Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer will be facing each other for the 38th time in their careers and for the fourth time already this season when they battle for the Shanghai title on Sunday.
Our champ is appearing in an ATP World Tour-best ninth final of the season (6-3) and the 111th in his career (75-35).
Date: 15 October 2017
Match time: 4.30 PM local time / 4.30 AM EDT – New York, Montreal / 9.30 AM BST – United Kingdom / 10.30 AM CEST – Spain, France, Germany, Italy / 7.30 PM AEDT – Melbourne. To convert to your local time, use this website.
According to ATP World Tour, Federer is seeking a second Shanghai crown (2014), whileRafa is vying for his first, having previously finished runner-up in 2009. A victory will almost guarantee that Rafa closes the year with the No. 1 ATP Ranking for the fourth time, as he would own a 2,760-point lead over Federer.
Rafa leads the overall head-to-head series 23-13. Our champ is 14-9 in final meetings and owns a 12-6 advantage in ATP Masters 1000 tournaments (7-4 in finals). It is their first encounter on Asian soil since the 2007 ATP Finals, when the tournament was held in Shanghai. Federer took a straight-set semi-final clash.
Here are all the matches they have played against each other:
| YEAR | EVENT | SURFACE | RND | WINNER | RESULT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Miami FL, U.S.A. |
Outdoor Hard | F | Roger Federer |
63 64 |
| 2017 | ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Indian Wells CA, U.S.A. |
Outdoor Hard | R16 | Roger Federer |
62 63 |
| 2017 | Australian Open Australia |
Outdoor Hard | F | Roger Federer |
64 36 61 36 63 |
| 2015 | Basel Switzerland |
Indoor Hard | F | Roger Federer |
63 57 63 |
| 2014 | Australian Open Australia |
Outdoor Hard | SF | Rafael Nadal |
764 63 63 |
| 2013 | ATP Finals Great Britain |
Indoor Hard | SF | Rafael Nadal |
75 63 |
| 2013 | ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Cincinnati OH, U.S.A. |
Outdoor Hard | QF | Rafael Nadal |
57 64 63 |
| 2013 | ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Rome Italy |
Outdoor Clay | F | Rafael Nadal |
61 63 |
| 2013 | ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Indian Wells CA, U.S.A. |
Outdoor Hard | QF | Rafael Nadal |
64 62 |
| 2012 | ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Indian Wells CA, U.S.A. |
Outdoor Hard | SF | Roger Federer |
63 64 |
| 2012 | Australian Open Australia |
Outdoor Hard | SF | Rafael Nadal |
675 62 765 64 |
| 2011 | ATP Finals Great Britain |
Indoor Hard | RR | Roger Federer |
63 60 |
| 2011 | Roland Garros France |
Outdoor Clay | F | Rafael Nadal |
75 763 57 61 |
| 2011 | ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Madrid Spain |
Outdoor Clay | SF | Rafael Nadal |
57 61 63 |
| 2011 | ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Miami FL, U.S.A. |
Outdoor Hard | SF | Rafael Nadal |
63 62 |
| 2010 | ATP Finals Great Britain |
Indoor Hard | F | Roger Federer |
63 36 61 |
| 2010 | ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Madrid Spain |
Outdoor Clay | F | Rafael Nadal |
64 765 |
| 2009 | ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Madrid Spain |
Outdoor Clay | F | Roger Federer |
64 64 |
| 2009 | Australian Open Australia |
Outdoor Hard | F | Rafael Nadal |
75 36 763 36 62 |
| 2008 | Wimbledon Great Britain |
Outdoor Grass | F | Rafael Nadal |
64 64 675 678 97 |
| 2008 | Roland Garros France |
Outdoor Clay | F | Rafael Nadal |
61 63 60 |
| 2008 | ATP Masters Series Hamburg Germany |
Outdoor Clay | F | Rafael Nadal |
75 673 63 |
| 2008 | ATP Masters Series Monte Carlo Monaco |
Outdoor Clay | F | Rafael Nadal |
75 75 |
| 2007 | Tennis Masters Cup China |
Indoor Hard | SF | Roger Federer |
64 61 |
| 2007 | Wimbledon Great Britain |
Outdoor Grass | F | Roger Federer |
767 46 763 26 62 |
| 2007 | Roland Garros France |
Outdoor Clay | F | Rafael Nadal |
63 46 63 64 |
| 2007 | ATP Masters Series Hamburg Germany |
Outdoor Clay | F | Roger Federer |
26 62 60 |
| 2007 | ATP Masters Series Monte Carlo Monaco |
Outdoor Clay | F | Rafael Nadal |
64 64 |
| 2006 | Tennis Masters Cup China |
Indoor Hard | SF | Roger Federer |
64 75 |
| 2006 | Wimbledon Great Britain |
Outdoor Grass | F | Roger Federer |
60 765 672 63 |
| 2006 | Roland Garros France |
Outdoor Clay | F | Rafael Nadal |
16 61 64 764 |
| 2006 | ATP Masters Series Rome Italy |
Outdoor Clay | F | Rafael Nadal |
670 765 64 26 765 |
| 2006 | ATP Masters Series Monte Carlo Monaco |
Outdoor Clay | F | Rafael Nadal |
62 672 63 765 |
| 2006 | Dubai U.A.E. |
Outdoor Hard | F | Rafael Nadal |
26 64 64 |
| 2005 | Roland Garros France |
Outdoor Clay | SF | Rafael Nadal |
63 46 64 63 |
| 2005 | ATP Masters Series Miami FL, U.S.A. |
Outdoor Hard | F | Roger Federer |
26 674 765 63 61 |
| 2004 | ATP Masters Series Miami FL, U.S.A. |
Outdoor Hard | R32 | Rafael Nadal |
63 63 |
GOOD LUCK & VAMOS RAFA!
Rafa has still not managed his schedule as well as Roger and that is I feel why he has lost to Fed to-day. Too much hard court play has given him knee trouble again after a long period without it. Hopefully it is not serious and just needs restingt but it was serious enough to-day to stop Rafa from playing at his best.
I acknowledge Fed’s all round game . At 36 he is to be congratulated But, oh dear, we will now be inundated by all the commentators’ words of hero worship ad nauseum.
My heart grieves for Rafa in losing this match in particular when he was playing well enough to have beaten Fed had knee trouble not re-appeared to hinder him. Which leads me to my previous point – management of Rafa’s schedule.
I hope Carlos Moya can persuade him to skip Basel . Perhaps he won’t have to persuade him, Rafa’s knees may make it impossible to play. We really won’t know how bad the problem is until Rafa or his team enlighten us.
Rafa has said his main objective is not to end the year as number 1 but to remain healthy so that he can be competitive. In that case he must not persist in pushing his body to unreasonable limits.. He is not a teenager anymore.
Please Rafa, look after yourself.!!
Ohh my – I’m “Fed” up with this 😣
I so wanted Rafa to win his first Shanghai Masters 😳 – But congrats to Roger on todays win 👏🏻
Keep on your unbeliveable stroll sweet Rafa and congratulations on what you’ve achieved. You’re amazing champ#1 – always a winner nomatter what 😍🥇
And like you say Susie, onwards and upwards Rafa! 🎾💪🏼😘🍀
And plz. take care of that knee of yours dear Rafa ❤️
Rafa must skip Basel and rest!
Im hoping he will Lorna if his knee is dodgy
It’s been confirmed:
“Sebastien Grosjean has confirmation by Rafa’s entourage that he has pain in the knee because of the accumulation of matched on HC.”
So gutted for Rafa and all us fans. This is exactly what I’ve been worrying since Beijing hadn’t even started.
Don’t like Fed’s celebration too much. It’s clear Rafa is injured and couldn’t compete. Rafa would have toned down his celebration much more.
Sorry, “Fed would have…”
Oh no! Hope Rafa recovers well. I am going to avoid tennis sites and articles for the next week because can’t stand all the Federer worshipping.
One small mercy – i didnt catch site of mirka’s smarmy face today. That would have done me in totally today. As usual rafa is such a great sport both in victory ans defeat – just love the man.
Sight not site. Sorry
I feared that this would happen sooner or later as Rafa has been winning so much on hard courts lately. I would dearly love him to win Paris and the WTF but I suppose we have to see how his knees hold up.
Rafa was not his confident self today. Im hoping this 4th loss to roger this year doesnt dent it any further. I really wanted rafa to win this tournament but more importantly rest that knee and come back stronger. He is still no1.
No Susie. I believe it wasn’t about his confidence but his knee, the pain, the worries, the fatigue, the feeling of not being able to compete.
That feeling was what hit him the hardest. He was broken mentally after the AO 14 final. Couldn’t recover for the whole year and even in 2015 when his injuries were healed, the mental injuries were still there and event more evident than ever. Such a sad episode in his career…
This is what I’ve been talking about since the start of the match and also what I’ve been worrying after the USO.
The Laver Cup confirmed his stubbornness/overestimation about his body and even mental strength. It’s much harder to say no, especially for someone like him with a long history of saying yes when he should have said no. 4 matches in 3 days on hard court indoor are no wise decision for any 31 years old player.
Now it sounds like I’m complaining. I’m not. I’m just feeling so sad now, maybe will be crying when I’m alone.
I have always trusted my observations and “instincts” about Rafa. That of course doesn’t mean I’m always right. But most often when I really feel worried, something happens.
Stay strong Rafa, in your mind. Body will heal. Take as much time as you need or even more than you think you need. It’s so unfortunate but everything can wait. On the silver lining side, this may push you to take more action to preserve your body and longevity. Tennis needs you.
Oh rainier – please don’t cry. Rafa will come back stronger!!
Federer was the deserved winner. Face it nadal has no chance on this surface against federer. Only djokovic can beat federer on a indoor surface.
Nadal had a incredible run winning the us open and beijing but this tournament was just one match too long. Right now federer has become djokovic the second in nadal head. Nadal doesnt have the weapons to compete against federer. He doesnt have a djokovic return to return federer serve and he was bothered by a sore right knee.
This is the third time this year that federer denied nadal history. Federer denied nadal a second australian open title, he denied him a first miami open title and know a first sjanghai title.
Nadal has two chances remaining of winning a big title paris and atf. Lets hope that he dropped out from Basel and that another people will prevent federer from reaching the final in Paris and ATF.
Hopefully Nadal will have a chance next year to win Sjanghai
That’s not necessary, mjus. I’m facing everything like I’ve always have. It wasn’t about winning or losing, I said this right at the beginning of the match. I’m only worried about his injury. That’s all.
FYI, I’m also a Fed fan. Yes, one can be a fan of both. I was also crying happily for him after every round during the AO this year, except the final with that questionably repeated tactical MTO.
As for Rafa’s game. Yes, I believe 100% that Rafa’s level and form are actually much higher than this. He couldn’t compete properly, “let’s face it”, to borrow your words. It’s a chain reaction. Fed was goating. But it also had to do with who he was playing. That’s should be closer to the truth.
Thanks Susie. I haven’t shredded a tear :). Still going strong. Only feeling sad and worried, which I couldn’t help.
Hope we will hear from Rafa and his team about his condition soon. I can’t stand not knowing.
Please send Raffy 2 kisses for me. Thanks Susie. Hope you’re doing well over there. 🍀🍀
Unfortunately I now know I was right about the leg-hitting incident yesterday. I don’t think I have ever seen Rafa do anything like that, but he was just frustrated with his own body, like, “damn you knee, why now?”. It’s horrible to think of him feeling like that. And today, having to walk out on the court to face his arch-rival in a final with a bandage on his leg after months of being injury-free, that has to be mentally damaging. The match was over before it started sadly.
There is only one answer and that is to rest, but it must be so hard when you’re playing as well as he has been, not to carry on.
It’s incredible that of his ten finals and ten thousand points this year that Rafa has achieved half of them on hard courts. He’s proved to his critics that he’s not only the King of Clay but so much more. I’m really proud of him for doing that but it isn’t worth compromising his health. I hope the knee issue is something that will go away with a week or two’s rest. So Rafa, please don’t play Basel, and maybe think twice about Paris as well.
Well put, jas_uk.
In the QF I already noticed the worried look on his face. And maybe not coincidently he just wasn’t as sharp as he was since the USO, bar the Laver Cup.
The decision to play a full – full hard court season was a bit overconfident from his team, I guess. Even in his younger years he never could sustain his form on HC from start to finish. It was always either fatigue or pain, injuries.
It’s unfortunate for him that the majority of the ATP tour are on HC. But it is what is it and what happened happened. I just hope he and his team will overestimate his body anymore. No need to play a year long full season and especially 2 tourneys in 2 weeks. It’s simply too much.
I couldn’t be more proud of him as well. Just voicing my worry then move on and back to my optimistic self. 🙂
I hope he will skip both Basel and Paris. Even WTF if necessary. No need to rush anything now. The YE #1 ranking isn’t worth his health at all.
VAMOS SWEETHEART !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) THERE WILL BE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) ALWAYS. CONGRATULATIONS ON ALL YOUR GREAT CHINA VICTORIES & MAKING IT TO THE FINALS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) 🙂 : ) IT IS OK NOT TO WIN EVERYTHING & WE LOVE YOU RAFA NADAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) LOTS OF LOVE & HAPPINESS & KEEP SMILING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) 😉 🙂 VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) XOXOXOXOXOXOXO
Of course i want rafa to win every match he plays but i really wanted him to win his 1st shanghai masters. But it looks like its not going to be. Onwards and upwards rafa!!
Rafa, who cares about Roger , you have been the dominant force this year with everything you have achieved and YOU will end 2017 as world number one. Shame Roger wouldn’t retire but I have a feeling while Rafas’s around he won’t .
Rafa injured or not, I hope after this match, he will reconsider committing to improve his court position. It’s too taxing, and tough. He can still win with it, but one day things like this will happen again, because it has happened many times already.
Yes, the crowd want to see a third set, but it looks like a repeat of Miami. Sadly, Rafa can’t cope with the combination of the closed roof, the quick surface and the accuracy of Roger’s quick fire tennis. Such a shame as I was praying for Rafa to pull it out of the bag!
Rafa has hurt his knee