Rafael Nadal versus Roger Federer; the arch rivals – Part one
The top two tennis players on the ATP tour faced each other on the twenty second occasion in their careers in the title battle of the 2010 Barclays ATP World Tour Finals on Sunday. It was their eighteenth clash in a final, second only to the twenty final
encounters between John Mc Enroe and Ivan Lendl.
The Swiss tennis maestro, Roger Federer, who had lost six of the past seven encounters versus the world number one Rafa, played at his top level of the game against the Spaniard to win the WTF title on the fifth occasion in his career. Federer, as a result
of this victory, also denied Nadal his maiden season finale title, which would have capped his stellar season, which reaped three major crowns along with a historic clean sweep of the three ATP World Tour Masters 1000 clay court trophies.
Bettor.com takes a look at every match both of them have so far played against each other on the tour, starting from the season-finale in London;
1. 2010 Barclays ATP World Tour Finals; title battle
After falling down in six of the last seven encounters against the world number one Rafael Nadal, the Swiss native, Federer, badly required win over the Spaniard in the elite eight man field in London to successfully defend his honour. Under the coaching
supervision of Pete Sampras’ former coach, Paul Annacone, an ultra furious Roger came out firing off both wings, hitting a total of fourteen winners to two in the opening set.
Never before the sixteen times Grand Slam champion smashed his backhand with such authority and accuracy versus Rafa which was followed by a crosscourt topspin backhand winner to break Rafael for a lead of 5-3.
The intensity of the 29-year-old Federer however waned in the following set as the world number one Rafael Nadal improved his level of game to extend the match into the third set.
The right handed Federer, however, returned to his aggressive ways in the decisive set and in the end ran away with the match in three sets. The final score line was 6-3, 3-6, 6-1.
The Swiss superstar has now defeated Nadal in three indoor clashes, all of which have come at the elite eight man field in London.
By virtue of this victory, the Fed Express also joined Pete Sampras and Ivan Lendl as the only contenders to have captured the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals on five occasions in their career.
2. 2010 ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Madrid; title battle
Nadal and Federer met after a period of one complete year in the final of the Mutua Madrilena Madrid Open earlier in 2010. It was their first meeting after twelve months on the tour.
The left handed Rafa came into the match in destructive form, having missed only a total of two sets in fourteen clay court clashes in 2010. Federer, on the other hand, was not playing at his very best despite of his final run in Madrid. Nadal may also
not have been at his best at every point of the title battle, however he improved his level when required to get past his opponent in two sets in the end. World number one, as a result of this victory also avenged his loss in the finals back in 2009. The score
line was 6-4, 7-6(5).
By virtue of this victory, Nadal won his record-breaking 18th ATP World Tour Masters 1000 title and thus registered his name as the first player to complete the sweep of ATP World Tour Masters 1000 clay-court competitions in a single season on the tour.
Rafa broke decisively during the seventh game of the opening set after exchanging breaks in the third and fourth game. Seeded second to win the title, the Spaniard then prevented four break points to earn a lead of one set.
With a one set advantage, Rafa started his decisive set far more confidently by immediately breaking his opponent in the first game that forced errors from the Swiss’ racquet.
The determined the then world number one, Roger, however did not give up and within no time levelled the scores when Rafa again broke to lead 3-2, with crispy forehands and accurate backhands into the net.
In the subsequent tie-break, the sixteen Grand time Grand Slam champion, squandered a mini break lead on two occasions and found himself two match points down under relentless pressure from his opponent. The Mallorca native, as a result, sealed win in the
end. The battle concluded in a time period of two hours and ten minutes.
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