Federer, Nadal invoking memories of an era gone too soon

Since the end of 2013, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have won a grand total of one Grand Slam between them. During that same time frame, Stan Wawrinka has won more majors than Federer and Nadal combined.

It’s no secret that this is no longer the “Fedal” era. It has not been since 2010 and it never will be again.

But for at least one brief stretch at the 2015 World Tour Finals, two of the all-time greats are back on top.

Seeded third in his London group with a No. 5 ranking, Nadal wrapped up first place after just two matches thanks to beatdowns of world No. 3 Wawrinka and world No. 2 Andy Murray. Also an underdog in his foursome given the presence of top-ranked Novak Djokovic, Federer laughed in the face of doubters by going 3-0 during round-robin action. The 34-year-old trounced Tomas Berdych, upset Djokovic, and held off Kei Nishikori 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 on Thursday afternoon.

It’s hard to say whose group triumph is more improbable. Nadal, of course, has endured a far worse season than Federer but the Spaniard landed in the easier quartet. The Swiss has played well from start to finish in 2015 and has a chance of finishing the year ranked second, but he found himself in the same O2 pod as Djokovic–whom almost everyone expected to roll through the tournament as an undefeated champion.

Although Nadal always speaks as a pessimist, he did not sound overly surprised by his stellar play this week.

“I am quite confident [when I am practicing well] that sooner or later the positive results can arrive. So I believe that the last four tournaments, the positive results, the good feelings on court in terms of enjoying myself [are] much better. I know I worked to find the level that I am (at) today.”

Not only  is Nadal playing well, but he is also using the correct tactics–especially on an indoor hard court. Against Murray, he consistently played on top of the baseline and quite simply pushed the Scot around the entire afternoon on Wednesday. That allowed him to get into net 13 times, 11 of which ended successfully.

“I go to the net when I am confident,” the two-time World Tour Finals runner-up explained. “I go to the net when I am hitting the ball well, when I’m able to play aggressive. When that happens, (it) is because I am playing well.”

That Federer is playing well this week hardly comes as a shock. In the last three months he has captured titles in Cincinnati and Basel while reaching the final of the U.S. Open.

“I feel really good,” the Swiss said after his first match. “I went on a vacation for 10 days after the U.S. Open and (a Davis Cup playoff tied against the Netherlands), which I think was great for my body to heal (and). for my mind to get away from it all. Then because of the three days off I had after Paris, I think I’m really fresh.”

That sounds like bad news for everyone else. But for Federer right now, everything is good news. Given the group outcomes, Federer–who is 11-23 lifetime against Nadal–cannot face his nemesis until the final.

It’s a final that was borderline impossible to imagine when the week began. And to be fair, it’s still improbable at best. But for at least this very instant, Federer and Nadal are once again the talk of the tennis world.