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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Look at the serving stats for Rafa! What a difference!
thanks for the summary above NNY! and yes, 73% points won on second serves :O incredible!! would like to see more winners being hit though!
Go rafa go!
vamosrafa,
I just gave you the very brief summary. Not shot by shot. But it was essentially one shaky game from Fed with some uncharacteristic errors and Rafa pounced! He saw the opportunity and took advantage of it. That’s what he’s been doing all week.
It goes without saying –
RAFA HOLD YOUR SERVE
rafa held to love?? vamos!
Maybe Rafa has got his teeth in this match now. Come on Rafa! You can do this!
I don’t want this to be like their WTF 2010 final…..fed stepped it up in the final set and rafa did not have enough energy left… I hope he has enough in the tank !
I can see from the stats Roger has upped his first serve by a big margin. 🙁
83% now with 80% points won
Okay 1-1. Keep holding Rafa!
Ho, ho. And so has Rafa. 100% and 100% points won.
Yes!
vamosrafa,
On the other page you said you’d like to see more winners from Rafa. That was exactly what I was thinking!
Too early still but it is looking like a massive momentum swing in the offing
30-30….. be safe there rafa!
I just have this gut feeling that Roger will win in the end, maybe because he was so much in control in the first set. Hope I’ll be pleasantly surprised.
NoTV yet!
Vamos Rafa!
Not watchable – too much buffering. Been on to ATP help line will tell you more later.
I too suspect Roger will pull the rabbit out of the hat especially with the advantage of serving first.
This is primarily being played from the baseline! fed is not having enough confident to rush the net more frequently against rafa! Rafa can grind this out…OH NO BP fed ! but deuce now! phewwww
saved with a BH pass wow
oh wow! down the line? lol
NNY, how did rafa save BP? good serve? it is 2-2 now! VAMOSSS! this hold was crucial
Yes, combined with some great cc backhands! Where has that shot been!
vamosrafa,
Sorry, Ricky already answered you! I just said the same thing!
Whew! That was close!
Rafa just needs to keep hold of his serve. Anything can happen.
roger held so quickly there…I am assuming it was a display of great serving in that game
Yes.
Rafa should just keep holding his serve and I believe he will have his chances…. he is mentally the stronger player of course
vamosrafa,
It was the cc backhands that helped Rafa save the BP’s. What a time for him to start hitting that shot so well!
vr, are you not able to see the match?
I can try to do play by play, but I am too nervous.
both playing pretty decently now
no no it is okay, just brief summaries would be fine! thanks !
@nadline, nopes ! unable to watch it! gutted I am
Roger might get nervous and drop his serve.
3-3! nice hold by rafa?