Nadal vs Federer. Seven duels that we will never forget.

When Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer faced each other on the court, the tennis world held its breath. We look back at the best duels that bring tears to your eyes to this day.

When Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal met for the first time, the Swiss had to feel painfully that this young Spaniard could still become an unpleasant opponent. In Key Biscayne the world number 1 loses in the 3rd round with 3:6 and 3:6. A week earlier, Federer had won in Indian Wells. It had been an exhausting tournament. Federer had suffered sunstroke in the final, which finally made it a little easier for Nadal in this duel.

At the age of 19, Rafael Nadal appeared in Paris for the first time and was immediately considered the favorite for the title. In the same year he previously won the clay court tournaments in Monte Carlo, Barcelona and Rome. In the end he lives up to his favorite role. Federer is currently number 1 in the world and holds the title in Australia, Wimbledon and New York, but he loses the duel in Paris 3: 6, 6: 4, 4: 6, 3: 6.

It was the dream final that everyone had been looking forward to. Roger Federer met Rafael Nadal in the final on May 20, 2007 at the ATP Masters Series tournament in Hamburg. At this point, the Spaniard set a record that is second to none. Nadal won 81 games in a row on his preferred surface. Roger Federer ends this impressive series here in a brilliant three-sentence. Nadal was disappointed with the loss but also happy that Federer was the player to break his winning streak.

In 2006 and 2007, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer are already the measure of all things. In the two years, the two make up all the titles among themselves. In Wimbledon there is a heartbeat final, which is much closer in the end than expected in advance. Federer prevails in five sets at the All England Club. Nadal presents himself as a fair loser.

In Paris, weeks earlier, Rafael Nadal clearly showed who the clay court boss is. In the French Open final, the Spaniard doesn’t give his opponent the slightest chance. He wins in three sets, the last even to zero. In Wimbledon, Federer wants to take revenge in his living room, but everything turns out differently. In one of the most exciting duels in tennis history and a score of 6: 4, 6: 4, 6: 7, (5: 7), 6: 7 (8:10), 9: 7, Nadal prevailed for the first time in Wimbledon . It was already dark when the Mallorcan completed the feat and made Federer cry at the later award ceremony.

As in the previous year at countless tournaments, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal will face each other again in the final in Melbourne. And as in Wimbledon 2008, the two demand everything from each other. The match goes over five sets again and Nadal shows the staying power in the end. The Spaniard wins the spectacular match 7:5, 3:6, 7:6, 3:6 and 6:2. Again, Federer had tears rolling down his cheeks at the award ceremony.

Before this dramatic final, the two competitors had not faced each other in a major final for a long time. 2011 was the last time. In between, it was often Novak Djokovic who knew how to prevent such a final. So it was also a big surprise that Federer and Nadal actually met again in a Grand Slam final. Especially since both were not even among the favorites due to their recent injuries. And as if they had never been away from the top, the two once again fought an unforgettable duel, in which Federer emerged as the laughing winner this time. He wins the game in five sets with 6:4, 3:6, 6:1, 3:6 and 6:3.