Rafa versus the Maestro: Six Years and 22 Matches of Rivalry Part I
As discussed in the last instalment, World Number 1 Rafael Nadal and World Number 2 Roger Federer have played against each other in 22 different matches, and one exhibition match on the court. Their rivalry is as legendary as that of Pete Sampras and Andre
Agassi, or John McEnroe and Bjorn Borg. The first instalment of this series discusses their first 7 matches.
8. 2006 Wimbledon final: Federer 6-0, 7-6(5), 6-7(2), 6-3
This was the lucky match in which Roger Federer finally managed to defeat his Spanish opponent after consecutive losses which made for a five-time losing streak. However, the Maestro managed to take back the edge in the duo’s first Wimbledon match
and hence, won his fourth consecutive All England Club title. This victory also gave him his second career win over Rafael Nadal.
9. 2006 Masters Cup semis: Federer 6-4, 7-5
Once he had the edge, Roger Federer proved that he was not willing to give it up at any cost with his victory over Rafael Nadal at the end of year Shanghai Masters Cup. He was consistent, and proceeded to the final to win the
entire tournament. This was his end to the 2006 season, which he completed with three Grand Slam wins and 92 victories, as opposed to five losses.
10. 2007 Monte Carlo Masters final: Nadal 6-4, 6-4
Determined as the Maestro was, it seemed as if Nadal had just the same amount of motivation to take back the edge which Federer had taken away from him. He regained his winning stance at the clay courts in Monaco at the Monte Carlo final. At this
match, he won the event’s title after defeating Roger Federer for the second time in a row.
11. 2007 Hamburg final: Federer 2-6, 6-2, 6-0
Although the duo played one exhibition match between Monte Carlo and the Masters which Nadal won, it was however not a part of their official head to head count. When the two faced each other on clay mere weeks after the exhibition, he broke Nadal’s
winning streak on the surface by defeating him to take away the final of the event with the title. This also gave him immense confidence where a chance to win the French Open was concerned.
12. 2007 French Open final: Nadal 6-3, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4
However, it seemed as if a 2007 French Open victory was not in the cards for Roger Federer. The Hamburg victory did not serve as a herald of the Grand Slam results, and Nadal kept his perfect clay Grand Slam record to beat the Maestro in four sets.
This gave him his third consecutive title at Roland Garros.
13. 2007 Wimbledon final: Federer 7-6(7), 4-6, 7-6(3), 2-6, 6-2
This match was the second consecutive encounter that the formidable duo had at the courts of Wimbledon. Although grass is Federer’s turf, he still had to fight a major battle against Rafa to win the match. However, he did win
the title after a formidable match consisting of five sets.
14. 2007 Masters Cup semi-finals: Federer 6-4, 6-1
This was without a contest the Maestro’s easiest win over his Spanish opponent to date. It was also their second consecutive meeting at the semi-finals of the Masters Cup event. Once again, Federer proceeded to the finals to
win the title and in the process, he took away another three Grand Slam titles and one more Shanghai victory for the second time in a row.
The next and last instalment will detail more recent matches played by Rafa and Federer.
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