Roger Federer vs Rafael Nadal: A friendship and a rivalry like no other

A sport often takes centre stage when an era-defining rivalry plays out on the world’s biggest stages. For tennis, it was undoubtedly the one between Roger Federer vs Rafael Nadal.

Fedal – as the duo came to be known – is one of the most telling rivalries across sports.

The physical oddities alone provided all the ingredients - Federer’s right hand to Nadal’s left, Federer’s elegant backhand to Nadal’s brawny forehand, Federer’s calm demeanour to Nadal’s ferocious roars.

A rivalry is also accompanied by opposing perspectives and often, there is no love lost between the protagonists. Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, however, were bound by mutual love and respect. It made the rivalry stand out like no other.

Roger Federer retired from professional tennis after a loss in the doubles match against Jack Sock and Frances Tiafoe at the Laver Cup 2022. Fittingly, playing for Europe versus the Rest of the World in London, Federer teamed up with his greatest rival and friend Rafael Nadal in his farewell match.

“When Roger leaves the tour, yeah, an important part of my life is leaving too because all the moments he has been next or in front me in important moments of my life,” an emotional Rafael Nadal said after the match ended.

“On court, we have completely opposite styles, and that's what probably makes our matches and our rivalry probably one of the biggest and most interesting. Very proud to be part of his career in some way. But even happier to finish our career like friends after everything we shared on court like rivals.”

Roger Federer also echoed similar thoughts.

“We have been very connected, especially the last 10 years. I can call up Rafa and talk about anything, I hope he feels the same way,” said Federer.

Roger Federer vs Rafael Nadal: Head-to-head

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal played against each other 40 times on the ATP Tour, with Nadal leading the overall record 24-16.

The first Roger Federer vs Rafael Nadal match on the tour was held in 2004.

Federer and Nadal first played each other in the third round of the Miami Open in 2004. A 17-year-old Nadal set the tone for the rivalry with a 6-3, 6-3 win over the then two-time Grand Slam champion and world No. 1 Federer.

The Spaniard has had the upper hand in Grand Slam matches, winning 10 matches to Federer’s four and also leads the head-to-head in Grand Slam finals, winning six to Federer’s three.

At the Australian Open, Nadal won three of their four matches and dominated the French Open, winning all six meetings against Federer at Roland Garros. Federer, though, has overshadowed Nadal at Wimbledon, leading 3-1.

Interestingly, Federer and Nadal never played a match against each other at the US Open.

On clay, Nadal comfortably dominates the head-to-head with a 14-2 record while Federer leads 3-1 on grass and 11-9 on hard courts.

Roger Federer’s only two wins against Rafael Nadal on clay courts came at the 2007 Hamburg Masters and the 2009 Madrid Open, both in finals.

Roger Federer vs Rafael Nadal: The best matches

The Fedal story unfolded over 15 years with several memorable chapters along the way, one of which is often regarded as the best tennis match of all time.

Roger Federer vs Rafael Nadal: 2008 Wimbledon final

One of the most epic matches in the history of tennis, the 2008 Wimbledon final between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal witnessed tennis of the highest quality. It lasted for a marathon four hours and 48 minutes.

This was the third-consecutive time that Federer and Nadal were contesting the Wimbledon final, with Federer winning the preceding two.

Moreover, Federer had won Wimbledon five consecutive times from 2003 to 2007 and thus, was unbeaten at the prestigious event. Nadal, though, had just won his fourth-consecutive French Open, having beaten Federer in three-consecutive finals.

The Swiss maestro began as the favourite but Rafael Nadal produced one of the most standout matches in his career to beat the fancied Federer 6-4, 6-4, 6-7, 6-7, 9-7 in a rain-interrupted final.

It was Nadal’s first Wimbledon title and fifth Grand Slam overall.

Roger Federer vs Rafael Nadal: 2017 Australian Open final

The 2017 Australian Open saw both Federer and Nadal defy age and perception to showcase their class and longevity by making it to the final.

Federer entered the Australian Open 16th in the world rankings after he had called off the 2016 season mid-way due to pain in his knee. Nadal, on the other hand, had not won a Grand Slam since the 2014 French Open and had not made a Grand Slam quarter-final since the 2015 French Open.

Yet, both made their way into the final with some exceptional tennis and produced more of the same in the final.

Roger Federer eventually triumphed 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3; coming back from 3-1 down in the final set to win five games in a row and take his 18th Grand Slam title.

Roger Federer vs Rafael Nadal: 2009 Australian Open final

Regarded as one of the best Australian Open tournaments in history, the 2009 final fittingly threw up another classic Federer vs Nadal clash. It ended with Nadal winning his first Australian Open title with a 7-5, 3-6, 7-6, 3-6, 6-2 victory in the final which lasted four hours and 23 minutes.

It made Nadal the first Spaniard to win the Australian Open and meant that he held three of the four Grand Slams - French Open, Wimbledon and Australian Open - at the same time, making him the first man in the Open Era to hold Grand Slam titles in three different surfaces simultaneously.

Federer, on the other hand, missed out on equalling the then-record for most Grand Slam titles in men’s singles (14) along with Pete Sampras. However, he equalled the record by winning the French Open and broke it by winning Wimbledon later in the year.

A rivalry and friendship like no other, the world may never witness anything like the Fedal story ever again in tennis.