One of those unique players who's got lost in the annals of the last era, Igor Andreev.

Remarkable FH, complete game, just too inconsistent to make a name for himself. Troubled Federer twice at the slams, was the last person to beat Nadal on clay before the Spaniard's 81 wins.

Because he was so consistent off both wings, and because his FH was forged in steel, and with loads of spin, he could slow the game down to his liking, quite like Nadal—a rare talent. This obviously messed up Fed's make-everything-quick plans, at least for a set or two.

He was an average height (6'1") player with thick legs, a solid serve, BH, and FH—no weakness when he was on.

Opened the court with big FHs, went to net, as in point 1.

Was capable of going toe to toe with any top player off the BH, like point 2.

Very patient, built points on the heaviness of his forehand—didn't overdo the shots, just used the spin and the power to gain small incremental advantages, and finally win the point (just like the man on the other side of the net!).

Did the simple stuff well too (serve + FH), which is just as important as the protracted, fun stuff that I'll post below.

This was a good match-up since it had players with quite similar styles, just mirrored. The 2nd set was a good, old fight.

Some nice angles here, off their forehands. Prime Nadal maybe was just too fast, but those are all high quality shots from Andreev.

People use Gonzo as an example of an unheralded FH of the mid-2000s, but I think this a better one, because it's married to far more shot tolerance. Again Nadal is just a bit too much here, but if you wanted to beat the Big 4, you needed just a more consistent version of Andreev.

Patient breaking down of Nadal's defences here. Love that sharp mid-court FH that wrongfoots Nadal. It's so like Nadal himself!

Another point where he does everything right, with some lusty FHs, he just underestimates Nadal on the last ball.

And then he wrongfoots Nadal here, in point 2.

Point 1 pretty much highlights why this match-up was bad for him—a mirrored, faster, and better version of yourself playing you does that.

I guess you guys will find his Fed matches more interesting, since there's more contrast...

... in styles there; I'd never seen a Nadal-Andreev match, so I wanted to look deeper into this one. Still trying to find the Nadal-Andreev Valencia match.

Let me know if you find it.

Oh, yes, before I forget: people often say Nadal wouldn't trouble Fed if he was right-handed, but I don't think that's entirely true... on evidence of Andreev.

The thing that troubles Fed is not just the topspin to his BH, but a very shot tolerant opponent with two solid...

... wings (like a Djokovic, Murray, Nalbandian, for righties), *who can slow the game down away from Fed's comfort zone.* Andreev's spin rates, no doubt, can trouble any opponent, regardless of left or right, but the ability to slow down the tempo and play to your pace is...

... very important to prevent Fed's quick, urgent attacks, and test his shot tolerance, goading him into hitting improbable shots, and making him sustain a higher level of energy. That's what Andreev could do, and that's what a righty Nadal would do even better than Andreev.

Fed loves impatient players who flinch at his speed, and go for silly shots in frustration (Gonzo, Silly Wonka , etc.).

But he loathes the ones who keep playing the game to their own slow pace, ones who look for small incremental advantages—rather than all-out winners.