By: Riha Rao Image credit: People
The tremendous battles that Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have engaged in have made tennis more exciting for millions of people to watch.
Perhaps the matches between Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer should be emphasized as some of the best in history if one needs to add them to the list of the greatest individual rivalries in any sport.
When Federer was at the top of his game and making the other tennis players look bad, it was Nadal who stepped up and stopped Federer's onslaught.
When Nadal faced Federer and completely flipped the script, he altered the entire dynamic of the match. Nadal has outscored Federer 24-16 in head-to-head matches.
When he routinely defeated Federer in the French Open, Nadal eroded Federer's chances of completing the Grand Slam. On clay, the winning margin was substantial. Nadal and Federer competed in one of Wimbledon's most thrilling finals in 2008.
When the rivalry initially heated up in 2004, Nadal, who was at the height of his powers at the time, beat Federer to deal the first blow. The ATP Masters 1000 victory in Miami is regarded as Nadal's breakout performance.
By defeating Nadal in seven of their last eight meetings, Federer has been able to narrow the gap over the past couple of years. This includes Federer winning the Australian Open by defeating Nadal in five epic sets for a record-breaking 20th victory.
Beyond statistics, Nadal and Federer's rivalry is intense. Tennis fans will be forever grateful for the Nadal vs. Federer rivalry and for their contribution to making tennis one of the finest modern-era spectacles.
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