This Angry Legend Faced Rafael Nadal... What Happens Next is Crazy!

Still running after it. But Safin at least hung in there. Sometimes, playing against Rafael Nadal could seriously mess with your head. In 2007, in the second round of the Canada Masters, former world number one and two-time Grand Slam champion Marat Safin went head to head with Rafael Nadal for the first time. And let me tell you, the crazy Russian had no idea what Rafa had in store for him. Now, without spoiling anything, feel free to hit the like button and subscribe to my channel for more original tennis content. And if you want to support the channel even more, you can become a member and join the family with early access to new videos and other exclusive content. Now, without further ado, let's get started. And a betting scandal from his match against the Argentine Vaseo Arguello last week. But we don't know it's a scandal. We know that they're... He knows that against Nadal, he better be ready. That could make for a very entertaining match. And this is where Nadal... And Safin, big one down the middle at 131. He just looks too clean here. I don't like this look from Nadal. That was here in Montreal. This tournament goes back and forth each year between Montreal and Toronto. And a double, so... Safin looking a little bothered there by the wind whipping up. Great tennis facility now. And the grounds have just been hopping. See, that's where Nadal does not... Or where Safin does not want to be. His place is low-edge. He spends quite a few weeks on the road with Nadal. Has there been a player that either of you have seen that has had this kind of topspin? No. That backhand. Missed it long. From Montreal? Not this. No problem for Nadal. Safin made a mess out of that volley there. Not a bad one at the court. Second ace for Safin. You know, it's talked about Monfils, the old French player in the world. Oh, that's a beautiful shot. Can't quite get on top of the ball. And it flies on you if you don't time it perfectly. Safin eliminates the mystery from that game, and ends it with a pair of aces. He's been No. 2 for over two years running. And No. 3 and even close. Great play from Safin. That was the... You said it, Patrick, he just whacked a second serve. But again, I really believe that the reason he serves better at Wimbledon is because he doesn't feel the same kind of pressure. So Safin is charged back. Safin hits an incredible... I mean, he's hitting baselines. Safin's starting to feel it now. Another return. Hello! Nothing wrong with this serve. Safin to last year. Now these guys have done it twice. What a second serve. That is just tremendous direction. Safin gives a little kiss to the top of the frame, I guess because he didn't really mean to do that. Maybe a slight controlled power. Good depth there. Gets the short. Jam shot serve. And Safin powers his way out of that game. For 6'5". That's... That's the Murat we know. Yeah, exactly. I think there's a sense of it, though. There's another body serve. Yeah, that's just sitting up there again for Safin. So he's able to take his swings. And again, Nadal... Oh, a set point for Safin. You just know that come the big point, Nadal's going to step it up. I mean, that's the best baseline point he's played in a while. Better length. He was aggressive with this forehand. I'll play this... Nadal got Safin running in that point. It still took him a while. Point one to the final point. At that time, hey, this is... Safin's going to stick around now. You just love this about Nadal. I mean, watch on this replay coming up here how quickly he pounces on this ball when it hits the net. Watch how quickly Nadal gets up to it. So fast to make it an easier shot. Backhand, backhand, backhand. It's all Safin hit, too. And then he went for it all. Missed it. Did miss that one. Oh, no. Oh, no! What a great point! And that point really seems to summarize Nadal. He stays out there. He stays out there an hour and five minutes. And he finally outlasts Safin to win the first set. Run away with this. Second set. That's a nasty shot there. Beautiful angle. That is out. The break. Oh, wait a second. Safin's going to challenge. And Safin's right. Oh! Well done by Safin to use the chance. What a swing. I mean, that looks like it's a break of serve. And now, suddenly, you have the best players in the world. I mean, with all due respect, calling lines at a football game where there are a lot of different factors going into actually making those calls is my point. I think for the umpire, yes. And I agree. Exactly. And I'm not disputing your point at all. And nor am I denigrating it. D. That was easy. I mean, it's just inevitable. Absolutely. I mean, come on. Incredible. All right, so Rapp is here. He's arrived. Darren, don't you think? How many times would Safin have won that original challenge this season? That's good. Oh! Safin loses the point. Of course, that's the measure. And now, starting to feel it now. To kick themselves out of the match early. Oh, yes. And there goes the racket. Safin. Wailing that into the net. Some here that love tennis don't enjoy that. You have to enjoy this. And so the toll of Nadal beginning to show on Safin. Rapp out quickly. Three to love in the second. Against Marcos Bagdadis. Nadal just dug in. Egalit. Avantage. Jeune Nadal. Oh! Still running after it. But Safin at least hung in there. He won the point. This is why people respond to Rafael Nadal the way they do. Because, I mean, no matter what the score is, no matter what is going on, he just won't give up. And, Patrick, it's why I think it's so important for him here in North America on a familiar surface. That would register a lot more. That racket's done. He had the snapperooni sound there. Into the net. Normally, there would have been a ball abuse automatic. Safin just tosses it to the ground, which is a nice move on Safin's part. Redemption. The only good shot of the whole second set. To me, Patrick, it looked like Nadal and Safin tried to do that. And had some success. Match Nadal. The first match on the hard courts this summer. That's always an adjustment. We saw it for Federer earlier today. And for Nadal, really tested in the first set. Well, he was. And it was a good match for Hinton to get through. I think you'll see him to go for his shots a lot more. And he'll have to. Mathieu is a dangerous player for him. Mathieu can bang the ball from the baseline. He's playing with confidence now. But a disappointing, certainly, second set. More than disappointing for Safin. But it's a nice ovation from the crowd here. And you only hope that he can sort of start to corral. Dispatched. Get your popcorn ready. Because I guarantee this is one of the most unusual matches you will ever see.