NBO Quarterfinal Flashback: When Federer, Nadal, Djokovic & Murray all played…and won

Playing all four quarterfinals in a day used to be the norm. That included in 2010 at the NBO, when the “Big Four” all lined up…and won. 

Let’s rewind to that memorable day in Toronto.

Setting the scene 

Andy Murray was the defending champion, but Rafael Nadal entered the NBO with the most momentum. The Spaniard just won his second, and what would turn out to be, last Wimbledon title. 

He beat Tomas Berdych in the final after the powerful Czech got the better of Roger Federer on the grass in the quarterfinals at SW19. 

The rematch 

Federer had his chance for revenge against Berdych in Toronto and took his opportunity. Barely. 

Berdych led 5-2 in the third set, only to see Federer break back and get to a tiebreak.

Once there, Federer jumped out to an early lead (4-0), then hung on for a 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 (5) win. At two hours and 41 minutes, it was the Swiss’ longest ever match in Canada. 

Nadal beats German one-hander 

Nadal won the title in Toronto the last time it was held there in 2008, again winning Wimbledon beforehand (beating Federer in what some call the greatest tennis match of all time).

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The 2010 NBO marked Nadal’s return to the court following the Wimbledon triumph. The world No. 1, he began his tournament by edging a marathon tiebreak (14-12) against a then ranked No. 24 Stan Wawrinka. 

His quarterfinal foe turned out to be another one-handed backhand artist, Philipp Kohlschreiber. 

Nadal had a penchant for flourishing against one-handers given his heavily spun lefty forehand and indeed won, but not before dropping the first set. 

Murray kept on rolling

Who did Murray face? David Nalbandian, often in the conversation when pondering the best players to never win a major. 

The Argentine had the Scot’s number, winning both of their previous contests, but Murray prevailed in Toronto 6-2, 6-2 — and never lost to Nalbandian again. 

It was an eye-catching result, and not only because of the head-to-head record at the time. 

Nalbandian rode an 11-match winning streak, making his comeback from a hamstring injury. 

Djokovic cruised, too 

Over the course of his (still ongoing) career, Novak Djokovic has feasted against big servers. 

In the last quarterfinal of the day, after Federer’s win, Djokovic didn’t slip up against Jeremy Chardy, advancing 6-2, 6-3. 

“I waited all day to play a match and wasn't easy in the locker room, waiting (on) that match before us for quite some time,” said Djokovic, who in 2010 owned one Grand Slam title. “But as soon as I stepped on the court, I felt the ball right.” 

Nadal and Djokovic did double duty in Toronto, partnering in doubles, the first time the top two in the men’s rankings teamed up together in 34 years. 

They lost their opening match to two Canadian wildcards…Milos Raonic and Vasek Pospisil. 

What happened next

Murray upended Nadal in the semifinals, while Federer beat Djokovic. Murray repeated as champ by downing Federer in the final. 

Photo: Peter Power/Tennis Canada