OUR EXPERTS WEIGH IN
STEVE FLINK: 2017
I would go with the 2017 version of Nadal over the 2007 Rafa. His level of aggression and serve are better now than 10 years ago and he has, in my view, reached peak form on clay that slightly surpasses anything I have seen from him in the past.
ASHLEY NDEBELE: 2007
The 2017 Nadal is firing on all cylinders and taking names in Roland Garros. He’s only lost 22 games in his last five matches. However, the 2007 Nadal was more fearless, more confident, and his body wasn’t beat up. He was basically invincible, leaving everyone—including Federer—without any answers. The modern Nadal can definitely take the vintage Nadal, but I'm not sure if the knees can withstand getting jerked around the court by the 21-year-old.
ED MCGROGAN: 2007/2017
“It’s impossible to compare generations,” they say when trying to weigh the accomplishments of two sports teams from years apart. But comparing the same person, while still a fool’s errand, isn’t as challenging. The Rafa of ’07 was closer to his peak, but he didn’t have the variety on his serve that eventually helped him win on surfaces besides clay. Rafa’s backhand is better now than it was then, too. Still, a Rafa loss today isn’t a stop-the-presses moment like it was a decade ago, even on dirt. Rafa circa 2017 would win on hard courts, but everywhere else, I’ll side with the younger version.
NINA PANTIC: 2007
A 21-year-old Nadal would beat today’s Rafa, although the margin would be slim. Modern-day Nadal has dealt with crises in his health and confidence, while 2007 Nadal only lacked experience. Nadal is on track to repeat his 2007 results, but his younger self was unstoppable on clay. Nadal has shown chinks in his armor over the past two years, and while he certainly looks to have put all of that behind him at Roland Garros, the cracks are still below the surface, as evidenced by his straight-set loss to Dominic Thiem in Rome.
STEVE TIGNOR: 2007
Nadal turned 21 in Paris in 2007; he turned 31 there in 2017. To paraphrase Shaquille O'Neal, 31 ain't 21. Watching Nadal rampage through the draw this year, it's tempting to say that he has defied that axiom. How could anyone be better than he is now? Well, in 2007, Rafa didn't drop a set until the final, and he beat Juan Martin del Potro, Djokovic and Federer on his way to the title. It doesn't get any better than that.
BRAD KALLET: 2007
Rafa looks as good, perhaps, as he ever has. He went 17-1 in the clay season before Roland Garros and has been toying with the competition in Paris. (He also reached the final in Melbourne, on hard courts, let’s not forget.) But Rafa 10 years ago was a different animal. He may be wiser now, but he was fitter and more ferocious then. At this time in 2007, Nadal was on the verge of his third straight French title. Give me that guy every time.
Holding Serve with Roger Federer will air on Thursday, June 8th at 2 p.m. ET, only on Tennis Channel.