Wimbledon: Roger Federer vs. Rafael Nadal - Everything a classic!
It is the seemingly eternal duel, the supposedly greatest that there has ever been in tennis: Roger Federer against Rafael Nadal , the Swiss maestro against the bull from Manacor. The two giants meet for the 40th time in the semi-finals of Wimbledon!
by Florian Goosmann from Wimbledon
last edit: Jul 12, 2019, 08:18 am
The balance sheet speaks very clearly for the 33-year-old Nadal: It was he who annoyed and overwhelmed the overpowering Federer, the clear number one, from the mid-2000s on sand, then on all surfaces. Problem for one-handed Federer against Leftie Nadal: the backhand mill, into which the Spaniard repeatedly pushed the 37-year-old Swiss with his extreme topspin and forced Federer to turn his own game over to that of Nadal.
However, the situation has changed since the Australian Open final in 2017: Federer surprised Nadal here with his offensive backhand, which he struck again a few weeks later in Indian Wells and Miami. Despite Nadal's 24:15 record and the last win on clay at the French Open: Federer won the previous five matches between the two.
Roger vs. Rafa - The main duels
Miami 2005, 3rd round, Federer - Nadal 2: 6, 6: 7 (4 :), 7: 6 (5), 6: 3, 6: 1
The second duel between Federer and Nadal already suggested that a very special rivalry was about to begin. In the Miami final in 2005, Nadal led 2-0 and was 5-3 in the tie-break from set three in front before Federer started to catch up and won in five sets.
Rome 2006, Finale, Nadal - Federer 6: 7 (0), 7: 6 (5), 6: 4, 2: 6, 7: 6 (5)
An amazing match in 5 hours and 5 minutes! Federer led 4: 1 in the fifth set and had two match balls in a row at the score of 6: 5 and serve Nadal, but distorted two hands. "I'm on the right track, one step closer to him," he said afterwards.
Wimbledon 2007, final, Federer - Nadal 7: 6 (7), 4: 6, 7: 6 (3), 2: 6, 6: 2
In 2006 Federer won four sets on his favorite surface against Nadal, 2007 was the harbinger for the following year - and a sign that Nadal had turned from a clay court specialist into an all-rounder. The endgame - a duel at eye level that many will hardly remember due to the 2008 final. Federer escaped twice in the fifth round at the beginning of a 15:40 and finally won his fifth Wimbledon title in a row. Nadal described this loss as the worst of his career, after all, it was not Roland Garros but Wimbledon that was his childhood dream.
Roland Garros 2008, Finale, Nadal - Federer 6: 1, 6: 3, 6: 0
In the third Paris final between Nadal and Federer, the Swiss was better than ever before. While he won one set in the semifinals in 2005 and in the finals in 2006 and 2007, there was nothing to be won in 2008. Federer made 49 unforced mistakes and ended up winning only four games. The distance to Nadal, at least on sand, was growing; Federer's victory in Paris is becoming increasingly unlikely. (Federer finally struck in 2009 when Nadal lost to Robin Söderling in the round of 16; the last game between Nadal and Federer was in 2011, where Nadal won in four sets.)
Wimbledon 2008, final, Nadal - Federer 6: 4, 6: 4, 6: 7 (5), 6: 7 (8), 9: 7
The match at all! Federer was initially, as he later admitted, struck by bankruptcy in Paris, but released himself in the course of the match. Legendary: his backhand pass ball at 7: 8 in the tie break of the fourth set. According to Federer, this was the most important stroke of his career: Without him, the fifth set would not have existed, and possibly not the match that many consider to be the best tennis match ever. For Nadal, the big dream came true with the Wimbledon victory. In 2010 he struck again, against Tomas Berdych in the final.
Australian Open 2009, Finale, Nadal - Federer 7: 5, 3: 6, 7: 6, (3), 3: 6, 6: 2
Nadal had to survive a five-set fight in the semifinals, then against Fernando Verdasco (duration: 5 hours 14 minutes!); Federer, on the other hand, had one day more to relax after his match. In the final there was no sign of tiredness with Nadal: he won and had to console Federer ("This is killing me ...") at the award ceremony.
Australian Open 2017, Finale, Federer-Nadal 6: 4, 3: 6, 6: 1, 3: 6, 6: 3
Perhaps the most unexpected finale of the two. Federer came back from a six month break, Nadal was also injured. Federer had to survive two five-set matches and thigh problems during the tournament, Nadal put the semi-final against Grigor Dimitrov in the bones. The end game turned into a drama in the fifth set: Nadal led 3-1 when Federer started to catch up and won his 18th major title with a Hawk-Eye decision.
# BETATHOMEFO #
Roger vs. Rafa - The Numbers
The duel: Nadal leads in a direct comparison with 24:15 - a clear advantage, which he achieved thanks to many matches on sand and hard court, while there were only a few duels in the hall and lawn, i.e. on Federer terrain . In concrete terms, Nadal leads 14: 2 on sand and 8: 6 on hard court (outside). Federer leads 5: 1 in the hall and 2: 1 on grass.
Grand slam matches: Nadal and Federer met 13 times in the majors - Nadal won 10 matches. 6 times in Roland Garros, 3 times in Melbourne and 1 time in Wimbledon. Federer won the first two matches on Sacred Lawn and 2017 in Melbourne.
The first duel: The first match-up between Nadal and Federer was 15 years ago - in 2004 it was in Miami, in round three. Here, 17-year-old Nadal gave the direction and won 6: 3, 6: 3. Federer said afterwards: "He unpacked incredible blows, the youngsters do. I've heard a lot about him and seen a few of his matches, it's not a big surprise." The second game of the two also took place in Miami, a year later. Federer won after a 0: 2 set deficit.
The last encounter: A few weeks ago in the semi-finals of the French Open. In extremely windy conditions Nadal won 6: 3, 6: 4, 6: 2 - the first two sets were very competitive.
This is how it looks on lawn: The Swiss leads 2-1 on Federer's favorite surface. From 2006 to 2008 Federer and Nadal played the Wimbledon finals, and Nadal got closer and closer. In 2006 Federer won 6: 0, 7: 6 (5), 6: 7 (2), 6: 2; In 2007 he won 7-6 (7), 4-6, 7-6 (3), 2-6, 6-2. In 2008 Nadal won perhaps the best game ever 6: 4, 6: 4, 6: 7 (5), 6: 7 (8), 9: 7. So if you want to warm up accordingly - please ...
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