Rafa versus the Maestro: Six Years and 22 Matches of Rivalry Part III
The last two parts of this three part series discussed the epic rivalry between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, and gave recaps of their first fourteen matches. In a competition spanning more than 22 matches, and six years, almost every match is an important
one. Therefore, the last instalment discusses their eight most recent matches.
15. 2008 Monte Carlo Masters final: Nadal 7-5, 7-5
In their third consecutive match at the Monte Carlo final, Rafael “Rafa” Nadal managed to defeat Roger Federer once again, although this match was considerably more difficult than the ones played before. However, the win tallied
Nadal’s win-loss score against Federer to 9-6.
16. 2008 Hamburg final: Nadal 7-5, 6-7 (3), 6-3
Once again, Nadal celebrated yet another clay victory against Federer. He defeated the Swiss opponent in three sets, and took almost three hours to get his revenge over the player for last year’s defeat at the same event’s title
match.
17. 2008 French Open final: Nadal 6-1, 6-3, 6-0
In what is Nadal’s most adept, professional match of the rivalry, he made Roger Federer look like an inexperienced qualifier. Rafa scored both a bagel and a fry over the Swiss player, and he managed to accomplish this victory in a little under
two hours. The win took him to his fourth consecutive French Open title.
18. 2008 Wimbledon final, Nadal 6-4, 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-7(8), 9-7
This match is unanimously considered one of the best matches the world of tennis has yet seen. In 2008, Nadal finally managed to oust Federer on Wimbledon territory, and it took him five sets to do it. The match finished in darkness,
due it the fact that it ran for almost five hours amid frequent delays due to rain. It was one of the closest matches the two ever played: Nadal won 209 points, while Federer took away 204.
19. 2009 Australian Open final: Nadal 7-5, 3-6, 7-6(3), 3-6, 6-2
In another epic five-setter, Nadal came in for a victory down under by defeating Federer at the Aussie Open. The two players traded sets against each other, until Federer (who cried after the match) came apart to give away the
trophy to his Spanish opponent.
20. 2009 Madrid Masters final : Federer 6-4, 6-4
Once again, Federer regained his momentum on clay to take away the final warm-up tournament title before the French Open. Many people speculated that he would now win his first French Open title, which he did; however, he did not have to face Nadal
in the final, as he was defeated in the fourth round by Robin Soderling.
21. 2010 Madrid Masters final: Nadal 6-4, 7-6(5)
After the 2009 Madrid Masters, Federer and Nadal did not play against each other till a year later at the same event. This time, Nadal triumphed over the Swiss player, but once again they did not have the opportunity to compete at Roland Garros.
This time, Robin Soderling intervened again to defeat the Maestro in the French Open quarterfinals.
22. 2010 ATP Finals title match: Federer 6-3, 3-6, 6-1
At their most recent meeting, the two players closed the season with their first title match together at the ATP World Tour Finals. Federer quickly demolished Rafael Nadal in three sets, and consequently won his fifth end of
year trophy.
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