Roger Federer vs. Rafael Nadal: a history of rivalry and broken records
Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have created one of the most intense and exciting rivalries in the history of the sport. Two legends that have rewritten the books of records and pushed the limits of tennis beyond a border that, in the past, had never been crossed. 37 Slam titles in two (20 for the Swiss, 17 for the Spanish - ed), a total of 180 career titles won, plus a total of four Olympic medallions.
The two tennis titans have monopolized (with the intrusion of Novak Djokovic) the last fifteen years of tennis. The Indian Wells 2019 semi-final will be the 39th meeting between the Swiss and the Spaniard. Fedalbowl, a rivalry born in 2004, at the Miami Open, when Nadal defeated his nemesis with a double 6-3.
Fifteen years later, Rafa leads the head-to-head for 23-15. However, Federer, who shows up as a favourite in the Californian Masters 1000 semifinals, has won the last five matches, including the Australian Open 2017, the fourth round of Indian Wells 2017 and the Miami Open final that year.
This is their first match in the last year and a half, as they last met in the final of the Shanghai Rolex Masters 2017, won once again by Federer. Two opposing tennis styles, like ice and fire, day and night. right against left. Class, technique, power, tactical intelligence, mental strength and a desire to win that only sports icons can have.
In the finals, Nadal leads 14-10, while in the matches played in the Grand Slam tournaments, the Spaniard is ahead 9-3 (Australian Open Nadal 3-1, French Open Nadal 5-0, Wimbledon Federer 2-1). In the finals of the Slam tournaments, Nadal leads 6-3, while in the ATP Finals, Roger is ahead 4-1.
In outdoor matches, Nadal leads 22-9, while in indoor challenges Federer leads 6-1. Nadal is also ahead in the tiebreaks ranking: 11-10. Now let's talk about the playing surfaces. On grass courts, Federer leads 2-1, or hard courts the Swiss Maestro is ahead 11-9, while on clay courts Nadal dominates 13-2.
After years of domination by Nadal, in the head-to-head, Federer seems to have found a tactical countermeasure to his rival's full of topspin forehand, with a one-handed backhand much more incisive and aggressive, as we have seen in the last meeting.
Among the most exciting challenges. we must remember the 2006 Rome final, won by Nadal for 6-7 7-6 (5) 6-4 2-6 7-6 (5), the 2007 Wimbledon final won Federer for 7-6 (7) 4-6 7-6 (3) 2-6 6-2, the incredible final of the 2008 Championships won by Rafa for 6-4 6-4 6-7 (5) 6-7 (8) 9-7, defined the biggest challenge in the history of tennis, and the historic Australian Open final 2017, won by Roger for 6-4 3-6 6-1 3-6 6-3.
Today their personal book will be enriched with a new page.
from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2F70tLp
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