Tennis Archenemies: Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer
The year 2004, gave rise to a rivalry between Spain’s Tennis Whiz, “Rafael Nadal” and Switzerland’s legendary “Roger Federer”. Since then, the sportsmen have been evenly contested. Nevertheless, will the looming 2010 U.S. Open give us yet another, Federer-Nadal final?
In the year 2006, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer came head to head in their first ever grand slam final played against each other. Defending champion, Nadal annihilated the Swiss Maestro 6–1, 6–4, 7–6 despite the fact, that he lost the first set one game to six. The 2006 French Open win marked Nadal’s second title, two years in a row.
The same year, at the 2006 Wimbledon Championship, Federer exercised his authority over Nadal by defeating him 6-0, 6-7 and 6-3, even though, Nadal took the third set 7-6 on a tie break.
As far as the game of tennis is concerned, Roger Federer is truly a class apart from the rest. The former World no. 1 has bagged a record sixteen grand slam titles in his career. However, the “Fed Express” has been defeated in the additional six major finals he has made appearances in. Out of which, five were clinched by Rafael Nadal.
History repeated itself in the year 2007. Nadal was opposed by Federer in the French Open Men’s singles final, yet again. Rafa thrashed Roger 6–3, 6–3 and 6–4 in spite of losing the third set 4–6. To Federer, this meant war.
The Swiss Terror took his revenge a few weeks down the line. Roger defeated the Spaniard in the 2007 Wimbledon Championship. Even though Nadal lost 7–6, 4–6, 7–6, 2–6 and 6–2 after putting up a fight, things weren’t working out too well on the grass courts for him, as he lost for the second time in a row to the defending champion.
As quoted by the former world No. 1 and American tennis professional Jimmy “Jimbo” Connors: “In an era of specialists, you're either a clay court specialist, a grass court specialist or a hard court specialist. Or, you're Roger Federer."
Present World no. 1, Spain’s Rafael Nadal however, somewhat proved Jimmy Connors wrong. “The King of Clay” currently has eight grand slam titles, not to mention 18 Association of Tennis Professionals titles and a 2008 Olympic gold medal. Nadal also contributed to the 2004, 2008 and 2009 “Spain Davis Cup” wins by playing for the Spanish National team.
As far as the Federer-Nadal rivalry is concerned, the year 2008 didn’t bring as much monotony. Federer was crushed 1–6, 3–6, 0–6, in straight sets, at the French Open Men’s singles final. Not only did Nadal bag the French Open title, he also completely destroyed the Swiss at the 2008 Wimbledon Championship.
The 2008 Wimbledon Men’s singles final is notably one of the most engaging finals in the history of tennis. The top two seeds took the match to a whole different level.
The longest championship match in the history of Wimbledon came to an end with Nadal’s fifth set win. The match lasted over seven hours with two rain delays in between. Rafa and Federer went nip and tuck as Nadal took the first two sets 6–4, 6–4. Roger responded with 6–7, 6–7; he was winning until the Spaniard won the deciding set 9–7.
The Swiss and the Spaniard came against each other in the 2009 Australian Open Men’s single final for the umpteenth time. The match was taken to a fifth set after Federer took the fourth set 6-3. Prior to which, Nadal took the first set 7-5, lost the second set 3-6. Rafa’s 7-6 fourth set win and 6-2 fifth set win brought the match to a close. This was also the last grand slam final that featured the two rivals.
Nadal seems to be faring well this year considering the fact that, so far, the athlete has won the 2010 French Open along with the 2010 Wimbledon Championship. Federer on the other hand, took the third grand slam of the year by winning the 2010 Australian Open Men’s singles final.
Trustfully, the two rivals will produce some quality tennis for the last grand slam of the year. Unless they end up facing each other in the 2010 U.S. Open Men’s singles final, in which case it would surely be a spectacle to marvel over for years to come.
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