16 Slams v 10 Slams. This Is The Big Match

How often do two players with such impressive credentials face each other in a slam match? Tennis fans are fortunate to be able to witness such a spectacle. When Nadal and Federer play tomorrow together they will bring the experience of 26 slam wins! Forget 1 year ranking if ranking was assesed over 8 years they would be the top two players by a long way. No one else would even be close.

This match up clearly transends their present ranking or the fact that it is a semi and not a final as Nadal describes

RAFAEL NADAL: The numbers are important, No. 1 and No. 2, No. 3, No.
4. The ranking is important, but when we talk about a player who won
16 Grand Slams and I won 10 and we played a lot of matches between each
other and all ones, in very important moments for our careers and very
high moments.
So the match is special. I don't know how many we played, but the most were finals or a few semifinals in a Masters Cup.
But
for everything, for what represents the match, all the matches against
him are special and will be special even if we are 20 against 25.


http://www.australianopen.com/en_AU/news/interviews/2012-01-25/201201241327415262411.html


The Nadal Federer rivalry is indeed special. We are privileged to be able to watch matches that feature two of the all time greats. If their career rivalry could be represented by a single match they would be poised at 8-8 in the 5th set.
In the same way Djokovics career rivalry with either Nadal or Federer would be poised with him 2 sets to love down but with a break in the 3rd.
Wheras Murray would be 2 sets to love down with a break against him in the third...


This years AO will change little in the grand scheme of things but as far as historical significance goes it will feature an important match. Can't wait!

The slam h2h is 7-2.
Not a rivalry anymore.

Federer will do it this time.

Hold back the tears?

Simple_Analyst and Peaches

Obviously either Federer or Nadal will win. It's just great to see them both play each other in a slam. They won't be around forever. Who knows what the future holds but I don't yet see any players that have the potential to replace them...

Rankings made over more than 1 year are not real rankings, please stop bringing up this pathetic subject as it is dead just like the WTA.

Hopefully we get a classic match regardless of winner.

Interesting event, this, for Federer, especially as Simplistic mentions Fed crying in 2009.

I only realised earlier on that should Federer win this event that in the 12 Slams since that day, when the torch appeared to have been passed and Slam records looked headed Nadals way, that Federer would have won 4 - same as Nadal, one more than Djokovic, with JMDP bringing in one.

Imagine that? After all he fuss of the time Federer would have been caught up by exactly zero since that low point.

Certainly, can't remember any match up in tennis on the mens side with the two champions boasting 26 slams in their respective repetoires. I don't think Roger frankly has much of a chance. Nadal was not that impressive against berdy but showed the resolve, defense and wicked passing shots that make him an almost insurmountable feat for Federer at the moment. Slow conditions also would favor Nadal. Rafa I think looks better than he did in the second half of last year. And Federer for all the naysayers still looks very viable and dangerous. Nadal in 4 routine sets. Would love for Fed to prove me wrong as I love me a Fed-Djoko blood feud match. Although Novak can't overlook Andy who is looking very dangerous as well, and Djokovic did have a bit of an injury scare against Ferrer.

social1976

There is nothing "routine" about this match up...

Berdych allowed him some of those passing shots I saw by giving him the ball but yeah some of the others from 5m behind the baseline were pretty impressive. If Fed can take his shotmaking a level above Berdych's, which he's done many times before, then he should be able to do it. But who knows maybe Nadal will play better than he did against Berdych.

socal1976 wrote:Certainly, can't remember any match up in tennis on the mens side with the two champions boasting 26 slams in their respective repetoires. I don't think Roger frankly has much of a chance. Nadal was not that impressive against berdy but showed the resolve, defense and wicked passing shots that make him an almost insurmountable feat for Federer at the moment. Slow conditions also would favor Nadal. Rafa I think looks better than he did in the second half of last year. And Federer for all the naysayers still looks very viable and dangerous. Nadal in 4 routine sets. Would love for Fed to prove me wrong as I love me a Fed-Djoko blood feud match. Although Novak can't overlook Andy who is looking very dangerous as well, and Djokovic did have a bit of an injury scare against Ferrer.

Nice to see you back socal.

A fan that can see beyond just the player he supports

hawkeye, I don't know the last few times Nadal has played fed in a grandslam the matchup has been pretty routine and predictable. Nadal crosscourt forehand to fed's backhand followed up by an eventual shank.

Break in the fifth, berdych is an attrocious volleyer he missed a few volleys on key points that some scrubs at my club would wallow in shame after. However, I have always maintained that nobody hits passing shots like Nadal, no one ever and that is due to the control and angles he can generate with the wicked spin he puts on the ball compounded by his incredible speed. Getting to the ball is one thing but putting the kind of work on it Nadal does on the dead run is another.

Nice to be back sportslover, thanks for the compliment.

socal! I'd given you up for dead. Welcome back on board, delighted to see you back.

I can't wait for both semis. I keep changing my mind in terms of how both matches will go. I think Federer has been looking superb, better than Nadal certainly... But as socal says, Nadal crosscourt forehand bouncing high to Federer backhand x 100 usually = Nadal win.

As for the other semi, they've been playing similarly well I think but it was interesting to hear Murray talking after a match earlier this week about how he has struggled to be himself in slam semis and finals, and how he hopes Lendl can help him with that.... But can he? And can he help with his mental approach this soon after joining?

If the real Murray turns up (mentally) and stays as close to the baseline as he has so far this fortnight then it could be explosive.

I'd go with Djoko v Nadal, as I think previous results between them proves its the logical prediction... But I'm not totally convinced with either prediction. I think the Djoko Murray match could be especially tight, maybe 5 sets.

Its gr8 to see you back Socal, yes Nadal running forehand is unmatachable, I first thought Pete had the best, then seeing Fed I thought I have see the best running forehand, but then changed mind after seeing some stunning running forehand in Nadal.

Nobody, i repeat Nobody in tennis play a running forehand better than Rafa, after all thats his game.

I am surprised by Betfair odds.



Australian Open Men 2012

Federer v Nadal
Match Odds

Thu, 26 January 08:30BackLay

Roger Federer	1.65	1.66
Rafael Nadal	2.5

Match Betting

1.61 Roger Federer	2.30 Rafael Nadal

Select your favourite betting markets quickly. Just view the ‘My markets’ tab in another match in that selected sport and they'll be there waiting.Set Betting

4.00 Roger Federer 3-0 4.00 Roger Federer 3-1 5.50 Roger Federer 3-2	7.00 Rafael Nadal 3-0 5.50 Rafael Nadal 3-1 6.00

More strangely, you get less money for predicting a win of Fed in 5 than Nadal in 5!!!!

But his running forehand was very inconsistent last year.

Simple_Analyst wrote:But his running forehand was very inconsistent last year.

Only when facing Djoko in important points. How do you call this?

<BLOCKQUOTE>

<BLOCKQUOTE>Obviously my only way and my only chance to win is to play aggressively
</BLOCKQUOTE>
Rafael Nadal

If he does, he loses. He knows that. Expect moonballing of Saturnian proportions. </BLOCKQUOTE>

Socal's back

You are not the first person to go for Nadal in 4 sets either Socal, I call plagiarism.

I'm curious, is the match going to be starting around 8.30am London time?

Does anyone know for sure?

The Murray/Djokovic match is scheduled to start around that time (on the BBC) so was thinking it would be the same for the Fed/Nadal match? Any help would be much appreciated!

Yep, it's the same.

Same time, different day.

8.30am is correct.

That's great!

I'm hoping this is going to be a match that can be finished in 3 hours because I have to leave 11.30 to get somewhere, but I'm rather doubtful that will happen. If it's 4 sets it's going to be 4 hours probably, which is a shame for me!

Can't really get why some of these matches take so long..., Fed finished his last match in 2 hours but Nadal in his last match needed 4 hours 17 mins.....only played a set long.....remarkable!

Oh yeh, I realise it's on different days bogbrush, it's tomorrow's one I'm interested in!

Don't worry Luciusmann, you always miss part of Federer matches any way.

Nice to see presumptuous is back as usual talking more drivels of non sense.

Actually, to correct your misinformed opinion, I watched the whole of their last competitive match, Fed won, 6-3, 6-0, was very entertaining.

It was also finished rather quickly, I'm hoping it's the same tomorrow (with a similar scoreline, just a set extra played).

Josiah, nice to talk to you again thanks for the kind thoughts. Nadal in 4 sets seems to be the most predictable outcome. Sets one and two are close and then Nadal breaks Fed's backhand down. Personally, that is why I prefer to watch a Djoko-Fed match or a Murray-Nadal matchup. Novak and nadal has also gotten a bit predictable as well.

Positevly, nice to talk to you again as well. Invisible I agree Nadal has the best on the run passing shot off either wing that I have ever seen. His Backhand pass is almost more amazing the forehand pass. Berdych is an attrocious volleyer but he hit a couple of those passes from 5 meters beyond the baseline and past the double's alleys. Speed is one thing but getting there is less than half the battle.

Good to see you back socal ; you going to be watching the Fed-Nadal match?

Hoping for a 5 setter. I shall be up with me tea and scones!!

legendkillar wrote:Hoping for a 5 setter. I shall be up with me tea and scones!!

Ha ha! I am too but for different reasons. If it does go that far don't get your hopes up.

hawkeye wrote:

legendkillar wrote:Hoping for a 5 setter. I shall be up with me tea and scones!!

Ha ha! I am too but for different reasons. If it does go that far don't get your hopes up.

Depending on how both start, if Nadal comes out playing like he did in the 4th against Berdych, he could win in 3, However if he plays like he did in the first 2, it will take a superhuman effort on his behalf.

I'm blocking out my day for this. If it's a 7-hour marathon I won't miss more than a 2-minute stretch.

Tenez, before the world tour finals match you could better than 3.0 on Nadal on Betfair.

I checked once for a clay match and you could get about 7.0 or 8.0 on Federer.

This one I would see it as more even to be honest, but I hope the bookies are right to favour Federer. Enjoy the match!

7-6 0-6 0-6 7-6 7-6 Nadal. Fed still shows who's king of the lopsided sets though.

At HB - Of course this one is likely to be closer and I am surprised by Betfair cause I thought Nadal woudl be the favourite over 5sets.

I'll enjoy it only when over...and if on the right side. I know Federer is better but that's the problem...it's his to lose....and he has lost a few of them over the distance.

luciusmann wrote:Good to see you back socal ; you going to be watching the Fed-Nadal match?

Bet your bottom dollar. Fortunatey, thanks to getting thursday and friday off in islamic countries i will get to see both semis, not the final though I have no dvr here. But I can't wait, although frankly I think the more intriguing match for me is Novak and murray not just because I am a Novak fan.