The Fan child sifts through the hype and speculates on the answer
Mcenroe-Borg, Navritalova-Evert Lloyd, Agassi-Sampras, the list goes on and on. And like the list, we too go on and on, incessantly debating about whether or not Federer-Nadal is the greatest tennis rivalry of all time. After a few cocktails we start Reminiscing on the 4th set of the 1980 Wimbledon Final (the one that's available on netflix), trying to compare its merits to the tension laden conclusion of the fifth set of the 2008 Wimbledon finals, just moments before total darkness enveloped centre court.
Which was better, we ask? Tennis freaks like you and I have this burning desire to label it and file it away with the proper ranking bestowed upon it – we can’t help it, it’s human nature, we want that. Well, those of you who are reading this article looking for a definitive answer, I must apologize. The evidence is inconclusive, at least for now. The question cannot be answered until the rivalry is no more; and until the last match point has been decided, speculation will try to impersonate science, but never ever will.
Even so, what better time to strike up the debate again? The pair have just played their 7th Major final; it was their 19th career head-to-head battle. Not bad for a collective entity that is just into its prime. 19 matches is a lot, but keep in mind, Navratilova and Evert played 14 Major finals; 80 total.
19? 14? 7? Just what is my point, you may be wondering. My point here is that the numbers are full of riddles; each number tries to outdo the other, and we shouldn't get too hung up on them. We, as tennis lovers, would be better served by immensely enjoying the tennis that we are being blessed with. Embrace it, and absorb it if you can. These two mighty forces, one so exquisite, so refined (you know which one I'm talking about), the other like a violent wave of muscle and will (sound like Rafa to you?), are colliding like asteroids – their paths have been pulled together by fate, and our eager eyeballs are the recipients of their miraculous tennis acumen.
So now that you know I’m not here to pitch, I’m going to give you my pitch: 6 reasons why Federer Nadal might be the best rivalry ever.
Federer’s quest for 14 - If there ever was a number that the superhuman Federer needed, it’s 14. Tying Sampras will boost Roger's legacy up into the most rarefied air; an incomprehensible air of superiority that is indeed hard to fathom. 15, the next step would be mind blowing - the tennis world would embrace him as if he were true deity. The quest for these achievements make every major a holy experience, especially with the arch nemesis Nadal making his own claims to the throne.
Grand Slam! – Next weeks OCTB feature might very well have to be about the fact that Nadal, in my humble opinion, has a reasonable chance to win the first calendar year Grand Slam since Rod Laver did it in 1969. After the French Open, Nadal will more than likely be half way there. He’ll also be the favorite at Wimbledon, having dethroned Fed there last year. Just try to envision the largeness of another Federer Nadal Wimbledon final under those circumstances. Are you drooling yet?
The Career Grand Slam – If Federer could find a way to take the French he would join Fred Perry, Don Budge, Rod Laver, Roy Emerson, and Andre Agassi as one of the six men to have achieved the elusive feat. If he does this he will be regarded more highly than Sampras (never won the French) and Borg (never won the U.S. Open) hands down.
6, and counting – Let's not forget Rafa. Nadal now has six major titles. He's not merely a clay court specialist anymore. The better he gets, the better the rivalry gets. And he's one step from the career Grand Slam as well.
The Psychological element – The fact that Nadal has catapulted himself on the world stage just as Roger was going to do a tap dance on the record books has to make this whole business of rivalry particularly tantalizing for Federer (he isn't just crying over spilt milk, a lot more is at stake, like legacy, endorsements, book deals, etc...). At 27 he is being challenged in a way that he never has. Nadal meanwhile, is the stoic spiritual guru who seems to draw energy from the ground up. The mental chess that occurs between the two is magical; mere mortals like ourselves can only hope to understand in segments, to comprehend shining moments of a body of work that is so dense and makes for great drama, time and time again, point after point after point.
Big Fat 0 – No other men have played as many head-to-head major finals. None! Zero! I’ll list a few other rivalries that fell short, just to give you some historical perspective:
Mcenroe v. Borg – 4
Laver – Emerson – 5
Sampras – Agassi – 5
Mcenroe – Connors – 2
Edberg – Becker – 3
Mcenroe – Lendl – 3
Of the last 16 majors, 15 have been won by either Nadal or Federer. That is just plain crazy! Never before have the majors been dominated so unequivocally by two players (Emerson and Laver, perhaps the 2nd greatest rivalry in men’s tennis history, played in 9 out of 10 in the sixties).
The fact that Federer and Nadal are already starting to distance themselves from what we've previously considered to be the "greatest rivalry of all-time" is a pretty grand affirmation, especially considering the fact that we can reasonably expect 5 more Grand Slam finals from Federer v. Nadal.
The fact that they are routinely surpassing the numbers of such esteemed tennis rivalries should put us on code red alert – 2009 has the potential, for several reasons, to be one of the most captivating years of all time. People say that every year, but this year the numbers back it up.
Here I go again with those meaningless numbers. Just set your Tivo's and we'll make our decisions in a few years.
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