It’s officially the greatest rivalry in grand slam history – Roger Federer versus Rafael Nadal – and on Sunday night the two combatants clash for the first time at the Australian Open.

No two players in more than a century of major championships have ever gone head-to-head in a final more often.

Forget the so-called Big Four, this is the final everyone but Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray wanted to see: the world’s No.1 and No.2 squaring off at Melbourne Park for the first time in nine years.

It will be their seventh meeting in a grand slam decider, with Nadal holding a 4-2 edge, but first since the Spaniard ended Federer’s five-year reign as Wimbledon champion last July in a titanic encounter hailed, universally, as the match of the century.

The stakes are even higher this time around, with Federer striving to match Pete Sampras’s all-time record 14 grand slam titles.

“It’s an unbelievable opportunity for me,” Federer said on Saturday.

“You know, not being No.1 anymore, trying to beat the No.1 in the world and getting the 14th grand slam.

“This is where I won (my second) grand slam to become No.1 in the world back in 2004, so I’ve always had a special liaison with this tournament.

“The stage is set, basically, for a great match. I hope we can live up to them like we did in Wimbledon.

“I think it’s going to be a close match. He’s playing well and he showed it throughout the tournament.

“Yesterday his match was fantastic, so I’m looking forward to a great match and then hopefully equalling Pete’s record.”

Sampras sent Federer a congratulatory text message after the Swiss master’s semi-final victory over Andy Roddick and rates him a 60-40 favourite to beat the top seed – “but Nadal’s an animal”.

“This guy, he won’t quit,” Sampras said on Saturday.

Sampras had just turned 31 when he landed his 14th slam at the 2002 US Open and believes 27-year-old Federer may well wind up with 18 or 19 by the time he retires.

That’s one reason why the American only plans to “watch the first set or two” of Sunday’s final, which starts at 12.30am in Los Angeles.

“It’s tricky,” Sampras said. “With two kids waking up pretty early, I need to sort of get a little rest.

“(But) I don’t sit and watch and hope he loses. I just don’t believe in cheering against people – I never did, even when I played. I believe it’s bad karma.”

Despite trailing Nadal 12-6 in their career series, Federer is favourite with bookmakers, presumably because the Spaniard’s epic 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 7-6 (7-2) 6-7 (1-7) 6-4 semi-final win over Fernando Verdasco lasted more than five hours on Friday night and has given the Swiss more than one full day’s extra rest.

Federer, though, denies he will carry an unfair advantage into the title match.

“Rafa has had very easy matches going into this semi-final,” Federer said.

“His matches usually take longer than other matches because he takes his time out on the court.

“I don’t think he will be really affected on Sunday.”

The great Rod Laver on Saturday believed the match – the longest in Open history – would have drained Nadal more mentally than physically.

Indeed, Nadal said the gripping encounter against his Spanish countryman was so emotional he began to cry when he had Verdasco down love-40 in the deciding set.

“I’m a little bit unlucky. I don’t know how I am going to be for the final,” Nadal said.

“After one match like this, the next days you feel much heavier … for sure Roger is going to be in much better performance physically than me.

“But, at the same time, I am going to try to be recovered for the final and play my best.”

In any case, Federer is taking nothing for granted against the five-times major champion.

“I’m a bit surprised Rafa didn’t get the limelight like I thought he would coming here,” he said.

“The way he’s playing, he’s been showing why he’s the best in the world.”

© AAP 2012

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