FEDAL 10

[Kieran]

The great rivalry is ten years old this week, in Miami, where it was born. Federer talks about it here - thankfully making no injury excuses except a reference to some sunstroke he had and then tiredness as a consequence. He was never the one to make excuses.

The first Fedal match I saw was the semi in Paris, their third match, but I noted the way Rafa had already taken to the task with a fearless mindset. But I thought Federer would win that match. Because he didn't, I had unrealistic expectations of Rafa for the rest of 2005, and then 2006. I think Federer might have done better in that semi: Rafa was a bull-calf, the ripest he's ever been on clay against Federer and an authority might have been asserted by the older man.

Since then, we know the rivalry, we all have our views. Up until 2009, it was considered that they'd face each other in every slam final and yet, after Oz that year, the rivalry fizzled out somewhat, to occasional matches, and by 2011, a new rivalry had taken primacy over this one. However, this one is the Daddy of modern rivalries, and the quality of some of their matches has been unsurpassed by Nadal-Djokovic, a rivalry that seems to go in swings and roundabouts.

My favourite match was the 2008 Wimbledon final - natch - and the one that was the sorest for me was the 2007 Wimbledon final.

Ten years on, we'll be glad if we get any more classics out of these two greats for the ages...

 

[brokenshoelace]

In before "this 'rivalry' is a joke. 9-2 in slams."

There Darth, you can thank me later

 

[brokenshoelace]

"I came off sunstroke in Indian Wells after beating [Tim] Henman in the finals. I was in bed three or four days, and then came here," he told reporters in Miami. "I beat [Nikolay] Davydenko somehow 7-5 in the third, then started feeling better and played Rafa, who was a new guy on the tour.

"I remember it was one of those matches...never really got into the match. Still maybe a bit tired but he played great."

HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM...

 

[shawnbm]

The match that got me back to playing tennis again (after about 15 years) was the FEDAL five setter at the Lipton in 2005. I remember being in Atlanta, Georgia with my wife visiting an old childhood friend and watching the match as she napped during the afternoon. I awoke her with my "ohs" and "wows" as the match went on. I had heard in the papers and the press that this Federer guy was a kind of second coming. McEnroe had called his FH the greatest weapon in our sport and he was starting to rack up majors. I was, of course, highly impressed by him. But the Spanish kid was also impressive. I recalled thinking that although Federer was more brilliant with his shot-making (he could seemingly hit winners at will and he came to net more then and volleyed well), the Mallorcan teenager was like a backboard and could run down what seemed to be winners like no one since Connors or Borg--at least that I could recall. He did not seem fazed, even then, by TMF. Great win for Roger and the rivalry was on.

 

[Kieran]

That's the thing, Shawn, even at that stage, Rafa looked like a throwback to pre-power tennis greats, a physical marvel, no question, but already mentally intimidating and relentlessly focused. I don't think Federer knew how to face down that level of intensity and purpose...

 

[Federberg]

"I came off sunstroke in Indian Wells after beating [Tim] Henman in the finals. I was in bed three or four days, and then came here," he told reporters in Miami. "I beat [Nikolay] Davydenko somehow 7-5 in the third, then started feeling better and played Rafa, who was a new guy on the tour.

"I remember it was one of those matches...never really got into the match. Still maybe a bit tired but he played great."

HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM...

Sounds like excuse making to me! :clap

But a padwan before the jedi :lolz:

 

[DarthFed]

In before "this 'rivalry' is a joke. 9-2 in slams."

There Darth, you can thank me later

Well, you stole the words (and common sense) right out of me.

Wasn't a rivalry since 2008 though that contained their greatest match and last great match period.

 

[DarthFed]

Roger's interview is almost as bad as this one:

http://www.tennis.com/pro-game/2011/12/nadal-discusses-djokovic-defeats-in-interview/33405/#.UzX1jbVO99s

Roger has made excuses and Fed fans have called him out on it, it just isn't anywhere near the same degree as Whaafa.

 

[Kieran]

Roger's interview is almost as bad as this one:

http://www.tennis.com/pro-game/2011/12/nadal-discusses-djokovic-defeats-in-interview/33405/#.UzX1jbVO99s

Roger has made excuses and Fed fans have called him out on it, it just isn't anywhere near the same degree as Whaafa.

Yeah. You wish...

 

[Moxie]

When tonight's match was cancelled, they interviewed Rafa and talked about the 10-year anniversary. Nadal called that match the best he had played up until that point in his career.

I'd go with Kieran's picks of Wimbledon '08 as my favorite of their matches, with a nod to Rome '06 final. And yes, Wimbledon '07 was the toughest loss.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

I only wish they did not wait till 2012 to play in North America...Peak Roger could have sneaked in some more wins while Rafa was still trying to master the hard courts.

The 2 Wimby finals will forever be etched in my memory, with pleasure and pain.

The two matches that showed me what they can do to each other when one is playing out of his mind was 08 RG final where Nadal was just unplayable and 2010 WTF when Roger was just sublime.

 

[Moxie]

I also regret that near-miss at the USO 2008. Unlikely that Rafa would have won it, but at least they would have played there in some of their top years.

 

[DarthFed]

Roger's interview is almost as bad as this one:

http://www.tennis.com/pro-game/2011/12/nadal-discusses-djokovic-defeats-in-interview/33405/#.UzX1jbVO99s

Roger has made excuses and Fed fans have called him out on it, it just isn't anywhere near the same degree as Whaafa.

Yeah. You wish...

No wish, I know it brudda :clap

 

[Moxie]

"I came off sunstroke in Indian Wells after beating [Tim] Henman in the finals. I was in bed three or four days, and then came here," he told reporters in Miami. "I beat [Nikolay] Davydenko somehow 7-5 in the third, then started feeling better and played Rafa, who was a new guy on the tour.

"I remember it was one of those matches...never really got into the match. Still maybe a bit tired but he played great."

HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM...

Sounds like excuse making to me! :clap

But a padwan before the jedi :lolz:

In so many ways….happy anniversary!

 

[rafanoy1992]

I also regret that near-miss at the USO 2008. Unlikely that Rafa would have won it, but at least they would have played there in some of their top years.

Actually, I would say the 2010 US Open was probably the closest near-miss Fedal match up in the US Open. Both Federer and Nadal were huge favorites in their respective matches. In addition, both players were playing at their highest level going into the semifinals. But little we know that Djokovic would spoil their potential final match-up.

 

[Front242]

You could say that but I'd say Fed spoilt it himself by blowing 2 match points.

 

[Moxie]

I also regret that near-miss at the USO 2008. Unlikely that Rafa would have won it, but at least they would have played there in some of their top years.

Actually, I would say the 2010 US Open was probably the closest near-miss Fedal match up in the US Open. Both Federer and Nadal were huge favorites in their respective matches. In addition, both players were playing at their highest level going into the semifinals. But little we know that Djokovic would spoil their potential final match-up.

You could say that but I'd say Fed spoilt it himself by blowing 2 match points.

Sadly, Roger and Rafa have been ships passing in the night as far as the USO is concerned.

 

[I.Haychew]

As phar as I'm concerned, as a Phederer phan, the 2009 Australian Open phinal was the straw that broke the camel's back.

 

[DarthFed]

I think it was Wimbledon 08. The mess that was the AO 2009 final was a direct result of Wimbledon 08. Despite all the momentum in the world he somehow managed to lose the 5th set there, I had no doubt he wasn't winning the 5th at AO.

 

[Kieran]

Break my heart, Darth: what's your favourite memory of the rivalry?