With a three set victory over Grigor Dimitrov in round 3, Rafael Nadal set the stage for a quarterfinal showdown with Roger Federer at the Western and Southern Open on Friday.
Date: Friday, August 16, 2013 (local)
Time: Not before 1:00 am CET & 12:00 am BST (Sat 17/8), 7:00 pm local
Live Stream: Fromsport and ATDHE
This will be the 31st meeting between Rafa and Federer, with Rafa leading the series 20-10. The two, however, are even on hard courts, with six wins each. Rafa has defeated Federer twice on the hard courts at the Australian Open, of which once was in the final. Their last hard court meeting was in Indian Wells in March this year, where Rafa defeated Federer in the quarterfinals (and incidentally, the last time Federer beat Rafa was also in Indian Wells, in the semifinals in 2012). Their most recent meeting was on clay, however, when Rafa won the final over Federer in the Rome Masters.
Rafa has held serve 20 of 22 games (91%) in first two rounds and has broken opponents nine times. His best result was reaching back-to-back semi-finals in 2008-09 losing to Novak Djokovic both times. Also reached quarter-finals in 2010 (l. to Baghdatis) and 2011 (l. to Fish). Did not play last year (knee injury).
Federer, the oldest player left in the draw at 32, is playing in his 60th career ATP Masters 1000 quarter-final (46-13 mark) and Nadal is appearing in his 58th (48-9 mark). Federer is 1-5 this season against Top 10 opponents while Nadal is an ATP World our-best 13-1. The 27-year-old Spaniard is off to a career best 50-3 start (12-0 on hard) with eight titles this season.
Long touted as one of the greatest tennis rivalries, and agreed so by both Rafa and Federer, Fedal is always a pleasure to watch. The winner of this match will play the winner of the match between Tomas Berdych and Andy Murray.
| Year | Tournament & City | Surface | Round | Winner & Score |
| 2013 | ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Rome Italy |
Clay | F | Nadal, Rafael 6-1, 6-3 Stats |
| 2013 | ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Indian Wells CA, U.S.A. |
Hard | Q | Nadal, Rafael 6-4, 6-2 Stats |
| 2012 | ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Indian Wells CA, U.S.A. |
Hard | S | Federer, Roger 6-3, 6-4 Stats |
| 2012 | Australian Open Australia |
Hard | S | Nadal, Rafael 6-7(5), 6-2, 7-6(5), 6-4 Stats |
| 2011 | Barclays ATP World Tour Finals Great Britain |
Hard | RR | Federer, Roger 6-3, 6-0 Stats |
| 2011 | Roland Garros France |
Clay | F | Nadal, Rafael 7-5, 7-6(3), 5-7, 6-1 Stats |
| 2011 | ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Madrid Spain |
Clay | S | Nadal, Rafael 5-7, 6-1, 6-3 Stats |
| 2011 | ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Miami FL, U.S.A. |
Hard | S | Nadal, Rafael 6-3, 6-2 Stats |
| 2010 | Barclays ATP World Tour Finals London, England |
Hard | F | Federer, Roger 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 Stats |
| 2010 | ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Madrid Spain |
Clay | F | Nadal, Rafael 6-4, 7-6(5) Stats |
| 2009 | ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Madrid Spain |
Clay | F | Federer, Roger 6-4, 6-4 Stats |
| 2009 | Australian Open Australia |
Hard | F | Nadal, Rafael 7-5, 3-6, 7-6(3), 3-6, 6-2 Stats |
| 2008 | Wimbledon Great Britain |
Grass | F | Nadal, Rafael 6-4, 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-7(8), 9-7 Stats |
| 2008 | Roland Garros France |
Clay | F | Nadal, Rafael 6-1, 6-3, 6-0 Stats |
| 2008 | ATP Masters Series Hamburg Germany |
Clay | F | Nadal, Rafael 7-5, 6-7(3), 6-3 Stats |
| 2008 | ATP Masters Series Monte Carlo Monaco |
Clay | F | Nadal, Rafael 7-5, 7-5 Stats |
| 2007 | Tennis Masters Cup China |
Hard | S | Federer, Roger 6-4, 6-1 Stats |
| 2007 | Wimbledon Great Britain |
Grass | F | Federer, Roger 7-6(7), 4-6, 7-6(3), 2-6, 6-2 Stats |
| 2007 | Roland Garros France |
Clay | F | Nadal, Rafael 6-3, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 Stats |
| 2007 | ATP Masters Series Hamburg Germany |
Clay | F | Federer, Roger 2-6, 6-2, 6-0 Stats |
| 2007 | ATP Masters Series Monte Carlo Monaco |
Clay | F | Nadal, Rafael 6-4, 6-4 Stats |
| 2006 | Tennis Masters Cup China |
Hard | S | Federer, Roger 6-4, 7-5 Stats |
| 2006 | Wimbledon England |
Grass | F | Federer, Roger 6-0, 7-6(5), 6-7(2), 6-3 Stats |
| 2006 | Roland Garros France |
Clay | F | Nadal, Rafael 1-6, 6-1, 6-4, 7-6(4) Stats |
| 2006 | ATP Masters Series Rome Italy |
Clay | F | Nadal, Rafael 6-7(0), 7-6(5), 6-4, 2-6, 7-6(5) Stats |
| 2006 | ATP Masters Series Monte Carlo Monaco |
Clay | F | Nadal, Rafael 6-2, 6-7(2), 6-3, 7-6(5) Stats |
| 2006 | Dubai U.A.E. |
Hard | F | Nadal, Rafael 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 Stats |
| 2005 | Roland Garros France |
Clay | S | Nadal, Rafael 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 Stats |
| 2005 | ATP Masters Series Miami FL, U.S.A. |
Hard | F | Federer, Roger 2-6, 6-7(4), 7-6(5), 6-3, 6-1 Stats |
| 2004 | ATP Masters Series Miami FL, U.S.A. |
Hard | R32 | Nadal, Rafael 6-3, 6-3 Stats |
Vamos Rafa!
Be strong, Rafa!
vamos rafa… you can do it… for sure it will be a great much…
VAMOS RAFA YOU CAN DO IT!!!
This is going to be great!!!! Love Roger, but VAMOS RAFA!!!!!!!