Deca Oscar Wilde, famed Irish playwright and novelist of the late 19th century, that “the only duty we have to history is to rewrite it.” We highly doubt that Rafael Nadal He knew this when he went out onto the packed center court of the Crandon Park Tennis Center in Key Vizcaya on March 28, 2004 to face the world number 1.
And Roger Federer who at that time was beginning to dominate the tennis scene with an iron fist – he had led the ATP ranking since February 2 -. The Helvetian He was only 22 years old but he had already won at Wimbledon (2003) and Merlbourne (2004) and he came into this match with 23 wins in his first 24 matches that year – he had won at the Australian Open and Indian Wells. Only the British Tim Henman He had managed to defeat him, in his case in the quarterfinals of the Rotterdam tournament.
Rafa, on the other hand, was at the dawn of his prodigious career. He was only 17 years old and did not yet know what it was like to win a title, but he had already reached the third round of Wimbledon and the Australian Open.he was 34 in the ATP ranking and was talked about as a future star.
I have been impressed with what I have seen. I have heard a lot about him and seen some of his games. I don’t think it’s a big surprise to anyone.
Roger Federer after losing to Nadal in Indian Wells 2004
The duel, therefore, was served although it is very unlikely that any of the spectators of that milestone knew then that they would experience the first chapter of a rivalry that would forever change the history of tennis.
It was the third round of the tournament and Nadal had just defeated a Wimbledon champion like Goran Ivanisevic, 6-4 and the Croatian retired. Federer, for his part, had had a worse time against a thriving Nikolay Davydenko, whom he had beaten in three hard sets 6-2, 3-6 and 7-5. It seemed evident that the load of matches was beginning to take its toll on the Swiss tennis player.
Despite this, there was nothing to foreshadow what was going to happen that day in Key Vizcaya. Those winds of change that would turn into a hurricane with the passing of the years… Nadal was so in tune – he made 81% of his first serves – that he did not concede a single break point to Federer while the Helvetian lost his serve up to three times.
I was worried about him beating me 6-1, 6-1 6-1, 6-2, but I was looking forward to playing this match against the number one in the world
Rafa Nadal after beating Federer at Indian Wells 2004
The result, to the surprise of locals and strangers, was a double 6-3 in just 70 minutes. A seen and unseen of what has later been a legendary rivalry, with 40 matches in history, including 24 finals, of which Rafa won 24.
Federer must have been aware that very day that that Mallorcan ‘brat’ was going to give him a lot of problems in the futureaccording to his statements after the game: “I have been impressed with what I have seen. I have heard a lot about him and I have seen some of his games. I think it is not a big surprise for anyone.”
Obviously, he didn’t play his best tennis and that’s the reason I was able to win. If he had played his best tennis, he would have had no options. But this is what happens in tennis
Rafa Nadal after beating Federer at Indian Wells 2004
Nadal, for his part, showed great respect for the Swiss figure: “I was worried about him beating me 6-1, 6-1 6-1, 6-2, but I wanted to play this match against the world’s number one. world. Go out on the court with a positive attitude, not with the attitude of trying to win a game. “I’m really happy because I played one of the best games of my career.”
@Rafa_Minato99
The day Federer and Nadal really met
The Miami match was not really the first in which Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal met on a tennis court. You have to go back to March 16, only 12 days, and move to Indian Wells, the scene of the second round doubles match in which both of them starred together with Yves Allegro and Tommy Robredo, respectively. The Swiss couple, who had entered the draw thanks to a wild card, lost that duel in three sets (5-7, 6-4, 6-3) but that was not enough for Federer to exchange a few words with Rafa and invite him to witness, from his box, his individual quarter-final duel against Juan Ignacio Chela, in which the Swiss defeated the Argentine 6-2 and 6-1. That match, played on March 18, left a photo for history in which a 17-year-old Rafa appears with the then girlfriend and current wife of the former world number 1, Mirka Vavrinec.
“Obviously, he didn’t play his best tennis and that’s the reason I was able to win. If he had played his best tennis, he wouldn’t have had a chance. But this is what happens in tennis. If a player like me plays at a very, very good level and a top player like Roger does not play at his best level, you can win“added Rafa, who was aware that he had defeated an exceptional rival.
Finally, the manacor, with a modesty that he would later display throughout his career, downplayed what happened when he was asked about the calls and messages he was going to receive in the coming hours: “I don’t think so, because it’s four in the morning in Spain and everyone is sleeping.. Tomorrow the newspapers won’t have the news, but yes, maybe it’s on the internet and also on teletext… Then, I’ll start receiving calls.”
Rafa will end up losing in his next duel against the Chilean Fernando González, 6-7(1), 6-4, 2-6, and Federer would win Wimbledon and the US Open that same year, beginning an overwhelming dominance that Rafa would put an end to. The rest is history…
2024-03-28 09:02:39
#years #passed #match #history #FedererNadal
