge surprise he'd lose there. If anything I was surprised that he actually made finals. During this clay season he was clearly weaker than at the FO. At the FO I didn't see the guy that would lose a set vs. Youzhny and almost lose to Simon. He still took a set off Djoko in the final in Rome. 

Right on time, Nadal got "slam-fit", which to me is the true reason why it's that much harder to take three off him, than to win a best of three in less important matches. It's not about the number of sets, it's about the occasion.

noleisthebest wrote:(...)
I feel the same as when Nole's streak ended in that 2011 RG SF.
(...)
At least I made my voice heard. I asked Nadal about Fuentes, I told him to hurry up three times...he heard it all.
He is a fraud and he knows it.

Were you seated that close to Nadal or did you scream at the top of your lungs? Did you ask him in English or in another language? I'm asking because I might see him too this week (though I think he might withdraw) How did he react? Did he flinch?

Why did you feel that bad when Nole's streak ended in 2011? Such streaks always end, losing is part of the game (and life) and much better to lose to an inspired Federer than to - say Nadal. It was such a great high quality game, such a good match-up, surely among my FO all-time favs. Was it because you thought that Nadal has FO in the bag then? Another win for the evil and ugly?

Autumnleaf wrote:

truffin1 wrote:(...) McEnroe was even more fawning than ever. To think this guy used to praise federer.  He was babbling on about nadal going for 5 in a row and carillo said "think about how amazing federer has been, he's won two majors 5 times in a row".  McEnroe shrugs it off and says "but nadal has had to face and beat the  other top player in the world for every French open final!"   Really? Puerta,  Ferrer and soldering?   A few of the easiest draws in history to get to the finals.   Let's not completely lie McEnroe.  The whole thing was a farce. (...)

Not surprising. The commentators on Eurosport are the same. They have a product to sell, and when this product is as foul and rotten as Nadal, they must make it look better to the unsuspecting audience. It's not like his game speaks for itself.   It's ugly, brutal, physical (though I am told that Americans may prefer it that way because it reminds them of their own specific American sports). Personally I cringe whenever they do close up motionshots of Nadal - sweat dripping, muscles swelling, face distorted, disgusting is the word that comes to mind.

On ITV with Courier and Petchey and others, one felt they really wanted Djoko to win actually.

Autumnleaf wrote:How comes everybody misses his chances vs. Nadal? Just luck? Just that his opponents never play their best? If so, how comes that they inexplicably play worse against Nadal?

But Djoko did win the first set and we know he woudl typically hold his own for 3 sets minimum.....like he did in Rome. Even yesterdady he was playing better towards teh end of the 4th than in the 2nd and 3rd like last year..so to me it is unlucky cause he seemed to have something bothering him since that 3rd set v Gulbis. He even refers to not playing his A game in his interview.

Djokovic does have the tendency to go on walkabouts against other opponents as well. I remember his AO match vs. Wawrinka which he could have won too. It's not really unusual, it's very difficult to keep high intensity over a long match. So he does it against Nadal who will make him pay, because that guy does not lose intensity.

yes that is his real problem. A champion does not waste time and energy....and he really felt like one this year up to end of Gulbis match. There something happened.

About Nadal and two vs. three sets: Nadal was not at his best in the autumn, not a huge surprise he'd lose there. If anything I was surprised that he actually made finals. During this clay season he was clearly weaker than at the FO. At the FO I didn't see the guy that would lose a set vs. Youzhny and almost lose to Simon. He still took a set off Djoko in the final in Rome. 

But in the 4th set yesterday he was as bad as in this year clay season. he coudl not move either, having given his all for 3 sets. All the commentators also noticed on ITV that Nadal could not move as well. This is where Djoko is deadly. Tat's exactly how he came back last year just to mess up on tat smash. That's why I think Nadal is very lucky..though I agree he works a lot to deserve some luck. But that is amazing lucky.
Just to have such a hot day as well.
There is easily a 25c degree on court when sunny and cloudy under weather temperatures (25C when cloudy is roughly 25C on court too whereas 25C from the weather forecast when sunny means 50C on court!!!! as temperatures are always measured in the shade) and that affects Djoko so much more due to the bounce.

Right on time, Nadal got "slam-fit", which to me is the true reason why it's that much harder to take three off him, than to win a best of three in less important matches. It's not about the number of sets, it's about the occasion.

I think the occasion certainly affected Djoko!

Autumnleaf wrote:
Were you seated that close to Nadal or did you scream at the top of your lungs? Did you ask him in English or in another language? I'm asking because I might see him too this week (though I think he might withdraw) How did he react? Did he flinch?
Why did you feel that bad when Nole's streak ended in 2011? Such streaks always end, losing is part of the game (and life) and much better to lose to an inspired Federer than to - say Nadal. It was such a great high quality game, such a good match-up, surely among my FO all-time favs. Was it because you thought that Nadal has FO in the bag then? Another win for the evil and ugly?

I thought you could all hear me!
I even got the entire stadium do a big :"Shhhh!" after the last "Hurry up, Rafa!" when he was serving 4:3 up in the 4th. That was a really loud one.
The first two times I said: "Tempo, Rafa!" but then proceeded in English and got  a rection from the crowd.
After me, one other guy even dared a: "Tiempo, Pascal-Maria!"
I'll have to watch a replay. My mum said she heard me loads of times.
All three games I did it, Nadal got broken, last and loudest one was at 4:4 in the 4th set.
He missed his first serve every time. Should've done it more often.
I wanted to do it for such a long time.
It felt so good.
I don't think he's heard it before!

As for the other question, here is the reply written at the time:

http://www.606v2.com/t6398-poetry-corner-apres-un-reve-let-your-line-be-finest-adventure-afloat-on-the-tense-dawn-wind-that-goes-wakening-thyme-and-mint-all-the-rest-is-literature?highlight=Apres+un+reve




And yes, I'd do it all over again.

The way Djokovic played was very very disappointing… it seemed that he didn't want it too much, he didn't put a lot of effort, plus he wasn't thinking at all when hitting the ball.

Just a couple of last thoughts on the final...I am pretty sure Nole was food poisoned before the SF, hence the drop in energy level after two sets against Gulbis, and after only one against Nadal in the final.
He threw up on the court (saw the clip afterwards, not while was there)




Playing conditions were brutal: dry heat and no breeze. It felt much hotter than the temperature suggested. I had to go to the bar after the 2nd set for a medical timeout
The match had little to do with tennis because of it, it was pure endurance survival.
I read some comments on this thread about players fitness, from my live  perceptions, Nole is fitter than Nadal, but Nadal is stronger.
Had Nole not struggled with energy levels due to throwing-up on top of the already challenging levels of dehydration, I am sure he would have won that match.
I coached Nole a bit to go and drain Nadal in rallies, that he was finished.
And he did! (don't laugh, it's true!)
Nadal was making his points short, but Nole's  legs were so heavy and he did not return as well as he normally would have. He went for the lines and got those in, but sadly missed the easy ones.
One thing I never noticed on TV is how great and elegant his short CC angled BHs are...I thought he was hitting them flat before, but he is not, they have loads of spin and a really cool trajectory as they drop/dip in.
He nearly edged that 4th set, the 5th would have been his for sure, Nadal was spent. His ball-striking is very energy costly.
I must compliment him, though: a real fantastic mover on clay!

So, it simply was not meant to be this time.
I didn't stay to watch the ceremony as I could not bear the emotion of disappointment and sadness for Nole.
But I saw his tears on Youtube, and because of them, if I can, I'll keep going to RG until he wins it!

Lastly, some photos and clips...not great...but at least consistent with the overall misery of Nadal winning his 9th title.

https://s1118.photobucket.com/user/noleisthebest/library/?sort=4&page=1

My last view on the final:
I agree that a fit Nole would have beaten Nadal.  Nole was playing at about 75% of his abilities and still came close to take it to a fifth. But frankly he looked so queasy throughout, i don’t think he could have taken the fifth set. Nadal played poor but he’s not going to lose to a sick player, not in a 100 years. He’s too tough for that.

On the tennis: Nadal will always be in trouble against a fit Djoko but I have to say he found an answer to Djoko’s flat CC BH’s. In 2011 Djoko nailed him in that corner but NAdal must have practiced a lot on the FH DTL because he used it every time Djoko attacked his FH side. With this shot he not only neutralized Djoko’s attakcs, he hit a lot of winners  too.
And yes: DJoko’s returning wasn’t as good as it usually is. But Murray also mentioned how hard it was to return, so Nadal’s serve on clay is clearly tougher to return than it seems.
I’m gutted with how things went but I think Djoko should have the better of Nadal on every following occasion this year.

For all Nadal fans, a quote from a post RG interview:

For instance, before Djokovic’s double fault at match point, I had already decided to hit a high cross shot and then a parallel forehand. I had already made that decision before he missed. I told myself: “The time is now; I am tired, I must play.” My inner logic was: “If I miss, it will be my miss. If I end up not winning this game, I must not think that I haven’t been brave. I would rather die being brave.”

http://elpais.com/elpais/2014/06/10/inenglish/1402395926_047759.html

So Nadal's fans.... look away now!

The moonball cross court is actually the safest shot! So therefore there was nothing courageous about this shot. Once again it would have been a tempter for Djoko to go for too much!...oh and the parallel one (I guess he means DTL) woudl have been played from what most likely been from his turned around BH so, in effect it woudl have been another cross court.

Interesting to see what he calls gutsy! ....knowing all his shots have so much margins and spends his time scrapping right and left!

His record on clay just says that.....it's the surface where he can stand back and retrieve ad nausea until the real courageous (or normal lunged) players asphyxiate to death.

So Nadal....you survived once again like cowards usually do!