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This is no longer about the money. This is personal. Going into this year’s French Open, Roger Federer has amassed $55.8 million and Rafael Nadal $29.8 million dollars in prize money. Add their sponsorship earnings and they would have the change to buy some small island in the Bahamas.
Nadal, the chief Spanish Inquisitor, looks balefully across the net at Federer, all composed and synchronized. Not the barest twitch of anxiety on his chiseled Swiss persona as he unleashes a piston-smooth serve.
The rallies are precise as they are excruciatingly long – calculated to have the blood racing, for both players and spectators.
The thwack of felt on string builds with every shot and rises with the intensity of a Gregorian chant. The two-fisted fury of Nadal. The single-minded artistry of Federer.
The Pamplona bull and the Swiss executioner.
The red clay of Roland Garros grows redder with every drop of the metaphorical blood.
Federer’s rivalry with Lleyton Hewitt was short lived as Hewitt could not sustain his excellence. The present rivalry with Rafael Nadal is the stuff that has broadcasters salivating.
The Swiss master versus the Spanish conquistador. The Matador versus the raging bull.
This is what great sport thrives on. The primordial contest. Two warriors standing toe to toe and refusing to budge, when the match turns on an exquisite drop shot or a pinpoint backhand down the line.
These two have met 21 times, with Nadal ahead 14-7. They have met in 17 championship Finals, the most after McEnroe and Lendl, who met 20 times.
Their rivalry sustains men’s tennis.
Federer has not won a title since his Australian Open title in January. He seems content to tinker with his game in the lead up to the French Open. This is like Ernie Ells or Tiger Woods tinkering with their golf swing.
Federer knows he has to bring something extra to a meeting with Nadal.
In the Madrid Final, which Nadal won 6-3, 7-6, Federer employed a range of dropshots he normally would not have attempted. He also mixed up his game by serve and volleying often.
He knows Nadal is relentless and will rally all day. But these two are constantly refining their games.
Nadal has developed the out of court two handed backhand when Federer has had him seemingly stranded. Federer, on the other hand, has stifled Nadal’s barrage of cross court forehands with a drop dead volley taken at momentum and coming in.
This is like taking a slips catch coming forward.
This rivalry in tennis is up there with Laver-Rosewall, Court-King, Williams-Williams and McEnroe-Borg-Lendl. What is your favourite rivalry?
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