Australian Open: Roger Federer vs Rafael Nadal, Moment of Nostalgia
The rivalry between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal is way beyond just tennis and has long list of captivated fans across the globe. The head-to-head record between the elegant Swiss and the powerful Spaniard is anything but even, with Nadal winning 23 matches out of the total 34 matches played by the two. The record in Grand Slam finals is a little worse for Federer who has won only two matches out of eight. The upcoming Australian Open final would mark the 35th meeting between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
The match was a regular fixture a decade ago from now, especially in the finals. And, when the two met it has always been a scintillating event for the fans. It has left the fans of both sides mostly biting their nails in anxiety as one could not predict which direction the match was going. When the two would meet at the Rod Laver Arena in the Australian Open 2017 final, it would not matter who wins, but would simply be a treat for the lovers of tennis, who have been dying to see the two fight it out one more time in a final. The two have met just once on the hard court before this and it was at the Rod Laver Arena as well. That match went in favour of the Spaniard.
However, Federer and Nadal have been through a very rough patch in recent years, having suffered many injuries. This period also saw the rise of Serbian Novak Djokovic and Britain’s Andy Murray. Both the Serbian and the Brit have been knocked out in the early stages of the tournament. And, that paved the way for the match everyone had been eagerly waiting for since years.
Australian Open Final: Three Years In The Making
Two of the most inspirational figures in world tennis began their rivalry back in 2004, when a young 17-year-old Spaniard handed one of the rising talents of world tennis with a straight sets loss. It has been 13 years since and what was once a set-back became the most discussed tennis rivalry in history in the 21st century.
The previous occasion when Rafael Nadal met Roger Federer in a Grand Slam final was also at the Rod Laver in 2014. The match went in favour of the Spaniard. And Federer would definitely be seeking some redemption in this match.
The two player’s battled serious injuries, decline in form, and drop in the rankings which in turn at some point of time would have even led to the loss of confidence. But, they kept fighting against everything and once again stand at the helm of a Grand Slam (if not on top of the tennis world).
Ranked at No. 17 and No. 9, both Federer and Nadal made their way into the Australian Open after injury problems in 2016 and their resurgence in getting back to the finals has featured vintage performances from both players.
Will Roger Federer win his No. 18 or will Rafael Nadal disrupt the flow again?
It is true, that if it were not for Rafael Nadal, Federer would have been way beyond 20 Grand Slam titles to his name. And, the Spaniard once again has the opportunity to strengthen his position at the cost of his arch-nemesis. However, this modern-day rivalry is not about the stats. It is between two different tennis philosophies. Both the styles have been received well by the fans and have seen almost equal success at the top of the tennis world.
The tournament saw both Federer and Nadal return to form. For Federer, his speed and ability to place shots in impossible areas have been on display, mesmerizing the crowds. Nadal’s speed has been a hallmark but his trademark power and tenacity have him looking like the vintage version of himself. However, Federer and Nadal are no longer at their peaks, they have played some excellent tennis so far in this tournament.
Their demise into the rankings abyss was almost inevitable, another Grand Slam title for either — was all but written off. The Roger Federer- Rafael Nadal rivalry is one of the best rivalries in tennis and it’s hard to envision the match being anything less than a classic.