Wimbledon: Federer against Nadal - "Mutually better and better"
All tennis fans had hoped for it to become reality on Friday: Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer will compete against each other for the 40th time in the Wimbledon semifinals 2019.
by Jörg Allmeroth
last edit: Jul 12, 2019, 08:04 am
By Jörg Allmeroth from London
When asked about the most important opponent in his career, Roger Federer never needs to think twice. "Rafa is the player who has most influenced my tennis life," says Federer. Rafa, that's Rafael Nadal, the man he will face face to face on Friday in one of the big matches on a big stage, this time in the semi-finals of Wimbledon, in a total of 40 games against each other (24:15 Nadal ). Eleven years or exactly the eternity of 4023 days have passed since their last meeting at the All England Club, when Nadal won “spectacular game in tennis history” (John McEnroe) in five spectacularly dramatic sentences.
The Swiss and the Spaniards have been wandering the world of the traveling circus together for a good fifteen years. They have changed tennis and its global perception. You have long won everything there is to win in tennis. And yet they appear no less hungry and youthfully fresh this July 2019 than they did in those spring days of 2004 when they first met on a center court in the oppressive sultry of the Miami Masters tournament, Federer 22 years old, Nadal an 18 year old teenager. “Federer and Nadal, this duel is always pure fascination. Today, however, more than ever, ”says Björn Borg, the legendary Swede, who was the figure with the greatest global appeal in the 1970s,“ what they can achieve is incredible. ”
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Nadal and Federer - poaching in each other's territory
Together, they are now 70 years old or young, depending on how they are viewed. Federer is 37 and turns 38 in early August. Nadal was 33 at the French Open shortly before his twelfth triumph there in early June. But the numbers are actually noise and smoke. Because whoever sees the two honorable gentlemen sweeping over the Wimbledon greens, can hardly believe that they are in the autumn of their careers - Federer with his liveliness, elegance, creativity. Nadal with his intensity, his dynamism, his irrepressible willpower. No one was up to them, not the youngest, the middle ages, the other experienced. If they do, they still have to beat themselves, the titans of tennis.
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Federer and Nadal had once divided the world of tennis powerfully among themselves, the areas were clearly defined a decade and a half ago: Federer was the ruler of the lawn festivities in Wimbledon, Nadal the sand king of Paris. But both of them had the consuming ambition to poach in the rival's friend's territory. Nadal won the All England Club in 2008, and Federer won the Roland Garros title in 2009. But in their respective special discipline they remained the dominant figures, Federer as eight-time Wimbledon winner, Nadal as hamster of a dozen French Open trophies. "One thing was clear: the rivalry has made us better and better players," says Nadal, "stand still, you couldn't." However, a certain Novak Djokovic was also a major factor in the power game, he both presented additional puzzles and tasks . The Serb, who plays Roberto Bautista-Agut in the other semi-final, has now collected 15 titles himself.
Djokovic also has 15 major titles
But Federer and Nadal are still ahead of him. Federer with 20 Grand Slam titles, Nadal with 18 major trophies. There is no sign of tiredness beyond the age of thirty with the maestro and with the matador, the rivals, who have always been role models in personal dealings with one another. "We are big opponents out there, but we have the greatest respect for each other," says Federer, "that's how it should be in sport." Conversely, the appreciation for Federer is no less for Nadal: "It was always one for me Honor to compete against him. Games against Roger are something special. And always will be, ”says the Mallorcan. Federer also visited Nadal at the opening of his stately academy on his home island. And next year, on February 7th, Nadal will run for a charity game in South Africa. The money raised at the “Match for Africa” will go to the Federer Foundation.
Of course, there will also be sentimentality when Federer and Nadal serve on Friday afternoon. Because how many times will there be a duel in Wimbledon and elsewhere? Federer had already spoken a while ago, he is also looking forward to the moment "where I will sit with Rafa in the Royal Box and watch a match - very relaxed." They are still meeting on Center Court. And that's a good thing.
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