Roger Federer had a storied rivalry with Rafael Nadal that transcended the sport, owing to the duo’s contrasting playing styles and personalities.
Federer, widely regarded as one of the best players ever, was elegance personified, weaving his magic on the tennis court like an artist without breaking a sweat. The left-handed Nadal, on the other hand, was the polar opposite.
The all-action Spaniard plays every point as if his life depends on it. He used to greatly trouble Federer, especially on clay, with his high-kicking left-handed forehands to the Swiss’ single-handed backhand.
Nadal twice denied Federer the calendar-year Grand Slam by beating the Swiss in the Roland Garros final. He also broke through Federer’s grasscourt bastion at Wimbledon in 2008, denying him a historic six-peat.
Despite their intense rivalry, Federer and Nadal’s relationship later blossomed into a beautiful friendship. But early on, the Swiss didn’t appreciate meeting Nadal too often on the tour, as he stated on the eve of the 2006 Cincinnati Masters:
“I understand the point and what the people are saying about it, you know, and I think it’s absolutely justified with our results over the last one and a half years. But like what I said in Toronto, you know, I don’t care really if I play him on the other side of the net or it’s somebody else in the finals, like Gasquet.”
“I in the end care about winning the title, you know. That’s what’s over everything, and the player’s not bigger than the tournament. For me, that’s the conclusion to this rivalry. It’s definitely good I won Wimbledon. I enjoy playing him, but I don’t need it every week, you know.”
Federer, the then-World No. 1, lost his first four matches that year to Nadal, before beating the Spaniard in the Wimbledon final.
