Federer vs Nadal: 5 instances when Roger Federer let a critical lead slip away against Rafael Nadal

#4) 2006 Rome Masters Final

Nadal did indeed have the last laugh after the marathon encounter

While most people would have been happily enjoying their Sunday relaxing at home on 11 May 2006, a war of huge magnitude was taking place in the European Union.

Two big Greek gods (Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal) were fighting tooth and nail on a baking hot afternoon in Rome. The quality of tennis was absolutely sensational from both players - be it Federer's delicate backhand slice or Nadal's raging forehand.

This was the match that intensified their rivalry.

Federer won the first set 7-6, but Nadal staged a strong comeback to win the second set 7-6 and the third 6-4. Federer won the fourth set 6-2 to take the match into the deciding set.

Federer broke Nadal in the fourth game of the fifth set to take a 3-1 lead, and subsequently consolidated by holding his serve to take a critical 4-1 lead in the fifth set. He was on the verge on a 5-2 lead, but a resilient Nadal broke Federer to put the match back on serve at 4-3.

Federer had two match points with Nadal serving at 5-6 (15-40). But Federer’s forehand errors went into overdrive at this critical juncture. He made two forehand errors that brought the game back to deuce, and the fifth set went into the tie-breaker.

In the tie-breaker, Federer rose to a 5-3 lead, but a rampant Nadal nullified the lead and went on to win the tie breaker 7-5.

Federer led 4-1, and was two games away from winning the titanic clash. But he let that lead slip away. In rather dramatic fashion, he also squandered two back-to-back match points and a 5-3 lead in the tie-breaker.

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Match result – Nadal won 6-7 (7-0), 7-6 (7-5), 6-4, 2-6, 7-6(7-5)

Match duration – 5 hours and 5 minutes