Melbourne may be the stage for a dream Federer-Nadal Australian Open final
Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer could give us another epic clash at the 2017 Australian Open
For Roger Federer, the father of two sets of twins and a multiple Australian Open winner, no one seems more surprised than him to be so close.
It’s been five years since Federer’s won a grand slam final (Wimbledon in 2012) and seven years since he did it at the Australian Open. He faced Andy Murray in that final in 2010. In order to make it to Sunday’s final, first he’ll have to battle Mischa Zverev, who is having a terrific run at this year’s Aussie event employing a classic serve-and-volley approach that is working quite well for him. At age 29, he’s still younger than Federer, even though he has a losing record to him, the few times they have played each other. The 17-time grand slam champion has never faced him on hardcourt, either, his two wins coming on grass and clay. If he beats him in the quarters, Federer will either face his compatriot Stan Wawrinka, who also has a Australian Open title among his three (and ranked higher), or Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who he’s had more wins over, but not the last two times when the Frenchman beat him last year and in 2014.
Still, the Swiss “maestro” has been playing extraordinary tennis throughout the tourney, with many saying he’s performing like “vintage” Roger and calling his level of play “magical.” Having been out since last summer, the time off seems to have revitalized the tennis legend.
Although Federer will be facing No. 50-ranked Zverev on Tuesday, he’s battled through some tough opponents already, due to his lower ranking of 17, schooling competitors Thomas Berdych in the third round (6-7 (4-7) 6-4 6-1 4-6 6-3) and fifth seed Kei Nishikori in a fascinating five-setter in Round 4. The Swiss player is seeking a record 18th grand slam if he can make it to Sunday. After having been written off as possibly playing past his prime, with Djokovic and Murray out in the first week, it comes as a surprise to most that Roger Federer now finds himself as the favorite to win the tournament. No one more surprised than perhaps the man himself. The euphoric, wide-eyed glee he showed after the Nishikori win demonstrated the sheer joy he’s feeling being back after so much time off and achieving at this late stage in his legendary career.
If the 35 year-old father of four makes it past two more matches, everyone is hoping the opponent he will be facing is his famous rival, Rafael Nadal, for a fairytale final made in tennis heaven.
“I felt like if Rafa and myself can be healthy, yes, you can expect that,” Federer said in a press conference after his Nishikori match.
Many tennis fans recall the amazing bouts played against Rafael Nadal. It was the final played in Melbourne in 2009 that caused his Swiss rival to break down in tears at the frustrating barrage of losses he had suffered against the Spaniard at that time.
“God, it’s killing me,,” a broken down Federer cried as the winner of the match, Nadal comforted him. That was eight years ago and much has changed between the two. The 14-time grand slam champion will be striving for a possible 15th title, edging ever closer to Federer’s elusive 17 and surpassing the legend Nadal is tied with, Pete Sampras.
Plagued with injuries for the last couple of years and playing less consistently, the Spaniard has reached his first grand slam quarterfinal in almost two years. Employing thrilling shot-making and backed by new coach Carlos Moya (and former AO grand slam winner himself), “Rafa” has left crowds gasping throughout the tournament, as he did in his win over sixth seed Gael Monfils (6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4) Monday.
Both Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have been playing with the resurgent energy of younger players since the beginning of the tournament. But the hard-fought wins are perhaps even more appreciated in the twilights of their respective careers.
“For me, it means a lot because I really start the season playing quarter-finals in a grand slam again, especially on a hard court (and) after a couple of years without being in this round is great news,” said Nadal after his fourth-round win.
The current No. 9-ranked player will need to get through a higher ranked Milos Raonic and the winner of the David Goffin (No. 11)/Grigor Dmitrov (No. 15) semifinal.
“Against Raonic I just need to play very, very well,” said Nadal in his post-match press conference. “He is the third player in the world, he beat me a couple of weeks ago in Brisbane and is a top player with an amazing serve.”
The tantalizing prospect of the two meeting in a final after all these years has many excited about their chances, including eight-time grand slam champion himself, Andre Agassi.
“Champions know how to win,” Agassi told AAP on Saturday.
“And if things are lining up with their bodies and lining up with the draw, you know one thing: Roger’s not going to lose it. If he has an opportunity to play off-the-charts tennis and really internally believes he can win…. he’s going to execute,” the golden slam winner said.
“You’ve got to believe the same with Nadal.”
If the stars align to make it happen, it will be the ninth grand slam final for the two living tennis legends. All they have is two more matches to get through to give the fans what they want.