David Goffin: Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal played one of the most exciting..

Sharding his Masters 1000 story with the readers on the ATP site, David Goffin answered some interesting questions. The Belgian had no doubts about the most excellent Masters 1000 match he has ever seen, choosing the 2006 Rome final between Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer. In one of the best encounters ever seen on the tennis court, Nadal prevailed 6-7(0), 7-6(5), 6-4, 2-6, 7-6(5) in five hours and five minutes to defend the title won a year ago in another marathon against Guillermo Coria. On May 14, 2006, the crowd at Foro Italico had a unique opportunity to attend the clash between the world's finest players. The Spaniard was already one of the greatest clay courters ever at 19. However, Roger entered this final with positive vibes after pushing Rafa to the limits in Monte Carlo a month earlier, ready to make another strong challenge in Rome.

As a result suggests, the Swiss was there to fight for every point, and the victory barely slipped away from his hands, leading 4-1 in the final set and squandering two match points on the return in the 12th game, also a 5-3 lead in the deciding tie break! As always, Nadal refused to surrender and overcame all the obstacles to win one of the most important matches of his career and lift the sixth Masters 1000 title, all before turning 20! It was Nadal's 53rd straight win on clay, tying Guillermo Vilas' Open era record and conquering the 13th consecutive triumph in the ATP finals since another epic title match against Roger in Miami a year earlier. Rome was Nadal's 16th and last ATP title as a teenager, standing up there with Bjorn Borg at the top of the record list. Roger won five points more than Rafa and did almost everything right, saving six out of nine break points and defending the second serve to stay in touch with Nadal in the entire match, just missing to cross the finish line first.

The Swiss was in attacking mode, using every opportunity to impose his forehand and break Nadal's rhythm with constant net rushings, claiming a staggering 64 out of 84 points at the net. World no. 1 had a small advantage in the shortest points and managed to follow Nadal's numbers in the more extended rallies, only to fall short in the encounter's closing stages when his forehand let him down. Rafa never gave up, finding the way to push Roger's backhand to the limits to get back to the scoreboard's positive side in the deciding set. A teenager stayed focused while facing those match points to notch one of his dearest triumphs of the Tour and travel to Paris as the favorite. Roger was the better player in the early stages, breaking in game four for a 3-1 lead when Rafa hit a backhand long. The Spaniard responded with a backhand down the line winner that pulled the break back for him in game five, staying neck and neck until game 12 when Nadal served to stay in the set.

In Rome 2006, Rafael Nadal saved two match points against Roger Federer.

Digging deep, he fended off two set points, reaching the tie break with a forehand winner for a great escape and a chance to claim the opener. It was all about Roger in the breaker, though, winning it 7-0 after a volley winner that gave him confidence ahead of the rest of the clash. Nothing could separate the rivals in set number two until game ten when Nadal earned a set point on the return, rejected by a perfect volley from Roger, who brought the game home with another excellent half-volley to level the score at 5-5. Like the opener, it went into another tie break and the Swiss had a 4-2 lead before spraying two forehand errors, wrecking the opportunity of moving two sets to love in front and making things even tougher for the defending champion. Roger made another significant forehand error at 5-5 and Rafa closed the set after a backhand mistake from his rival, setting up the real drama and excitement after more than two hours of grueling battle.

Federer saved a break chance in the third game of set number three, and Nadal passed him with a crosscourt backhand winner at 2-2 to grab the lead, cementing it a few minutes later after a vast backhand slice error from Roger, who started to lose ground in those moments. The Spaniard served for the set in game ten and delivered a fine hold at love, taking two sets to one advantage when he forced a backhand mistake from Federer, boosting his confidence and moving closer to the finish line. The Swiss was in all kinds of troubles again at the beginning of the fourth set, repelling two break points to avoid a setback and earning a break chance in game four after a forehand winner. Rafa erased it with a service winner but couldn't do the same on the second one when Roger docked a forehand down the line winner that moved him 3-1 in front.

The Swiss held in game five after a forehand winner, and the set was in his hands when Nadal sprayed a backhand error at 2-5, losing serve for the second time and enrolling the deciding set after three hours and 45 minutes of outstanding tennis. With momentum on his side, Roger broke in the fourth game and fended off two break points in the next one to increase the lead to 4-1, standing in an excellent position to dethrone great rival and deliver Nadal's first loss on clay after 52 straight wins. With his back pushed against the wall, Rafa held at love with a forehand winner in game six and stayed in touch with Roger in the game that followed. The Spaniard denied a game point that could have sent Roger 5-2 up before breaking back after a backhand error from Federer, who could only found the net. Every point became crucial now, and Nadal held after deuce in game eight, leveling the score at 4-4 and looking eager to stage a complete comeback for the rest of the encounter.

Federer had different plans, though, creating two match points on the return in game 12 that could have delivered his first Rome crown! His forehand couldn't carry him through in those moments, making two easy mistakes from his stronger wing to squander a massive opportunity, with Rafa shooting a forehand winner to set up the deciding tie break and gather momentum. Finding himself 4-2 down there, the Spaniard struck a beautiful forehand that switched the impulse to his side of the net before Roger gained a 5-3 advantage, moving two points away from victory. His forehand cost him a lot again, netting an easy shot that could have brought him three match points and letting Nadal back to 5-5 after yet another marvelous rally that he controlled with his forehand. A service winner gave the Spaniard his first match point, and he completed the win with a forced error from Roger, celebrating the greatest moment of his young career besides that 2005 Roland Garros crown and earning the place among the tennis immortals a few weeks before the 20th birthday.

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/3jWjItn