Another installment of an all-time great tennis rivalry will take place in the Swiss Indoors Basel championship match on Sunday.
Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer made the highly-anticipated title tilt a reality by winning their respective semifinals on Saturday. Nadal prevailed in straight sets for the first time this week, beating Richard Gasquet 6-4, 7-6(7). Federer followed suit by making quick work of Jack Sock 6-3, 6-4 in one hour and three minutes.
Nadal-Gasquet highlights:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bk6dYnu9skU]
Nadal on-court interview:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhpT034qsqU]
Federer improved to 60-9 lifetime in Basel after breaking Sock three times in nine return games. The 34-year-old Swiss also served at 70 percent and won 87 percent of his first-serve points. He has now reached the final of this event in 10 consecutive appearances.
Federer interview:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIOEhkwXlHw]
[polldaddy poll=9155635]
[polldaddy poll=9155744]
[polldaddy poll=9155745]
May not be a blockbuster. Hardly any blockbuster between the two these days; the last was at Cincy 2013. I think Rafa will find a way to win as Fed isnt playing like the way he did at Cincy or Dubai this year. Too much shanking by Fed; and I think Rafa can handle the net rushing Fed better than anyone can.
Even the ATP is excited:
http://www.atpworldtour.com/en
Fed ftw in straights. Yes this pick is biased lol but also I think Roger at home will get it done and use his serve enough to scrape through in a tough straight sets match.
Rafa simply cannot afford to get broken in his first service game. He doesn’t need to let Fed get off to the races. Fed will most likely play better than he has because this is a final and it’s his hometown.
Rafa is at least in some decent form now with some good wins under his belt. If there has to be a time for it, then I say – let’s go!
I do think that Rafa will find a way to win.
The only way I see Fed winning in straights is if Rafa’s knee is bothering him. As long as he’s healthy, then this is not going to be a straight sets defeat.
yep
[polldaddy poll=9155745]
Federer interview https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIOEhkwXlHw&feature=youtu.be
Fed confidence drops to ground zero when he faces Nadal. He knows well His offence is never better than Nadal defence, his backhand will never be stronger than Rafa forehand. Result is obvious for anyone who lives to watch tennis.