Wimbledon: Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer - Maybe Not Better, But Different?
Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer will play the dream semi-finals at the 2019 Wimbledon tournament on Friday afternoon. It is the first grass meeting of the two in eleven years - and a lot has happened since then.
by Florian Goosmann from Wimbledon
last edit: Jul 12, 2019, 07:51 am
"No no." Rafael Nadal's answer was clear. No, he doesn't expect to learn anything new from the upcoming match against Roger Federer.
As well as. Nadal and Federer have fought 39 duels against each other so far , five of them in the past two and a half years, there are no secrets anymore. "I only expect to play against what is probably the best player in history on this surface. And I know that I have to do my best to have a chance of reaching the final," continued Nadal. Federer plays well, he feels comfortable here. "And me too," said Nadal confidently, "I also play well."
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That has not always been the case on lawns in recent years. In 2008 and 2010 Nadal won both titles on Church Road, after which it suffered bitter defeats. Against Lukas Rosol. Against Steve Darcis. Against Nick Kyrgios. Against Dustin Brown. Against his knee.
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Nadal: Still and secretly Wimbledon expert again
Nadal has been back in the race since 2017. At that time, after previously good games in the round of 16, he lost to Gilles Muller with 13:15 in the fifth set. And in 2018 with 8:10 in the decision round against Novak Djokovic. In other words, not much was missing, and Nadal would have played for a third title last year - and would have had a good chance against a battered Kevin Anderson.
Also because Nadal is no longer Nadal - that is from the old days. But another one.
An interesting question in the press round after the Querrey match gave Nadal an equally interesting answer. No, he doesn't think Federer and he have improved much. They added things because they lost others because of their age. That is possibly the only reason why he and Federer are still standing where they are. You love this sport and have a lot of respect.
The reporter asked in beautiful English with an Italian accent: "But your serve is better! Your return is better! I beg you!" If you compare that to the game 10 years ago ... Federer would be the same. What is he doing better?
Nadal made it clear. "I run less, so I have to serve better. I can't play 20 weeks a year anymore, so I have to plan differently, improve things so that I am competitive every time I play." And: "Of course I serve more. Of course I have a better backhand. Maybe a better volley, a better slice." But whether today's level is better overall than the previous one? Nadal, weighing the hands of the Italian, took his help. "I do not know."
But when it comes to adapting the game: Federer and he "would always have found ways to keep us among the best in the world."
"Fedal" in Wimbledon: for the first time since 2008
In any case, Nadal didn't want to dig too much in the past. Many good matches were played against each other, in Wimbledon the finals 2007 and 2008 would of course stand out. As a reminder: In 2007 Nadal had twice a 15:40 at serve Federer at the beginning of the fifth set, but he found the better end for himself - Nadal described this defeat as the worst of his career. The Spaniard's first victory followed in 2008.
"These were two emotional matches," Nadal looked back. And smiled: "2008 was a bit more emotional for me."
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