Australian Open Semi-final: Nadal vs Federer

Come tomorrow, another fabled chapter will be etched in the history of the storied rivalry between two of the greatest tennis players of the modern era. Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer are set to renew their epic battle for supremacy in the semi-finals of the Australian Open 2012. Considered by many as the greatest rivalry across any sport, let alone tennis, Rafa and Roger will be meeting in the last four stage of a Grand Slam for the first since the 2005 French Open, Nadal’s maiden Grand Slam triumph, a fact which speaks volumes about the duo’s domination of men’s tennis over the last few years. (This is one of the rare occasions when both players were placed in the same half of the draw, a situation which was out of question for the better part of the last decade).

Federer’s Grand Slam drought since lifting the trophy here in 2010 raised numerous voices of the Swiss ace nearing the dawn on his magnificent career. Nadal found out the harsh reality of the physical demands of tennis last season, facing persistent injury concerns and a rampaging Novak Djokovic. But both players have been their usual self in all their matches so far, something which makes tomorrow’s a mouth-watering prospect, a must-watch. It’ll be Roger’s class, finesse and style against Rafa’s grit, determination, endurance and power. Buckle up, this one is going to be one hell of a ride!

Head-to-head

The two legends have played each other 26 times in the past on the tour, a figure not so astonishing given their dictatorship at the pedestal of men’s tennis for such an astounding period of time. It’ll be only their second clash in the semi-final of a Grand Slam; 19 of their 26 meetings have been in finals of various tournaments. FedEx has a 59-8 win-loss record to Rafa’s 29-6 at the Melbourne Park. Roger is a two-time Australian Open champion (4 times in the last 7 years) while Nadal got the better of Federer in an epic 5-setter in the final of the 2009 event.

Road to the Semis

Federer fans have seen the best of the Swiss Maestro in Melbourne, with Roger playing with his usual elan, finesse and class. He is yet to drop a set and has made light work of potentially dangerous opponents of the likes of big-serving Ivo Karlovic, home sensation Bernard Tomic and Argentine muscle-man Juan Martin del Potro. Nadal too has had an easy run with his quarterfinal match being the sole exception, where he dropped the opening set against Tomas Berdych.

Quotes

“All the matches against him are special and will be special. Always playing in these kinds of surfaces, he’s the favourite. His level is fantastic. He’s doing very, very well.”- Rafa

“For me, it’s another great match with Rafa. I’m happy to play him because of our great epic match earlier in the finals here in 2009.”- Federer

Keeda Prediction

It’ll be another typically gruelling, heart-stopping, rollercoaster ride of emotions and ecstasy, a match to savour. But, we put our money on Nadal to take this mother of all battles in five sets, purely on his record against the Master as well as the psychological upper-hand of having beaten him here in the final two years ago. The Rod Laver Arena is set and ready. So is Melbourne and the rest of the world. Are you?

Schedule

[2] R Nadal (ESP) vs [3] R Federer (SUI)1500 hrs (IST), 1930 hrs (Local time)Live on Star Sports (India)