Sunday’s Australian Open final has pitted two of the greatest tennis players, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, against each other. The last time the two had seen each other across the net in a Grand Slam championship match was nearly six years ago at Roland Garros.
And now, after all these years, tennis fans are set for a treat on Sunday.
Over the last 13 years, the duo has taken the sport to new heights. The rivalry between the two has lifted each other's game to levels never seen before in the sport. Federer, of course, has more Grand Slams than any male player in the history of the sport with 17. Nadal, on the other hand, is joint-second with 14.
Also read: Why I won't be watching the Federer vs Nadal final at the 2017 Australian Open
The showpiece final might just be one of the most important ones in recent history with both players having so much to play for. Of course, Nadal has, more often than not, emerged as the victor and here are five reasons why the Spaniard might just win his 15th Grand Slam title in Melbourne.
#1 Superior head-to-head record
The one-sided head-to-head record is one of the main reasons why Nadal holds all the cards going into this particular match. The Spaniard has a record of 23 wins and 11 losses against Federer. Many, however, stress that Nadal has notched up most of his wins on clay, a surface on which he has dominated.
What they seem to forget is that some of the most important matches in which Nadal has won have been on a hard court. And, of course, there is the 2008 Wimbledon classic that is considered by many to be the greatest match of all time.
On clay, Nadal has a record of 12-2, but it can be argued that Federer’s approach in every match has been affected by the dominance Nadal has on the red surface.
The fact that the Spaniard has won five of the last six matches, with four of those coming on a hard court, and that he is unbeaten in all of his three matchups with Federer at the Australian Open, which includes the final in 2009, will, to a certain extent, give him a mental edge over the Swiss maestro.
#2 The superiority of Nadal’s forehand over Federer’s single-handed backhand
It is Nadal’s style of play that bothers Federer so frequently in their match-ups. It is evident that the Spaniard comes to life when playing against players who possess a one-handed backhand. He often looks to force his opponent into engaging in crosscourt rallies (his forehand to opponent’s backhand) before firing his trademark forehand down the line.
It has proved to be very effective time and again and was very much on display in the semi-final match against Grigor Dimitrov. The reason why it is so effective is that Nadal’s forehand has so much topspin in it, that the ball shoots up extremely high off the court. Thus it becomes difficult to control the backhand with only one hand.
And it is not too risky on Nadal’s part. If Federer constantly engages in these rallies with the southpaw, then it will be a very long night for the Swiss on Rod Laver Arena.
#3 Nadal is back to prime fitness, while Federer might struggle
The way Nadal has recovered from his wrist issue has been remarkable in itself, especially when you look at how other players have had their careers damaged by such an injury. Critics and pundits around the world had written him off and had stated emphatically that he would never win a Grand Slam again, but the Spaniard has proved them all wrong.
Federer, on the other hand, might not be at his peak in terms of fitness. Only in the semi-final, the Swiss needed treatment for what is believed to be groin soreness. It is easy to forget that he is 35 and is contesting in his first Grand Slam since injuring his left knee at Wimbledon in July.
Yes, the Swiss will get an extra day to rest his sore limbs but Nadal has always been known for his superior fitness and stamina. Now, with all injury concerns behind him, the Spaniard will be pumped up and raring to go. And if the match goes past the fourth set, Federer might have something to worry about.
#4 Confidence returning to Nadal’s game
Yes, Nadal has been plagued by injuries. But more than the physical ailments, it has been the Spaniard’s mental misgivings that have been pulling him back over the last few years. It was belief and self-confidence which were vital in so many of Rafa’s famous victories. However, somehow, that very confidence has left him down in crucial moments of late.
But not so this time. He was more than ready to go at the start of the tournament and his game has gotten better with each passing round. Nadal’s brutal forehand has struck fear in the tennis fraternity over the course of his career but over the last two years, it went missing. Now, though, it is back and firing on all cylinders.
And not just his forehand, Nadal seems to be confident in his overall game, and he looks to be in control of what is happening on the court. He has already beaten some of the top players in the world on his way to the finals and will be looking to put one past his favourite rival on Sunday.
#5 Records beckon Nadal
Nadal has won 14 Grand Slams in his career which includes one Australian Open title, nine French Open titles, two Wimbledon titles and two US Open titles. He is tied with Pete Sampras for the second spot on the list of most Grand Slam winners. Winning the Australian Open will mean he will surpass Sampras and will be just two short of Federer’s record of 17 Grand Slam titles.
Also, winning the Australian Open on Sunday will mean that Nadal will be the only player of his generation to have won all the Grand Slams at least twice. In 2010, he won the US Open final against Novak Djokovic and thus achieved the Career Grand Slam. He became only the seventh player in the Open era to achieve a Career Grand Slam.
Only Rod Laver and Roy Emerson have won the Career Slam twice, and now Nadal has the opportunity to equal their feat. This is probably the best chance the Spaniard will ever get to win his second Australian Open and it will definitely serve as added motivation when he steps onto the court on Sunday.
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