Is this the concluding phase of a rivalry that had taken wings long ago in 2005 at the same Key Biscayne court in the final? Does this one, although not the final, signal the twilight years of the era of Roger-Rafa rivalry, the rivalry that revolutionised the dimensions of the sport?
The rivalry that marked the highest point of tennis? The rivalry that redefined the pinnacle of a sport?
Though it all began seven years ago in 2004 at Miami, Nadal’s “clout” as a potential danger to the then dominant Federer’s reign captured the attention of the tennis world during 2005 final at the same event.
Federer, no doubt, emerged triumphant but it was Nadal’s performance that pushed Federer to produce “Federer-like” imperial tennis to come back from down two sets to love. 22 encounters, 14 of them going in favor of the Spaniard to “only” eight for the Swiss, this rivalry is indeed a storied one.
It was the 23rd meeting – a dream semi-final (no more a final) – between the two champions. Federer, after getting a relatively easy passage into the semi finals after his opponent Gilles Simon retired hurt after just 10 minutes of matchplay, was looking to improve his record against his arch-nemesis, who struggled to score a win over his Czech opponent Berdych in three close sets.
The semi-final may have very less at stake, but still a Roger-Rafa duel is enough to raise the mercury levels at the Crandon Park. Both of them are still trying to be at par with the Serb’s fairytale winning streak of 25 matches in the season.
Nadal is still trophy-less in 2011 and Roger, after losing all his three matches of 2011 to Novak Djokovic, eager to turn the tables around.
It would be all the same – long rallies, blistering forehands, backhand slices, drop shots, passing shots and net play. Yet every time these two players meet, the match becomes an absolute joy to one’s eyes and heart.
Irrespective of the outcome, redundancy of the shots just adds more meaning to the sport. No doubt, other players are fast challenging the duopoly of Roger and Rafa, yet the end of this concluding phase would let a void remain forever not only in the heart of the tennis freaks, but also in sport itself.
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