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History and legacy of Fedal.

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have been quoted worldwide as the
greatest tennis rivals in the history of tennis. They have both been
critically famed and applauded for their achievements and glory. Each
time Fedal (as they are commonly referred as) meet, its not just a tennis
match but a relic of the sport because when these two legends meet it is
extremely thrilling to watch them play and what makes it even more
special is the long standing relationship and the rivalry and the emotion
these two players have shared. These aspects not only affect the players
but over the years have also rubbed off on the spectators and past tennis
players who witness these two play. Although they may be called as rivals
in the professional tennis world, they share mutual admiration and respect
for one and other both on and off the field. This research paper is directed
towards the career journey of both legends and the special moments of
sportsmenship they have shared all these years
Overview: Roger Federer.
Deemed by tennis pundits as the greatest player of all time, Federer is
known for his prompt speed, fluid play and exceptional shot making. His
power packed smashes, excellent footwork and efficient techniques not
only made him win matches but create history. He holds a record of being
the only player to hold the no. 1 position for 302 weeks overall, out of
which 237-weeks were for a stretch from 2004 until 2008. He remained in
the Top 2 for eight years on the run, from 2003 to 2010 and at Top 3 from
2003 until 2012. He has the distinction of being one amongst the seven
tennis players in the world to have a career Grand Slam. Furthermore, he
has bagged a total of 18 Grand Slam titles till date. This apart, he is the
proud recipient of an Olympic gold medal and silver medal for doubles and
singles respectively.
Overview: Rafael Nadal.
'Rafa', as he is popularly known among his enormous fan following, Rafael
Nadal is a tennis player from Spain, who began playing when he was just
three years old. With an innate talent in both football and tennis, he chose
the latter as his career. He began playing in junior tennis championships,
and moved on to professional tennis, with the 'ATP' tournaments. Known
mainly for his prowess on the clay court, he was on the number one spot
for quite some time, before suffering from serious knee injuries that
affected his game. He shares the record of bagging two Grand Slam titles
on different kinds of courts, with former Swedish player Mats Wilander. He
is also the first tennis player to have won Grand Slam tournaments for ten
years at a stretch. The earlier record was held by Roger Federer, Bjrn
Borg, and Pete Sampras, for having won the titles for eight years at a go.
Nadal is most famous for his on-field rivalry with Swiss player Roger
Federer, Serbian Novak Djokovic, and Andy Murray from Scotland. This
professional player from Spain lays has 14 wins at the Grand Slam
singles, 4 Davis Cup titles, an Olympic gold medal, and numerous ATP
Trophies to his credit.

The FedererNadal rivalry (known colloquially as Fedal) is between two


professional tennis players, Roger Federer of Switzerland and Rafael Nadal
of Spain. They are currently engaged in a storied rivalry, which many
consider to be the greatest in tennis history. They have played 36 times,
most recently in the round of 16 of 2017 Indian Wells, and Nadal leads
their thirteen-year-old rivalry with an overall record of 2313.1
Federer and Nadal are the only pair of men to have finished six
consecutive calendar years as the top two ranked players on the ATP Tour,
which they did from 200510. This included a record 211 consecutive
weeks sharing the top two rankings from July 2005 to August 2009.
Of their 36 matches, 15 have been on clay, 18 have been on hard court,
and three have been on grass. The results of their matches are somewhat
polarized by playing surface. Federer has a winning record on grass (21),
while Nadal leads on clay (132). They are tied on hard courts (99), with
Nadal having won 8 of 12 matches on outdoor hard courts and Federer
claiming 5 of 6 matches on indoor hard courts. Nadal also leads the head-
to-head of their 12 Grand Slam matches (93), with five of these wins on
the clay courts of Roland Garros, and two of the losses on grass at
Wimbledon.
As tournament seedings are based on rankings, with the top two seeds
placed on opposite sides of the draw, 22 of Nadal and Federer's 36
matches have been in tournament finals, including an all-time record nine
Grand Slam finals and 10 Masters Series finals. Another nine have been
semifinals, two have been quarterfinals, with only three taking place
before the last-8 stage.2 In 29 matches out of 36 between Nadal and
Federer, the winner of the first set won the match.

1 "Federer vs Nadal hidden numbers of an infinity story". 3 November 2015.

2 Rafa & Roger: The Rivalry". ATP's official site. 29 January 2009.
From 2006 to 2008, they played in every French Open and Wimbledon
final. Their 2008 Wimbledon final was lauded as the greatest match ever
by many long-time tennis analysts.3 Their 2017 Australian Open final was
widely regarded as among the most highly anticipated Grand Slam finals
of all time due to the tennis history that would be made from either
player's victory, the subsequent implications on both player's respective
legacies, and the relevance within popular and critical discussions on who
between them can claim to be 'the greatest tennis player of all time'.

Analysis
Significant aspects.
The rivalry between Federer and Nadal has been a huge part of both
men's careers. Their Grand Slam tournament histories are of particular
interest, especially their all-time record of nine finals encounters. [20] This
includes playing French Open and Wimbledon finals for three consecutive
years (200608), culminating in what is widely considered the greatest
match in tennis history at Wimbledon 2008. Nadal, who had to defeat
Federer during each of his first six Grand Slam title runs, possesses a 63
advantage in their finals encounters plus three victories in semifinals.
Nadal denied Federer a Career Grand Slam plus two potential Calendar
Year Grand Slams (200607) by defeating him at the French Open every
year from 200508. Federer would complete a Career Grand Slam by
winning the French title in 2009 after Nadal was upset in the fourth round.
Meanwhile, Federer twice denied Nadal from becoming the first man since
Bjrn Borg in 1980 to win the "Channel Slam" (both the French Open and
Wimbledon in the same year) by defeating him in their first two
Wimbledon finals, but Nadal succeeded the following year. This was the
first of three combined Channel Slams with Federer accomplishing it in
3 Alleyne, Richard (7 July 2008). "Wimbledon 2008: John McEnroe hails Rafael
Nadal victory as greatest final ever". The Daily Telegraph. London.
2009 followed by Nadal's second in 2010. Federer has also prevented
Nadal from winning the Year-End Championships by defeating him in the
2010 finals and eliminating Nadal from the tournament in the 2006 and
2007 semifinals preventing Nadal from becoming only the second man
after Andre Agassi to win a Career Grand Slam, a gold singles Olympic
medal, and the Year End Championships, a distinction dubbed as a "Career
Super Slam" by Sports Illustrated. In their latest match in the 2017
Australian Open final, Federer won a record-breaking 18th singles major
while denying Nadal's second opportunity to become the first man in the
Open Era to have won each of the Grand Slams twice in men's singles.
Their record six consecutive calendar years atop the rankings from 2005
10 was due to their unprecedented combined performance in the Grand
Slam and Masters Series tournaments. During this span, they captured a
combined record 21 of the 24 Grand Slam tournament titles (12 for
Federer, 9 for Nadal), including a record 11 consecutive titles from 2005
07. They also dominated the Masters Series, combining for 31 of the 54
titles (18 for Nadal, 13 for Federer), including 8 of 9 in 2005 (4 each).
Additionally, Federer won 4 of 6 year-end tournaments.
Finally, both men not only possess Open-Era records for consecutive wins
on a single surfaceFederer on both grass (65) and hard courts (56),
Nadal on clay courts (81)but each of these streaks was broken by the
other player. Their respective dominance on grass and clay was the
impetus for the "Battle of Surfaces", an exhibition match on a half-grass,
half-clay court, which Nadal won with a 1210 in the deciding tiebreak in
May 2007 when both the grass and clay streaks were still active.4
About 42 percent of the meetings between Federer and Nadal have come
on clay which is statistically Nadal's best surface and one of Federer's
weaker surfaces.[63] Of their 36 matches, 15 have been on clay, 18 have
been on hard court, and 3 have been on grass. Federer has a winning
record on his best surface, grass (21), while Nadal leads on clay (132),
and they are tied on hard court (99). [64] Nadal leads in Grand Slam

4 Christopher Clarey (1 May 2007). "Tennis: Nadal to meet Federer in an


exhibition". The New York Times.
tournament matches (93), with five of these wins coming on the clay
courts of Roland Garros.
Analysts, commentators and pundits increasingly recognize that Nadal is
just a bad matchup for Federer, as the heavy topspin created by Nadal's
groundstrokes combined with his strategy of directing the majority of his
serves and groundstrokes to Federer's single-handed backhand keeps
Federer on the defensive and makes it harder for Federer to use his
aggressive groundstrokes to dominate baseline rallies as he typically does
against other opponents. 5Federer says he is a "different player due to
Nadal's presence" citing Nadal's game as a major reason for
improvements in areas of his own game.6
There are several factors to consider in analyzing the head-to-head tally
between Nadal and Federer. Nadal's head-to-head advantage is built on
Nadal's domination on clay, which is statistically his strongest surface and
Federer's weakest. The 132 record on clay masks the relatively even
record across the other two surfaces combined, which currently stands at
11-10 in Federer's favour. They are currently tied on hardcourts at 9-9,
while Federer leads the head-to-head on grass, 2-1.
There is debate as to just how much of a role sickness and injury has
played in the rivalry. Many have suggested that Federer's mononucleosis
and the effects of a subsequent lack of training in 2008 played a part in
Nadal's 40 advantage during that tennis season. Tennis analyst and
former No. 1 Jim Courier has said:
Federer was ill all season long, and the story was completely missed. He hid it from
everybody because it's his responsibility to not show weakness, and he played through
it because of his commitment to the tour. Which was a mistake. Mario Ancic missed
more than six months on the tour with a mono bout; it's a serious illness for a high-
level performance athlete. Roger needed to get off the tour and get healthy again.

5 http://www.tennisnow.com/News/Rethinking-Federer-Nadal--Roger
%E2%80%99s-Backhand-Puts-Hi.aspx

6 http://www.tennisworldusa.org/Roger-Federer-Rivalry-with-Rafa-has-been-the-
most-intense-of-my-life-He-made-me-change-my-game-articolo27279.html
In 2013 Federer was plagued by severe back injuries when again Nadal
compiled a 40 record against him.7 In other years the record between the
two is a competitive 1513 in Nadal's favour.

Skill Comparision.
Federer is considered by many to be the greatest tennis player of all time8
9
while Nadal's performance on clay has prompted many experts to regard
him as the greatest clay court player and one of the best tennis players of
10
all time.
Federer has been more successful than Nadal on fast courts because he
hits a flatter forehand and has a faster serve. Grass and indoor hard
courts are one of the faster surfaces, so Federer's flatter shots there result
in a lower bouncing, faster moving trajectory. Thus, Nadal's topspin is less
effective on such faster courts, but is most effective on slower courts such
as clay. Nadal has improved his serving speed and placement over the
years, but Federer still serves faster on average and earns more aces and
service winners, while Nadal has an overall stronger ground stroke game.

While Nadal is statistically weaker than Federer on both hard and grass
courts, Nadal has nonetheless achieved considerable success on both
surfaces, including notable wins at the 2008 Summer Olympics,
Wimbledon (2008 and 2010), the Australian Open (2009), the US Open
(2010 and 2013), and at various hard court Masters series tournaments.

7 http://www.tennis.com/pro-game/2013/10/federer-reflects-mistakes-playing-
injured/49518/#.UxbEVSgwLzI

8 "Top 10 Men's Tennis Players of All Time". Sports Illustrated.

9 http://www.foxsports.com.au/tennis/roger-federer-is-greatest-player-of-all-time-
says-australian-tennis-legend-rod-laver/story-e6frf4mu-1226418545853

10 Harwitt, Sandra (1 August 2008). "Is Rafael Nadal the best clay-court player
ever?". ESPN.
Media and player commentary.

During interviews, many fellow and former players have regarded both Federer and Nadal as
among the best tennis players of all time. 11 In November 2010, former player Bjrn Borg
stated that he believed Federer to be the greatest player of all time, but "Rafa has the chance
to be the greatest player" if he stays healthy.[95]

Former player and commentator John McEnroe was of a similar opinion, noting in 2010 that
"there is an argument to be made that Rafael Nadal may be the greatest player eventually,
even possibly now." He has subsequently adjusted his opinion on several occasions, in 2013
noting that he thought Nadal was "the greatest player that ever lived" but later in 2014
bunched Federer, Nadal, Laver and Sampras together as the greatest ever. In July 2015, he
reversed his opinion and again backed Roger Federer for the title. In January 2017, after
Federer, then 35 years of age and returning to competitive play after a 6-month layoff due to
injury, triumphed over Nadal in 5 sets to win the record-breaking 18th major at the 2017
Australian Open, McEnroe remarked that Federer had cemented his status as being the best
tennis player of all time, but also left open the possibility that Nadal can be in the running
again should he win additional men's singles majors to narrow the gap.

In October 2013, Rod Laver, the only tennis player to achieve the grand slam twice, said
"When I look at Federer, with what he's accomplished, against the competition that he's
accomplished it with, I'd have to say I would think that Roger is the greatest player,''

At the press conference following his 9th record French Open win in 2014 and a total of 14
Slams, three shy of Federer's 17, Nadal said that he really does not care much about records,
"I'll follow my own path. Then, when my career is over, then we'll count."

In May 2014, eight-time Grand Slam champion Andre Agassi told Singapore's Straits Times
newspaper, via aljazeera.com: "I'd put Nadal number one and Federer number two. Federer
separated himself from the field for four years. He separated himself from Andy Roddick and
Lleyton Hewitt. Nadal had to deal with Federer, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray in the golden
age of tennis." 12
11 "Finding Spot in History Without Looking" New York Times, August 2010.

12 "Andre Agassi says Rafael Nadal is the greatest tennis player ever",May 2014.
In November 2014, former world number 1 player Andy Roddick, in noting his support for
Federer, explained why he believes that head-to-head results are not a valid factor in
determining the greatest of all time, "For me Roger Federer is still ahead in the greatest-ever
debate, with Rafael Nadal second. People talk about their head-to-head being the determining
factor, but I cant comprehend a single match-up being the deciding factor. It's about total
wins at major tournaments, not an individual match-up, in my mind."

In December 2014, Rafael Nadal's uncle and coach, Toni Nadal, indicated to Spanish radio
station Cadena COPE that he believed Federer to be the greatest of all time based on overall
statistics and achievements, noting "I think he is (the best of all-time), the numbers say
so."[102] A day before the 2017 Australian Open men's singles finals, Toni Nadal further
reemphasized his regard on Federer, saying that "When [Federer] will call it a career, the
greatest player in the tennis history won't be there anymore. Looking at titles, he is the
greatest at the moment."

In March 2015, former player Pete Sampras made similar arguments about Federer, "You
look at the numbers of what he's been able to do, you have to say he's the greatest weve
seen"13These comments were echoed by Boris Becker in July 2015, "Great respect for Roger
Federer! He is our greatest of all time"

Relationship and competitive dynamic.


Both Federer and Nadal's personal and professional relationship is good-
natured and gracious. Though they are both highly competitive, they
maintain a healthy regard for each other and have had virtually no source
of personal animosity. The two have made slight criticisms of one another
in the past, nevertheless. For example, Federer complained of Nadal's
slow, deliberate style of play on the eve of the 2008 Wimbledon final.
Nadal criticized Federer before the 2012 Australian Open for his failure to
be more vocal about players' grievances on issues such as scheduling and
prize money. He subsequently apologized for making his views public,
however, and both players maintained that they still enjoyed a good

13 "Pete Sampras Reiterates That Roger Federer Is The 'Greatest' Player That
Tennis Has Ever Seen". International Business Times AU.
relationship and had high respect for each other, 14 which can often be
seen in interviews. Nadal was also once seen watching Federer play a
match in his box, and their family members would congratulate each other
on match wins.

Despite their cordial relationship, both men have a somewhat different


attitude towards their rivalry. When Federer was securely atop the tennis
world he was ambivalent towards the notion of a rivalry with an opponent
five years younger than himself.15 But after their memorable 2008
Wimbledon final he had no choice but to acknowledge its significance,
even admitting "it definitely becomes more and more special the more
times we play against each other." A few weeks later, after Nadal had
officially surpassed him in the rankings, Federer offered this compliment:
"Look at what he had to achieve to get it. That's what I like to see." Nadal
has always cherished the rivalry because he looks up to Federer as both a
role model and a measuring stick for success.16

When interest in their rivalry increased, both Federer and Nadal


collaborated to arrange occasional charity exhibition matches to benefit
their charities' philanthropic interests. The most recent was the Match for
Africa, played on 21 December 2010 in Zurich, Switzerland, which Federer
won, and a follow-up match played in Madrid on the following day, titled
"Joining Forces for the Benefit of Children", which Nadal won.

14 "Australian Open: Roger Federer 'cool' with Rafael Nadal criticism". BBC Sport.

15 "Matches with Nadal are special for Federer". Globe and Mail. Toronto.

16 "Mentor Mine". Peter Bodo's Tennisworld. Tennis.com.


PAIRING FEDERER AND NADAL.

Significant achievements.

From the 2003 Wimbledon Championships to the 2011 French Open,


Federer and Nadal have won an unprecedented 26 out of 32 Major
titles. In this time, both men have also completed the Career Grand
Slam (Nadal has also completed the Career Golden Slam by winning
the 2008 Beijing Olympics).

From Nadal's first Grand Slam tournament victory at the 2005


French Open until the 2011 French Open, Federer and Nadal had
won 22 of 25 Major titles (12 for Federer, 10 for Nadal). The
exceptions were the 2008 and 2011 Australian Open, won by Novak
Djokovic, and the 2009 US Open, won by Juan Martn del Potro.

Federer and Nadal are the only No. 1 and No. 2 pair in the open era
to contest the French Open and Wimbledon men's finals back to
back in a calendar year. They are also the only pair in the history of
tennis to contest both of these finals back to back for three
consecutive years (200608).

In the history of tennis, Federer and Nadal are the only pair to face
each other in nine Grand Slam singles finals (200608, 2011 French
Open, 200608 Wimbledon, 2009, 2017 Australian Open). This broke
the previous record of seven finals set by Bill Tilden and William
Johnston (191925 U.S. Championships). Their match at the 2012
Australian Open also marked a 10th time two players had faced
each other in Grand Slam men's singles matches, tying the record
set by John McEnroe and Ivan Lendl. This record has now been
surpassed by Federer-Djokovic when they met for the 13th time in a
Major at the 2012 Wimbledon semifinals.

Federer and Nadal are the only No. 1 and No. 2 pair to win 11
consecutive Grand Slam singles tournaments between them (from
the 2005 French Open to the 2007 US Open). In this period, Federer
won 3 consecutive titles at both Wimbledon and the US Open and 2
consecutive titles at the Australian Open, while Nadal won 3
consecutive French Open titles.

During the Open Era, only two pairs of players have played each
other in the final of the same Grand Slam singles tournament three
consecutive years: BeckerEdberg (198890 Wimbledon) and
Federer-Nadal (200608 French Open and 200608 Wimbledon).

Federer and Nadal are the only pair to win at least four consecutive
finals at three different Majors during the same period (200508 and
201014 French Open for Nadal, 200307 Wimbledon and 200408
US Open for Federer).

From the 2004 Wimbledon Championships to the 2011 French Open,


at least one of them appeared in 25 of 28 Major finals, winning all of
them except the 2005 Australian Open, the 2008 Australian Open,
the 2011 Australian Open, and the 2009 US Open.

Federer and Nadal have combined to win 8 consecutive Wimbledon


(200310) and 10 consecutive French Open (200514).

Federer and Nadal won the French Open, Wimbledon and US Open
triple for 4 consecutive years (200508).
One of only two pairs to have faced each other in a Major, having
both already completed the career Grand Slam. They did this four
times. The other pair Roy Emerson and Rod Laver met on two
occasions after both completing the career Grand Slam.

Federer and Nadal have played four five-set Grand Slam finals
(Wimbledon 2007 and 2008, Australian Open 2009 and 2017). This
is the largest number of five-set Grand Slam finals contested by any
pair of players in the Open Era.17

MEMORABLE GRAND SLAM FINALS OF FEDERER


AND NADAL.

17 "Federer-Nadal continue historic rivalry". ESPN.


Nadal-Federer, Federer-Nadal.

To the delight of tennis fans, the Australian Open final matched two of the
sports eternal greats, 35-year-old Roger Federer and 30-year-old Rafael
Nadal.

It is their first meeting in a Grand Slam final in more than five years. The
excitement had been amplified by the unexpectedness of the matchup.
Both players were coming off long layoffs because of injuries, and they
had fallen in the rankings. Nadal is seeded ninth in Melbourne, and
Federer 17th.

The titans of the sport for more than a decade, Nadal and Federer have
met 35 times since 2004 (Nadal leads, 23-11). Eight of those matches
came on the highest stage: a Grand Slam final. Here are those matches
(Nadal leads, 6-2), soon to increase by one.]

2006 French Open: Nadal in Four Sets

Nadal, still only 20, was the defending champion and had established
himself as the best in the world on clay, winning 59 in a row on the
surface. Federer, 24, was the games best player, with a 7-0 record in
Slam finals, including the previous three. But Nadal had won his last four
matches against Federer, and he took this first Slam final matchup, 1-6, 6-
1, 6-4, 7-6 (4), after missing the Australian Open with a broken foot.

The winner said: To beat the No. 1 player and doing it after the injury I had, Id say the
emotions were a bit more powerful.

The New York Times said: It was short on rhythm, short on spectacular rallies and,
ultimately, short on suspense.
2006 Wimbledon: Federer in Four Sets
Nadal was 4-0 against Federer on the year. But back on his favored
surface, grass, Federer won his fourth consecutive Wimbledon title, 6-0, 7-
6 (5), 6-7 (2), 6-3.

The winner said: It was important for me to win a final against him for a change and
beat him for a change. At Wimbledon, I knew it was going to be the place for me to do it the
easiest way.

The Times said: Federer was looking slightly more relieved than overjoyed as he
walked, heavy-legged, to the net to share a handshake and a pat on the stomach with the
young Spaniard.
2007 French Open: Nadal in Four Sets
Federer again came in having won three consecutive Grand Slam titles. A
week before the French Open began, he finally beat Nadal on clay for the
first time. But Nadal again foiled him in Paris, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4. Federer
had 59 unforced errors to Nadals 27.

The winner said: Roger sometimes plays very, very aggressive, especially with the
forehand. But anyway, for me, he has the best forehand of the tour, no? But yes, the truth is,
he had some mistakes today, more than usual.

The Times said: Nadals forehands found the courts white lines as if they were magnets,
as he repeatedly hit winners. He dripped with sweat, but seemed to be gaining energy, while
Federer looked exhausted.
Federer returned a shot to Nadal, not pictured, in the Wimbledon final in 2007.
Credit Anja Niedringhaus/Associated Press

2007 Wimbledon: Federer in Five Sets


Federer gained a fifth consecutive Wimbledon title, 7-6 (7), 4-6, 7-6 (3), 2-
6, 6-2, joining Bjorn Borg as the only players to do that in a century. It was
the first five-set Slam major between Federer and Nadal, who between
them had now won the last 10 Grand Slam events. (The streak ended at
11 when Novak Djokovic won the Australian Open the next year.)

Federer won the match with his serve: He had 24 aces to Nadals one.

The winner said: Its a good rivalry, I think. Weve been at the top for over 100 weeks
together. It is building up to one of, maybe, the great rivalries.

The Times said: Nadal is moving closer, but he cannot seem to beat Federer off the
clay.
2008 French Open: Nadal in Three Sets
Nadal was at his absolute peak in this tournament, not losing a set on the way to a fourth
straight title at Roland Garros. His 6-1, 6-3, 6-0 victory was the most lopsided result in a
mens Grand Slam final since 1984, and it was the only final between the rivals to be decided
in straight sets.

The winner said: I think I played an almost perfect match, and Roger made more
mistakes than usual.

The Times said: In a final that only rarely resembled anything other than one-way traffic,
Nadal was at his suffocating finest.
2008 Wimbledon: Nadal in Five Sets
Nadal had won four straight French Opens, and Federer five straight Wimbledons. The
pattern finally ended with this breakthrough victory for Nadal, generally cited as the greatest
match between them.

Nadal won the first two sets before Federer fought back to win the next two in tiebreakers.
The final set went all the way to 9-7; Nadal finally won when Federer hit a short forehand
into the net after 4 hours 48 minutes. The final score was 64, 64, 67 (5), 67 (8), 97. It
was the longest singles final in Wimbledons 131-year history and finished in near darkness.

The winner said: Its one of the most powerful feelings Ive had in my life.

The Times said: Last years emotional tussle immediately took its place among the best
Wimbledon finals, but this five-set classic played on a rainy, gusty day was better yet.
2009 Australian Open: Nadal in Five Sets
For the first time, the men met in a Grand Slam final somewhere besides Paris or London.
And for the first time, it was Nadal who was seeded first, with Federer second.

In another five-setter, Nadal won again, 7-5, 3-6, 7-6 (3), 3-6, 6-2, preventing Federer from
equaling Pete Samprass record of 14 Grand Slam titles. Federer struggled with his serve,
putting only 52 percent of his first serves in play, by far his lowest percentage of the
tournament.

A devastated Federer broke down in tears during his postmatch interview, saying, God, its
killing me.

The winner said (to Federer): Well, first of all, sorry for today. I really know how you
feel right now. Its really tough. Remember, youre a great champion. Youre one of the best
in history.
The Times said: The roar heard at Rod Laver Arena when Federer held serve to even the
match at two sets apiece was soon replaced by the groans and awkward silences that
accompany an anticlimax.

Nadal reacted after beating Federer in the final of the 2011 French Open. Credit Laurent
Baheux/Associated Press

2011 French Open: Nadal in Four Sets


Before 2017, this was the only final in which Nadal and Federer were not seeded Nos. 1 and
2 (Nadal was No. 1, but Federer was No. 3, behind Djokovic). Nadal matched Borg with a
sixth French title, 7-5, 7-6 (3), 5-7, 6-1.

The winner said: There is a lot of emotion, but the real satisfaction comes from all the
work you do before you get there.

The Times said: Their rivalry is one of the greatest in tennis history, yet it has been
decidedly short on suspense here.

Since that match, Federer has been back to a Grand Slam final four times,
winning his seventh Wimbledon in 2012. Nadal has been to eight major
finals, with a 4-4 record. Last year was the first since 2002 in which
neither appeared in a Grand Slam final. Their rivalry seemed to be waning
as Djokovic and Andy Murray took their places at the top of tennis.

Australian Open Final 2017: Roger Federer confirms hes the


greatest.

Roger Federer of Switzerland celebrates his win. Picture: AAP.

In an Australian Open final billed as the most important match of all time,
Roger Federer posted a triumph for the ages by conquering his nemesis
Rafael Nadal.

For all the glittering highs in Federers career, the victory that gave him an
18th grand slam title has claims to being the best of all, with the Swiss
overcoming a fifth-set deficit to prevail.

Blazing his backhand against a rival who had exploited frailties in the shot
for more than a decade, the Swiss superstar eclipsed Nadal 6-4 3-6 6-1 3-
6 6-3 in a final lasting 3 hours and 38 minutes.
It was a final that eclipsed expectations, which is phenomenal given the
anticipation that preceded it, with Federer crying tears of joy on landing a
forehand winner, unsuccessfully challenged by the Spaniard, to take the
match.
Former Australian tennis champion Rod Laver (centre) pictured with Roger
Federer (right) after his win against Rafael Nadal (left). Picture AAP

Federer said he wished he could share the title with his nemesis.

I am out of words and Rafa said so many great things, but of course, I
want to congratulate Rafa on such an amazing comeback, he said.
Tennis is a tough sport. There is no draws but if there was one, I would
have been happy to have one tonight and share it with Rafa.

Stay on the tour. Keep playing Rafa, please. Tennis needs you.

The Swiss superstar hinted at a possible retirement in his final words on


the stage.

We fought like we could. I hope to see you here next year. If not, this was
a wonderful run here, he said.

Nadal, a beaten finalist in Melbourne for the third time, praised Federer.
But he feels he is back to his best and vowed to challenge throughout
2017.

It was amazing the way he is playing after such a long time off the tour.
For sure, you have been working very hard, he said.
For me, personally, it has been a great month. For the first time in my
career, I spent a whole month in Australia and it was an amazing month
for me. It was a great match, but probably Roger deserved it a little bit
more than me. Im just going to keep trying. I feel like I am back at a very
high level, so I am going to keep fighting for the whole season.

The last set was remarkable, perfectly demonstrating why these men are
legends. Melbourne is privileged to have hosted an all-time classic. The
two champions demonstrated all that is good about sport. Brilliance.
Athleticism. Respect. Sportsmanship.

Fittingly, Rod Laver presented Federer with the Sir Norman Brookes
Challenge Cup in the stadium named after him.

Federer and Nadal hug after the match. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

The brave will be rewarded

Speaking at a press conference after the match, Roger Federer said he


convinced himself to play free in his five-set victory because the brave
will be rewarded, writes Will Swanton.
Federer also qualified his post-match comments that invited speculation
he may have played at Melbourne Park for the final time, saying he hopes
hell return but at his age, theres no guarantee against career-ending
injuries.

I told myself to play free, Federer said. Thats what we discussed with
(coaches) Ivan (Ljubicic) and Severin (Luthin) before the matches. You
play the ball, you dont play the opponent. Be free in your head, be free in
your shots, go for it. The brave will be rewarded here. I didnt want to go
down just making shots, seeing forehands rain down on me from Rafa. I
think it was the right decision at the right time. I had opportunities early
on in the fifth set to get back on even terms. I could have been left
disappointed there and accepted that fact. I kept on fighting. I kept on
believing, like I did all match long today, that there was a possibility I
could win this match. I think thats what made me play my best tennis at
the very end of the match, which was actually surprising to me. I went
through a little bit of a lull in the fourth and the beginning of the fifth set.

After last years knee surgery and six-month rehabilitation, Federers


victory earned him an 18th major title and almost unbeatable claim to
being the greatest player of all time. But Federer said: Thats the
smallest part, to be honest. For me its all about the comeback, about an
epic match with Rafa again. Doing it here in Australia, that Im so thankful
to (his late coach) Peter Carter and (former coach) Tony Roche. I guess
my popularity here, their support, that I can still do it at my age after not
having won a slam for almost five years, thats what I see. The last
problem is the slam count. Honestly, it doesnt matter.

The match had a rather bizarre finish when Federer awaited the result of a
video review. He received the point, celebrated wildly and wept. I mean,
you have to challenge it, he said. If youre Rafa, what other option do
you have? Of course, its slightly awkward to win this way. Nevertheless,
emotions poured out of me. I was incredibly happy, as you can imagine.
Then of course, I was also seeing my entire support team, (wife) Mirka,
everybody else going bananas. It was cool. I knew from that point on, like,
I actually did really win. That was a great feeling. It would have been
special regardless of where it was going to be, but this is a tournament
Ive not missed. Ive not missed the French. Ive missed the US Open last
year. This is the one I guess that is my most consistent slam, potentially. It
all started for me here. I played the quallies here in 99, the juniors in 98.
Won my first match, maybe against Michael Chang, here back in 2000. I
go way back. Always loved coming here, you know. When you win down
here, the journey home is not a problem. When you lose, its just brutal.
Thats why I feel very fortunate tonight.

Federer paid tribute to Nadal: Rafa definitely has been very particular in
my career. I think he made me a better player. Him and a couple more
players have done the most to do that to me. The way his game stacks up
with me, its a tricky one. Ive said that openly. It remains for me the
ultimate challenge to play against him. So its definitely very special. I
said that before the finals - if I were to win against Rafa, it would be super
special and very sweet because I havent beaten him in a grand slam final
for a long, long time now. Last time, I guess, was 2007 at Wimbledon in a
five-setter. Now I was able to do it again.

Were both on a comeback. Like I said on the court, it would have been
nice for both of us to win, but theres no draws in tennis. Its brutal
sometimes. He should be happy. I would have been happy again to be in
the finals, like I said on the court. I think this one will take more time to
sink in. When I go back to Switzerland, Ill think, Wow. The magnitude of
this match is going to feel different. I cant compare this one to any other
one except for maybe the French Open in 09. I waited for the French
Open, I tried, I fought. I tried again and failed. Eventually I made it. This
feels similar.

Federer told Rod Laver Arena that he hopes to be back but if not, hes
enjoyed the ride. The 35-year-old later said: I mean, this is about
knowing that I have only so much tennis left in me. If I do get injured,
maybe if I miss next year, who knows what happens? So it was just a way
- you never know when your next grand slam is going to be, if ever. You
never know if youre going to have an opportunity at this stage. I felt I
could thank so many people at once. Its a live audience. Its a moment
for me to be appreciative of them. Ive had a tough year last year. Three
five-setters here are not going to help. I just meant it the way I meant it.
There wasnt something planned behind it, that this is my last Australian
Open. I hope can I come back, of course. Thats my hope right now.

Roger Federer v Rafael Nadal Miami Open 2017


final preview

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal will meet for the 37th time and in their
23rd final on Sunday as they look to be crowned Miami Open 2017
champion.

The pair have enjoyed a fabulous renaissance at the beginning of the season, while top-
ranked players Sir Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic have struggled with form and fitness,
and both will return to the top-five in the world after their exploits in Florida.
Federer is a two-time winner at the Masters 1000 event, while 14-time Grand Slam champion
Nadal will compete in his fifth final having never lifted the title.

It promises to be a splendid spectacle, with two juggernauts of the game clashing for a third
time in 2017 after not meeting once in the previous year.

What have they both said?

Federer is looking forward to the tie (Picture: Getty)

Federer: I feel like there is a mountain to climb in Rafa. Hes hasnt won
this event before. Hes definitely feeling fresher than I feel right now. But
thats not a problem. Ill be ready on Sunday.

Its definitely going to be very special playing Rafa here again. Im thrilled
for him that he came back as well as he did after the comeback and the
struggles that he had last year.
It feels like old times. Were playing each other every week now. We cant
get enough of each other. Hopefully its not our last match.

Nadal: Its great to be in the final For me, doesnt matter the opponent.

I am happy to be in that final again, and I am excited to play another final


of an important event.

Prediction?

Can Nadal break his duck in Miami?

The pair are notoriously difficult to split and its no different on this
occasion particularly with their very even record on this surface.

Federers run to this stage has been the more gruelling of the two but he
should be well rested considering its only a best-of-three set tournament
and hell have had a days rest prior to the final.

The slower hard court would traditionally favour Nadal, who will hope to
keep the points as long as possible and really grind Federer down, but the
Swiss is playing so well at the moment that hes completely dictating
matches and playing quick points at a high tempo.

Whoever wins the first set will likely come out on top, something thats
been the case in eight of their last nine matches, and most people will
fancy Federer to get out the traps quicker.

But Ill be bold, go against the recent form book and back Nadal to exact
some revenge on Federer for two defeats this year.

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