Nadal versus Federer competition, who’s going to win this time?
The rivalry between Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer is glaringly twisted. Twelve of their total twenty one clashes have been contested on clay, so Rafa's 14-7 lead just isn't a rational depiction of how they stand up against each other.
Rafal Nadal is so far unbeatable on the clay court and he is ahead of Federer with 10-2 on that surface. However, Rafaelites refer to the grass court Grand Slam tournament back in 2008 as well as Australian Open in 2009 as evidences that their boy has the ability to knock down Federer on all courts. There is no debate with those outcomes. Rafa is undeniably the best tennis player on the courts. He knocked down Federer’s strength in two of those epic five set matches.
Yet, Rafa has not triumphed in a match that counted versus Federer on the Swiss star’s favourite court. Melbourne has a peppy, kind of rubberized court, and Wimbledon's grass is now gentler as compared to the hard courts. Rafa has managed to knock down Federer on the hard surface in the round number three of the Miami Masters championship back in 2004, when Federer was battling a cold and Rafa was a youngster no one and two years later in Dubai in an informal exhibition match.
Yet one doubts Roger wasn't ready to go the extra mile in both of the contests. Rafa, on the other hand we all know, is always prepared to go to hades and back to gain a point. He doesn't really care about the championship. This is commendable professionalism of the top standards. The Swiss tennis player, on the other hand, gets fed up much more quickly. His mind floats at the smaller tournaments.
In that initial period, Federer's issue with Rafa on hard surfaces was not with the Spaniard's ability, which was fundamentally compared with those of a perfect player who only grabbed the French Open-Wimbledon double title on the second occasion, however with his determination, his denial to surrender.
Nadal compelled Federer to question himself: Do I mind about this awkward little contest like I mind about a grass court Grand Slam final? In the final of the Miami championship back in 2005, Federer played some excellent tennis hoping his challenger to faint before him. It beyond any measure of speculations disturbed him to look up after an hour or so and find himself behind by a total of two sets. Federer assembled himself and moved on lagging behind three straight sets, yet the only time Rafa has defeated in a match after triumphing in the first two sets.
Federer always has been capable of shedding away his lethargy when the time demands, which is actually at the major championships. However the event where he has exhibited his flawless tennis in not the grass court Grand slam tournament but in fact the United States Open. How can anyone forget the two sets he missed on Lleyton Hewitt in the final match back in 2004, or the manner in which he kept the American tennis ace, Andre Agassi known as “the Punisher” from imposing points in the final match back in 2005.
In fact, let’s consider his next three major final clashes, impressive victories over Andy Murray, Andy Roddick as well as Novak Djokovic.
The Swiss tennis player was hardly ever pushed at the United States Open championship for almost six years, until Juan Martin Del Potro at last ended his winning streak of five consecutive finals victories in the last season’s final clash.
All through those six ruling years in New York, Federer never met Rafa in the finals. Nadal has not managed to cruise in the final of the US Open so far in his career.
As far as the upcoming United States Open championship is concerned, let’s see who faces who in the final battle and who eventually takes the title back home. Will it be Nadal or Federer or even someone else?
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