Federer VS Nadal OR Federer & Nadal ?

If there are two professional tennis players who are engaged in professional rivalry its Roger federer and Rafael Nadal , which many consider the greatest in the game’s history.

Federer and Nadal have been playing each other since 2004, and their rivalry is a significant part of both men’s careers.

They held the top two rankings on the ATP Tour from July 2005 until 14 September 2009, when Nadal fell to World No. 3 (Andy Murray became the new No. 2).They are the only pair of men to have ever finished four consecutive calendar years at the top. Federer was ranked number 1 for a record 237 consecutive weeks beginning in February 2004. Nadal, who is five years younger, ascended to No. 2 in July 2005 and held this spot for a record 160 consecutive weeks before surpassing Federer in August 2008.

Nadal leads their head-to-head 17–8. However, most of their matches have been on clay, which is Nadal’s best surface. Federer has a winning record on grass (2-1) and indoor hard courts (3-0) while Nadal leads the outdoor hard courts by 4-1 and clay by 12-2. Because tournament seedings are based on rankings, 19 of their matches have been in tournament finals, including an all-time record 8 Grand Slam finals. From 2006 to 2008 they played in every French Open and Wimbledon final, and then they met in the 2009 Australian Open final and the 2011 French Open final. Nadal won six of the eight, losing the first two Wimbledons. Three of these matches were five set-matches (2007 and 2008 Wimbledon, 2009 Australian Open), and the 2008 Wimbledon final has been lauded as the greatest match ever by many long-time tennis analysts.

FRIENDSHIP BEYOND RIVALRY

Fierce rivals on court but great friends outside.

Ahead of the first grand slam tournament of the year, the Australian Open, defending champion Roger Federer has exclusively told CNN’s Pedro Pinto that his rivalry with Rafael Nadal is only on the tennis court — and the pair are good friends when the action stops.

“Some people might think that it’s strange. Some other people think its great and it’s actually really nice for the sport,” Federer said.

“In the past, maybe there have been much tougher and harsher rivalries. People wouldn’t talk to each other, they didn’t like each other and they needed to hate each other to actually perform well against each other. But it doesn’t need to be that way,” he added.

Fierce competition with the Spaniard has not only made both of them better players, Federer says, but also forged a stronger bond between them.

Federer and Nadal have the fiercest rivalry that the increasingly pugilistic and less aesthetic game of tennis has seen. Bjorn Borg, remember, dominated John McEnroe until the latter got on top in 1981 and then Borg walked away from the game. Yet like reluctant volleyers who eschew the intimacy of the net there is a mutual admiration between Federer and Nadal which does not quite spill over into close friendship.

Speaking to media at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden on Friday, Nadal said, “We love competition, but we understand outside competition [there] is the relationship of outside of the court. It doesn’t affect nothing on our performance on court. That’s the most important thing.

Roger Federer Born: August 8, 1981 Age: 30 Birth City: Basel, Switzerland Height: 6-1 Weight: 187 lbs. Pro Debut Year: 1998 Hand: R Career record 787–185 (80.97%) Career titles 67 Highest ranking No. 1 (2 February 2004) Current ranking No. 3 (22 August 2011) Career prize money: US$63,657,721

Rafael Nadal Born: June 3, 1986 Age: 25 Birth City: Manacor, Mallorca, Spain Height: 6-1 Weight: 188 lbs. Pro Debut Year: 2001 Hand: L Career record 526–111 (82.57%) Career titles 46 Highest ranking No. 1 (18 August 2008) Current ranking No. 2 (29 August 2011) Career prize money: $42,747,677

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Roger Federer

Rafael Nadal

Federer VS Nadal    [17–8]

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Roger & Rafa

So… Whom Do you think  is the best Roger or Rafa????

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If there are two professional tennis players who are engaged in professional rivalry its Roger federer and Rafael Nadal , which many consider the greatest in the game’s history. Federer...