ARTICLES:
No matter what happens on Friday, their latest meeting is a testament to the longevity and staying power of both men. Their first match took place more than 15 years ago at the Miami Open presented by Itau. Many of their peers in the draw that year have long since retired, but Federer and Nadal have not only continued to remain elite players on the ATP Tour, but keep putting themselves in position to win Grand Slam titles.
- Pundits give Nadal edge over Federer | Wimbledon
“Before the tournament, I tipped Federer to win the whole thing, but the way Rafa has been playing, I just think Rafa might do it. It’s going to be very close, but I would give a marginal edge to Rafa.
“People talk about Federer as the great grass court specialist, but Rafa has got a very good record on grass as well. Playing on grass suits him physically – he could well have won the title last year, he was desperately close against Djokovic.”
Newman believes Nadal’s win last month over Federer on the clay of Roland-Garros “might just give Nadal a little bit of a boost. Rafa has won quite a few more matches against Federer than he has lost.”
Rafa’s doing everything right. His serve, his return, his rhythm, his defence … I’m watching from home, breaking down plays as I see them and thinking in my head how I’d be handling every situation, playing every point… I can honestly say he’s doing exactly what I’d be doing or wanting him to be doing. That doesn’t mean I’m right, but the results prove he’s performing at a spectacular level.
“Often we see matches being overhyped but you can’t overhype this one – and rightly so,” three-time Wimbledon champion Boris Becker told BBC Sport.
“It is the biggest match of the year because you’re talking about two greats of the game. I thought it was the best Wimbledon final of all time. So we’re very lucky to have this opportunity again on Friday. It’s the one match that every tennis player alive will tune in for.”
“Probably is better to have that [Roland Garros] victory than to have defeat, of course. But on the other hand, it’s a completely different situation. [To] play on grass or play on clay is probably the biggest change in the world of tennis,” Nadal said. “I think the player who will have the chance to play better… will be the player who has more chances to be through. That’s all. These kinds of matches are like this.”
- Memories of 2008 | Wimbledon
Sue Barker, BBC Wimbledon presenter: “When I think of that match, what I remember the most is going out on the court to do the interview after the match, and feeling the most unbelievably powerful energy going round the Centre Court crowd, because everyone knew they’d seen something incredibly special – an historic match. I’ve been at finals for years and years doing that interview on the court, but that buzz and electricity that was sparking round the Centre Court is something I’ve never witnessed before, or since.”
- Federer v Nadal, Episode 40, By the Numbers | Tennis Now
56-19 The combined record of Nadal (26-5) and Federer (30-14) in Grand Slam semi-finals.
- Federer-Nadal in numbers | Wimbledon
47 – aces struck by Nadal so far this Fortnight – the most among the four semi-finalists – compared with 42 from Federer.
92 – hours and 53 minutes, the time Federer and Nadal have spent in matches against one another throughout their careers.
Immediately after Federer and Nadal won their quarterfinals matches to set up yet another titanic showdown, ticket prices on Stubhub started — started — at about £7000, the equivalent of nearly $9,000 in U.S. dollars.
VIDEOS:
- Who will prevail when Federer and Nadal renew their rivalry? | ESPN
- Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal Wimbledon 2019 semi-final match preview
Oh come on Rafa! He’s not doing himself any favours out there. He’s his own biggest enemy right now.
Get it together Rafa!! Stop with the freebies!!
Exactly bro… I think this would be a repeat of 2017 aus open finals… 5 setter and may be a Heartbreaker for us
Federer is playing on his terms and now media will label and stamp him as the greatest ever… Jeez
r is ready for his walker and looks wishing for his nap!!!!
VAMOS SWEETHEART…..JUST BROKE HIM LEADING 5:1 !!!!!:)
YOU ARE BY FAR THE STRONGER , MORE SKILLED AND BETTER TOP TOP TOP TOP PLAYER!!!!!!!:) WE LOVE YOU SWEETHEART!!!!!!! YEH…. LEADING WITH YOUR FEISTY MAGIC 6:1!!!!!!!!!!:) KEEP GOING PRECIOUS RAFA NADAL!!!!!!!!!:) GO RAFA GO!!!!!!:) YOU ARE BRILLIANT PLAYING BRILLIANT TENNIS!!!!!!:) STRIDING PASSIONATELY FORWARD POINT BY POINT GENIUS!!!!!!!!!!:) VAMOS SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!:) NOTHING HAPPENING IS IMPORTANT EXCEPT YOUR NEXT PRECIOUS POINT!!!!!!!!!!!:) LOVE HOW YOU FOUND A SHARP TURN AND GOT YOUR TWO AGGRESSIVE BEAUTIFUL BREAKS!!!!!!!!!!:):) :):):) THE CROWD LOVES YOU AND SO DO WE!!!!!!!!!!!!!:) BEAUTIFUL SOLID BRIGHT TENNIS SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!:)
Now that’s our champ right there!!!
Stay strong Rafa!
💪💪💪
PRECIOUS FEISTY BREAK 3:1 LEAD…….VAMOS GORGEOUS EFFECTIVE SERVING SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!:) GO RAFA GO!!!!!:) LOVE ALL YOUR BEAUTIFUL TIMELY PRECIOUS ACES!!!!!!!!!!:) AND EVERYTHING YOU DO!!!!!!!!!:) CI….CI….CI…….
May be not important but I am really scared from Wimbledon because from 2011 onwards I am having nightmares from Rafa results here… But I still believe he will win today and the championship
And he ds broken Federer immediately… Yahoo
Come one please Keep that lead now Rafa
Now 2 break up
Come on champ… We believe
I’m with you bro, love your positive attitude!
Get it done Rafa!!
Thanks mate
Fed punishing Rafa’s short balls and errors… and on the other side, not giving Rafa much to work with.
WAKE UP RAFA!!
I think now He is going to win this set… Looking very Moved and focused… Come on Rafa
Small margins for error here… Rafa needs to up his level and stop leaking some points. You can do it champ!
Rafa didn’t do much wrong in the first set. It came down to a few important points which he lost.
Get it together champ! Come back strong in the 2nd set!
Jeez! That was tight. Come on Rafa. Get your mojo working and step it up. You’ve got to!
KEEP GOING SWEETHEART!!!!!!:) YOU ARE PLAYING GREAT…….THERE ARE PLENTY MORE SETS:) LOVE YOU!:) GO RAFA GO!!!!!:)
So far Federer is attacking more on Rafa’s backhand side… Few points separate them in first set. What an atmosphere though
Come on Rafa attack His weaknesses
Come on Rafa!! Raise the intensity and smother him. But those Federer serves though:) Both players doing their best to keep the points short.
Take this tie break champ!!
UMPIRE GIVES R MINI BREATHING BREAKS BETWEEN POINTS BY MAKING LATE SCORE CALLS OR PRETENDS TO QUIET THE CROWD…. LINE PEOPLE CALL TOO LOUDLY TO DISTRACT…..BEAUTIFUL SERVE SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!÷:) IGNORE IT SWEETHEART….NOTHING NEW…..KEEP GOING……NO BS SEEMS TO HELP R HE ALREADY LOOKS TIRED……GO RAFA GO……YOU ARE THE BEST PLAYER AND LOOKING SOLID AND BRIGHT!!!!!:) VAMOS SWEETHEART……TIRE HIM SIDE TO SIDE…….HE IS NOT HALF YOUR LEVEL……GO AND SEND HIM TO THE CLEANERS………WE LOVE YOU DEAR RAFA BECAUSE YOU ARE PRECIOUS AND BLESSED AND WI….WI…WI…..JUST PUT ANOTHER STRIKING SERVE!!!!!!!:) AND…..ANOTHER ONE….CI…..CI…..CI…….LOVE YOU PRECIOUS GOAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!:) GO RAFA GO!!!!!!!!!!!:)XOXOXOXOXOXO
YOU LOOK GORGEOUS AND STRONG OUT THERE!!!!!!:)
BEAUTIFUL SWEETHEART!!!!!!!:) GO RAFA GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):) WE LOVE YOU…..KEEP SMILING SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!:) YOU ARE SERVING BEAUTIFULLY….YEH….1ST ACE SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!! KEEP SLIDING AND GLIDING AND REACHING AND NETTING AND HAVING FUN!!!!!!:) GOD BLESS YOU SWEETHEART!!!!!:) GO RAFA GO!!!!!!!!!!!:) YOU LOOK MUCH STRONGER AND THE BETTER PLAYER……..WE LOVE YOUR PRECIOUS ENERGY AND ENJOY EACH POINT WITH YOU !!!!!!!!!!
XOXOXOXOXOXOXO
IGNORE THE NOISES…….KEEP PLAYING YOUR BLESSED PRECIOUS NEXT POINT!!!!! PATHETIC BIAS UMPIRE ……UMPIRE SAID NOTHING TO LOUD BURSTING NOISES….. HE MUST CONDUCT THE MATCH IN A NONE BIAS PROFESSIONAL MANNER. WE ARE HERE TAKING NOTES OF THE MATCH . VAMOS SWEETHEART!:) WE TRUST YOU KNOW HOW TO IGNORE THE BIAS AND KEEP GOING WITH YOUR MAGICAL POWER AND DRIVE PLAYING YOUR BRILLIANT TENNIS!!!!!!!:) XOXOXOXOXO
Strong on the serve Rafa! We don’t need to see no deuce:)
Get it done champ!!
VAMOS SWEETHEART WE LOVE YOU !!!!
Nice try Roberto. You gave it a good shot. Have a great stag weekend and a lovely wedding. Now for the main event.
It could be a long wait at this rate. I was hoping for a long match between Nole and RBA, but, the longer we have to wait, the more nervous I’m getting 🙂 .
I’m ready! Drinks and snacks to hand. Nothing (bar an earthquake or the loo) is going to move me from my chair.
Bring it on Rafa! Do it to Roger before he does it to you!!