Nadal on his rivalry with Federer
“It annoys me that we never played in New York”
The bitter duels and rivalry between Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer have long gone down in sports history. But the Mallorcan has something to complain about.
Published: 47 minutes ago
Rafael Nadal versus Roger Federer, the matador versus the maestro – a rivalry that has thrilled us for almost two decades and has regularly made tennis history. Their duels let us cheer, marvel and cheer. Despite the competition, the two have a good friendship. But the record major winner has something to complain about.
“We shared many important moments. It’s difficult to think about tennis over the last 20, 25 years without considering our rivalry,” said Nadal at Wimbledon. The two faced each other for the first time at the Miami Masters. The Mallorcan, then 17 years old, surprised and beat the number 1 in two sets.
Unforgettable: Wimbledon final 2008
Since then, they have faced each other again and again on almost every court in the world. Between 2006 and 2008 the final of the French Open and Wimbledon was always Federer against Nadal. The final of the 2008 lawn major is still considered the best tennis match of all time. The Spaniard beat the Basel bidders after more than four hours, ending his run of 65 games on grass.
At one tournament, however, the duel of the eternal rivals has not yet come about: the US Open. Nadal: «We played in every big stadium, but not in New York. That’s the only thing that annoys me a bit.” Arthur Ashe Stadium in Flushing Meadows is the largest tennis stadium in the world with a capacity of 23,771.
«Very friendly relationship»
From the many years together on tour, a friendship between Nadal and Federer developed. “Our relationship has always been very positive, very friendly. Even our rivalry on the pitch never bothered us off the pitch.”
While Federer misses the prestigious tournament of Wimbledon for the first time in 24 years, Nadal will intervene against Francisco Cerundolo (ATP 41) on Tuesday.
All duels between Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer
Victory statistics: Nadal leads 24:16
- 2004 Miami Masters, round of 16, winner Nadal 6–3, 6–3
- 2005 Miami Masters, Final, Federer 2–6, 6–7(4–7), 7–6(7–5), 6–3, 6–1
- 2005 French Open, semifinals, Nadal 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3
- 2006 Dubai Championships (ATP 500), Final, Nadal 2–6, 6–4, 6–4
- 2006 Monte-Carlo Masters, Final, Nadal 6–2, 6–7(2–7), 6–3, 7–6(7–5)
- 2006 Rom Masters, Final, Nadal 6–7(0–7), 7–6(7–5), 6–4, 2–6, 7–6(7–5)
- 2006 French Open, Final, Nadal 1–6, 6–1, 6–4, 7–6(7–4)
- 2006 Wimbledon, Final, Federer 6–0, 7–6(7–5), 6–7(2–7), 6–3
- 2006 ATP Tour Finals, Semifinals, Federer 6–4, 7–5
- 2007 Monte-Carlo Masters, Final, Nadal 6–4, 6–4
- 2007 Hamburg Masters, Final, Federer 2–6, 6–2, 6–0
- 2007 French Open, Final, Nadal 6–3, 4–6, 6–3, 6–4
- 2007 Wimbledon, Final, Federer 7–6(9–7), 4–6, 7–6(7–3), 2–6, 6–2
- 2007 ATP Tour Finals Semifinals, Federer 6-4, 6-1
- 2008 Monte-Carlo Masters, Final, Nadal 7–5, 7–5
- 2008 Hamburg Masters, Final, Nadal 7–5, 6–7(3–7), 6–3
- 2008 French Open, Final, Nadal 6–1, 6–3, 6–0
- 2008 Wimbledon, Final, Nadal 6–4, 6–4, 6–7(5–7), 6–7(8–10), 9–7
- 2009 Australian Open, Final, Nadal 7–5, 3–6, 7–6(7–3), 3–6, 6–2
- 2009 Madrid Masters, Final, Federer 6–4, 6–4
- 2010 Madrid Masters, Final, Nadal 6–4, 7–6(7–5)
- 2010 ATP-Tour-Final, Final, Federer 6–3, 3–6, 6–1
- 2011 Miami Masters, semifinals, Nadal 6-3, 6-2
- 2011 Madrid Masters, semifinals, 5–7, 6–1, 6–3
- 2011 French Open, Final, Nadal 7–5, 7–6(7–3), 5–7, 6–1
- 2011 ATP-Tour-Final, Round Robin, Federer 6–3, 6–0
- 2012 Australian Open Semifinals, Nadal 6–7(5–7), 6–2, 7–6(7–5), 6–4
- 2012 Indian Wells Masters, Semifinals, Federer 6-3, 6-4
- 2013 Indian Wells Masters Quarterfinals, Nadal 6-4, 6-2
- 2013 Rom Masters, Final, Nadal 6–1, 6–3
- 2013 Cincinnati Masters Quarterfinals, Nadal 5-7, 6-4, 6-3
- 2013 ATP Tour Finals Semifinals, Nadal 7–5, 6–3
- 2014 Australian Open semifinals, Nadal 7–6(7–4), 6–3, 6–3
- 2015 Swiss Indoors, Final, Federer 6–3, 5–7, 6–3
- 2017 Australian Open, Final, Federer 6–4, 3–6, 6–1, 3–6, 6–3
- 2017 Indian Wells Masters Round of 16, Federer 6-2, 6-3
- 2017 Miami Open, Final, Federer 6–3, 6–4
- 2017 Shanghai Masters, Final, Federer 6–4, 6–3
2019 Indian Wells Masters, Semifinals, Federer – Walkover - 2019 French Open semifinals, Nadal 6-3, 6-4, 6-2
- 2019 Wimbledon, Semifinals, Federer 7-6(7-3), 1-6, 6-3, 6-4
Victory statistics: Nadal leads 24:16
- 2004 Miami Masters, round of 16, winner Nadal 6–3, 6–3
- 2005 Miami Masters, Final, Federer 2–6, 6–7(4–7), 7–6(7–5), 6–3, 6–1
- 2005 French Open, semifinals, Nadal 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3
- 2006 Dubai Championships (ATP 500), Final, Nadal 2–6, 6–4, 6–4
- 2006 Monte-Carlo Masters, Final, Nadal 6–2, 6–7(2–7), 6–3, 7–6(7–5)
- 2006 Rom Masters, Final, Nadal 6–7(0–7), 7–6(7–5), 6–4, 2–6, 7–6(7–5)
- 2006 French Open, Final, Nadal 1–6, 6–1, 6–4, 7–6(7–4)
- 2006 Wimbledon, Final, Federer 6–0, 7–6(7–5), 6–7(2–7), 6–3
- 2006 ATP Tour Finals, Semifinals, Federer 6–4, 7–5
- 2007 Monte-Carlo Masters, Final, Nadal 6–4, 6–4
- 2007 Hamburg Masters, Final, Federer 2–6, 6–2, 6–0
- 2007 French Open, Final, Nadal 6–3, 4–6, 6–3, 6–4
- 2007 Wimbledon, Final, Federer 7–6(9–7), 4–6, 7–6(7–3), 2–6, 6–2
- 2007 ATP Tour Finals Semifinals, Federer 6-4, 6-1
- 2008 Monte-Carlo Masters, Final, Nadal 7–5, 7–5
- 2008 Hamburg Masters, Final, Nadal 7–5, 6–7(3–7), 6–3
- 2008 French Open, Final, Nadal 6–1, 6–3, 6–0
- 2008 Wimbledon, Final, Nadal 6–4, 6–4, 6–7(5–7), 6–7(8–10), 9–7
- 2009 Australian Open, Final, Nadal 7–5, 3–6, 7–6(7–3), 3–6, 6–2
- 2009 Madrid Masters, Final, Federer 6–4, 6–4
- 2010 Madrid Masters, Final, Nadal 6–4, 7–6(7–5)
- 2010 ATP-Tour-Final, Final, Federer 6–3, 3–6, 6–1
- 2011 Miami Masters, semifinals, Nadal 6-3, 6-2
- 2011 Madrid Masters, semifinals, 5–7, 6–1, 6–3
- 2011 French Open, Final, Nadal 7–5, 7–6(7–3), 5–7, 6–1
- 2011 ATP-Tour-Final, Round Robin, Federer 6–3, 6–0
- 2012 Australian Open Semifinals, Nadal 6–7(5–7), 6–2, 7–6(7–5), 6–4
- 2012 Indian Wells Masters, Semifinals, Federer 6-3, 6-4
- 2013 Indian Wells Masters Quarterfinals, Nadal 6-4, 6-2
- 2013 Rom Masters, Final, Nadal 6–1, 6–3
- 2013 Cincinnati Masters Quarterfinals, Nadal 5-7, 6-4, 6-3
- 2013 ATP Tour Finals Semifinals, Nadal 7–5, 6–3
- 2014 Australian Open semifinals, Nadal 7–6(7–4), 6–3, 6–3
- 2015 Swiss Indoors, Final, Federer 6–3, 5–7, 6–3
- 2017 Australian Open, Final, Federer 6–4, 3–6, 6–1, 3–6, 6–3
- 2017 Indian Wells Masters Round of 16, Federer 6-2, 6-3
- 2017 Miami Open, Final, Federer 6–3, 6–4
- 2017 Shanghai Masters, Final, Federer 6–4, 6–3
2019 Indian Wells Masters, Semifinals, Federer – Walkover - 2019 French Open semifinals, Nadal 6-3, 6-4, 6-2
- 2019 Wimbledon, Semifinals, Federer 7-6(7-3), 1-6, 6-3, 6-4
