Rome Masters Final preview: Roger Federer vs Rafael Nadal

A Feder-Nadal clash is by all means a classic even before it comes to life. It’s a best-selling tale of two determined legends pitted against each other’s toughest adversary, fighting to lay their stamp as the final winner. And as with life or love, it’s the journey, rather than the crown itself, that makes their encounters more memorable. But perhaps the most appealing factor of their rivalry is the triumph of hope over destiny. In Nadal’s undying resilience to successfully combat the creative artistry of Federer, we are assured that courage, patience and self-belief can bring one great success, no matter the genius, wizardry or seeming impossibility of the obstacle.

Perhaps the historian who said all roads lead to Rome shall be best justified this afternoon when these two square off for the 20th time in a final at the Internazionali BNL D’Italia, and 30th overall. So without further ado, here is a brief snapshot of the heroes of the plot:

Roger Federer: Titles YTD – nil

Surprisingly, this is Federer’s first final of the year, partly due to injuries, and largely due to an unexpected brand of inconsistent tennis. But after a much helpful break of 57 days, he’s returned with renewed vigour and ambition. Shrugging off the inertia slowly in Madrid, he’s returned to form here. That he hasn’t dropped a set yet will be something Nadal will have made note of, although there have been moments of concern that haven’t been great enough to deny his date with destiny.

Starting off with a belligerence only he can muster, he subdued Starace and Simon in straight sets, losing all of six games in both the matches together. However, the quarter-finals and semi-finals proved more competitive, given the fresher pairs of legs across the net. Janowicz was touted as the killer on the prowl with the game to cause an upset against anyone, but for all his alleged pomp, Federer beat him in a slightly laboured straight sets match, 6-4, 7-6(2). Last night, Paire showed signs of promise but only had himself to blame for his loss, making double-faults at key moments despite playing some great tennis.

The common denomination has been a successful Federer, who has come up with some wonderful serves and scorchingly accurate forehands that have, unfortunately, faded a little over the week. However, one should expect to see him in his element in such a significant final.

Rafael Nadal: Titles YTD – 5

Most players lose focus and get restless after a break of 222 days. But Nadal has been exactly the opposite, walking with little labour into his 8th consecutive final since his return, having won 5 of them!

He’s played with a lion’s heart, and has more than made up for lost time on the court with a carefully planned strategy to his favourite destination – Paris. Even though he has been extremely comfortable on his favourite surface, there have been a few scares along the way for him.

He started the tournament well, beating Fognini in straight sets. The game against Gulbis was an engaging duel that he triumphed in with some sensational defense and patience. In the quarters, his Spanish compatriot David Ferrer managed to win a set, but lacked the mental resilience to complete a win. The supposedly tough semifinal against Berdych was a meek affair, with Nadal’s powerful groundstrokes helping him into his 8th Rome final in the last 9 years!

In short, the week has seen the steady rise of Nadal’s relentless yet accurate game and confidence that promise to test the Swiss master’s ambitions.

Significant trivia:

Nadal leads the rivalry 19-10 overall, with an even more dominant record of 12-2 on clay. In all their encounters, the winner of the first set has triumphed on 22 occasions, including in 16 games of the last 18 matches. While Nadal makes his 35th career ATP Masters final appearance with a 23-11 record so far, Federer enters his 34th with a record of 21-12.

The Vault:

Clay undoubtedly has been Nadal’s favoured hunting ground. He has an enviable 17-5 Masters finals record, apart from 7 Slam titles at Roland Garros, while Federer has an respectable 6-7 record, besides his lone French Open title in 2009. It is their first final after 2011, and Federer seems determined to avenge his defeat, as evident from the the quote below.

“He is the best mover on clay of all-time, if not Top 2 with Bjorn Borg, so it’s hard to play against him. But I’ve done it before and can put him under pressure,” stated Federer. “I hope this time I have a better chance than at Indian Wells, where things were a bit difficult for me. He’s had an incredible comeback, so I’m really happy for him. But someone has got to stop him, so I hope it’s me.”

Rome occupies a special place in tennis lovers’ hearts. No matter who wins, we are going to be a part of yet another glorious moment of history in tennis. So, let’s just sit and savour the inimitable moments that only a Federer-Nadal match can create.