It will be the the 34th meeting between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal when two friendly rivals battle for the Basel title on Sunday. They have not faced each other at a tournament this small since Dubai in 2006.
On the day after Halloween, fans at the Swiss Indoors Basel will be getting an extra-special treat. After all, it is not every day that the tennis world witnesses Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal square off at a 500-point event.
In fact, the last time Federer and Nadal faced each other at a tournament of this level was way back in 2006 in the Dubai title match. That remains their only previous encounter to date outside of a Grand Slam, Masters 1000, or year-end championship.
Heading into Sunday’s showdown, the overall head-to-head series stands at 23-10 in favor of Nadal. The Spaniard has won five in a row dating back to the start of the 2013 season. Federer’s last victory over his nemesis came in 2012 Indian Wells semifinals via a 6-3, 6-4 decision. Even on hard courts, Nadal is 9-6 lifetime against the Swiss and he has won their last four such meetings. Federer does, however, have one edge in their past history: he is 4-1 at Nadal’s expense on indoor hard courts.
The 34-year-old not only has the benefit of playing indoors for this one, but also at home in the friendly confines of Switzerland. Federer is an awesome 60-9 lifetime at this tournament, has won it six times, and has now reached the title match in 10 consecutive appearances. The 17-time major champion has advanced so far this week by taking out Mikhail Kukushkin, Philipp Kohlschreiber, David Goffin, and Jack Sock–surrendering sets to Kohlschreiber and Goffin along the way.
Nadal has gone the distance three times already and came close to doing the same–if not losing altogether–in his semifinal versus Richard Gasquet. The third seed, who had previously outlasted Lukas Rosol, Grigor Dimitrov, and Marin Cilic, recovered from a break down in the first set and survived an extremely close second to beat Gasquet 6-4, 7-6(7).
“It’s been a very special week for me,” said Nadal, who added that he felt good after a brief knee-injury scare at 3-1 in the opening set on Saturday.
Nearing the end of what has been a disappointing year by his standards, Nadal is suddenly picking up the pace during what is traditionally by far his worst stretch of any season. The former world No. 1 reached the Beijing final and the Shanghai semis prior to this impressive Basel performance. Since blowing a two-set lead against Fabio Fognini at the U.S. Open, Nadal boasts a 12-2 record.
“It’s definitely a bit of a dream final,” Federer assured. “It’s never quite happened (in Basel). That it’s me against Rafa towards the back end of our careers is nice for the tournament, great for the Swiss fans–who’ve never seen this matchup on Swiss grounds.”
“I have played against Roger hundreds of times around the world,” Nadal commented. “I never played at his home (Switzerland), and tomorrow is a chance.”
It’s also a great opportunity for Federer, but at this point it his hard to like his chances in this particular matchup under any circumstances. This summer, of course, is when an on-fire Federer would have been a heavy favorite over Nadal. Fast forward a few months and Federer’s form–and perhaps motivation–has dipped considerably. He is no longer playing the kind of tennis that can blow his opponent of the court in two quick sets. Nadal, who would have an obvious mental edge in any long three-setter, should be able to capitalize.
Pick: Nadal in 3
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It’s either gonna be Fed in straights or Rafa in three. If Rafa can get the 1st set he might pull it off in straights but to me that’s the most unlikely outcome.
This
Hawkeye: Why are you only focussing on Rafa’s level of play (which I agree is neither consistent nor back to his absolute best) and completely ignoring the erractic performance by Federer this week?
Are you suggesting he has been faking bad in order to give his loyal Baselites a collective orgasm by suddenly displaying the majestic TMF at his very best?
Should he beat Rafa I fear for the safety of the St. Jakobshalle stadium roof 🙂
Hawkeye wears rose tinted glasses when looking at Federer.
How many times has Roger not looked imperious throughout a tournament, brushing everyone aside, until he comes up against Rafa and gets taken down..
When I last checked it was 17 times, he, he.
Dont forget Hawk’s tendency for anti-jinxing…………..not to mention winding up Ricky
Once indoors. When Rafa was playing his very best tennis.
Hawkeye
17? Freudian slip?
Could have sworn it was 23.
Because on an indoor court, Federer’s best form over the last two months will beat Rafa’s best form over the last two months. Rafa was a much better player when he beat an ailing Fed indoors in 2013.
-hawkeye
C’est moi.
I’m not.
Fed’s best form for the year and especially over the last four months will beat Rafa’s.
Rafa very recently lost 2 and 2 to Novak. Marginal improvements since. Not good enough for Fed indoors.
This thread already has so many comments it’s gone over to a 2nd page and there’s still three hours till the kick-off.
People keep saying Roger is in great form, conveniently forgetting that as defending champion he lost in the 1st round in Shanghai to non other than Albert Ramos.
Selective memory loss is obligatory. I’m amused by the way Knowitall, and otheris, are vascillating right now. They are caught between a rock and a hard place: should they acknowledge Rafa’s resurgence or not.
Fed was rusty.
(He’s in better form than Rafa though.)
Rafa inflicted really deep scar into Fed’s heart.
His mentality will never be ready to fight Rafa
He does not believe he can beat Rafa, this is irrecoverable.
Playing Rafa for the first time in Basel, 10th final becomes another heavy mental burden.
Should he lose in his first meeting with Rafa here, he would feel bad.
He will come out shaky, and be broken in his first game.
Fed just does not have enough weapon to play defender who can attack in Nole and Rafa. He had enough problem with Murray in the past, all three are defenders who can counter attack. With the rest of the fields, he faces minimum challenge…
Sure whatevs.
I’m sure Roger would be undefeated against Rafa off clay if it weren’t for those mental scars.
No, he was just better than Roger. Simple as that. But unlikely today indoors with Rafa not yet back to full form.
When the draw came out, everyone acknowledged that Rafa had a tough draw and Roger had an easy draw. Now that Rafa has come through his tough draw and Fed has had a few hiccups on his way, all of a sudden, some are trying to convince us that Fed has been imperious and Rafa has struggled.
Imperious LOL. Who?
I agree with those saying rafa cannot afford to lose serve cheaply in the early stages of sets. Fed is a great front runner, and with his serve, he is going to turbo charge his way to the finish line. The strategy from fed would be to play ultra aggressive and take time away. He will drive his backhand second serve returns a lot more instead of slicing/chipping it.. we all know the net approaches will be aplenty. Mind you, he is a lot better at the net now but his net rushing game will see a next level challenge today as it is rafa on the other side.
Come on Rafa!
Roger’s net game doesn’t cut it against Rafa. They will both need to serve well, but even if Rafa’s serve is below par he’s got plenty of other weapons whilst Roger’s serve is all he’s got for getting out of trouble.
IF that is the case then it’s worked indoors 4 out of 5 times.
vr, no one can afford to lose serve at anytime against anyone. Rafa has dropped his serve far too many times but the plus side is, he has been able to dig himself out time and time again so that’s good. But he can’t count of being able to it every time so I’m sure his team are working on it.
The rest of your post contradicted your opening statement.
(Anytime vs every time)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQ9xBJyB3cA
If Rafa loses it will be because he had a bad knee. If Roger loses it will be because his back flared up. This will be boring. I’m off to Sunday Mass.
Rafa almost never ever blames a loss on his injuries. Roger almost always. Usually at the time but also will bring it up months, even years, later. Can’t always say the same of their fans.
Speaking of boring…
Vamos Rafa!
Rafa won the toss and elected to serve.
Rafa received 500.000 $ just to show up at this event…the organizers must be thrilled! It paid off completely! Wisely invested money indeed… ?
first serve in the net
15-0 Rafa. Punishing the Fed BH.
15-15. Made first serve but Fed got in control with a nice return.
30-15. Fed flubs a BH.
great game by Rafa. 1-0.
Rafa holds.
Vamos Rafa!
DF by RF