5 opponents that both Federer and Nadal enjoy playing against

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are the two most prominent names in men's tennis.

The duo, in that order, have won the most Grand Slam titles (Federer-20, Nadal-19). They are also among just three players (Novak Djokovic being the third) to play 50 Masters finals and record over 350 match wins in the tournament category.

Federer's 40-match win streaks at Wimbledon (2003 to 2008) and at the US Open (2004 to 2009) are the longest at the two tournaments. Nadal's 12 titles, 5 consecutive titles, 39 match win streak (2010 to 2015) and 93 match wins at Roland Garros are unrivaled by any player ever.

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Amidst a slew of other records and achievements over the course of their illustrious careers, the duo have left many a fine player in their wake. Over 200 different players have played both Federer and Nadal but only three players (one active) have a winning head-to-head against the two legends.

Despite the fact that Federer and Nadal have beaten Djokovic on more occasions than they have any other player (Federer-23, Nadal-26), the Serb is the only active player among three in total to have a positive head-to-head against the two legends.

On that note, let us take a look at five players that both Federer and Nadal enjoy playing against. These are Federer's and Nadal's top five favorite opponents in terms of combined win % (minimum four matches played against both).

#5 Denis Istomin (Kazakhstan)

Denis Istomin

Istomin has met Nadal on five occasions - thrice at Grand Slams, once at a Masters 1000 (Miami 2014) and once at an ATP 250 tournament (2010 London Queens). On all but one occasion (Queens), Istomin has failed to even take a set off the Spaniard; needless to say, he has lost all five of those matches.

The bespectacled Kazakh has fared slightly better against Federer, winning a set on two occasions. But he has still lost on all the seven occasions - twice at a Grand Slam, twice at a Masters 1000, twice at an ATP 500 tournament, and once at an ATP 250 tournament - that he has faced the 20-time Grand Slam champion.

#4 Potito Starace (Italy)

Potito Starace

Potito Starace has come up short in all 13 matches against Federer and Nadal.

The Italian has met Federer on seven occasions - once at a Grand Slam (2007 Roland Garros), twice at Masters 1000 tournaments, once in an ATP 500 tournament, twice at an ATP 250 tournament and once in the Davis Cup (2009 Playoffs). He has managed to take a set off the illustrious Swiss only twice.

Against Nadal, Starace won a set in five matches - once at a Masters 1000 tournament (2008 Hamburg), twice at ATP 500 tournaments (2007-08 Barcelona), twice at ATP 250 tournaments and once at the Olympics (2008 Beijing). But he has lost all six times he has faced the Spaniard.

#3 Diego Schwartzman (Argentina)

Diego Schwartzman

The 14th-ranked Diego Schwartzman is the highest ranked player to play Federer and Nadal on at least 10 occasions (13) without winning even once.

The diminutive Argentinian has been a tough competitor for Nadal, taking a set off the Spaniard twice (2018 Roland Garros quarterfinals and 2018 Australian Open fourth round). But he has fallen short on all nine occasions - at Grand Slams (4), Masters 1000 tournaments (3), ATP 500 (1) and Davis Cup (once, in 2019).

Schwartzman has taken a set off Federer once in his four meetings (one Grand Slam, two Masters 1000, one ATP 250) against the 20-time Grand Slam champion. The pair haven't met since 2017 Shanghai.

#2 Paul-Henri Mathieu (France)

Paul-Henri Mathieu

Paul-Henri Mathieu is winless in 17 meetings against Federer and Nadal.

The Frenchman met Nadal on 10 occasions - thrice at a Grand Slam, five times at Masters 1000 tournaments, and once each at ATP 500 and ATP 250 tournaments - between 2003 and 2010. He came up short on each occasion.

Except for the 2005 Coupe Rogers (semifinals) and 2006 Marseille (quarterfinals) matches, all other meetings materialized before the quarterfinal stage.

Federer has met Mathieu on seven occasions between 2003 and 2014, with the latter managing to take his lone set against the Swiss in the third round at Roland Garros 2009. The 20-time Grand Slam champion has met the Frenchman at three Grand Slams, three Masters 1000 tournaments and an ATP 500 tournament (2012 Basel semifinals).

#1 Jarkko Nieminen (Finland)

Jarkko Nieminen

The left-handed Finn holds the record of playing the most matches against Federer and Nadal without winning even once. Nieminen has come up short in all 15 meetings against Federer and all eight meetings with his fellow southpaw Nadal.

In 15 meetings against Federer, Nieminen took his only set in the second round at 2011 Basel. On all but two occasions (2008 Hamburg first round, 2005 Australian Open third round), the pair have met at ATP 500 and ATP 250 tournaments.

#Narrow misses

Both of the below-mentioned players narrowly missed out on a winless record against Federer and Nadal.

Nicolas Almagro (1 win in 21 matches against Federer and Nadal)

The Spaniard lost all five of his matches against Federer and had his sole win in 16 meetings with Nadal in the quarterfinals at Barcelona 2014.

Phillip Kohlscreiber (1 win in 30 matches against Federer and Nadal)

The veteran German Philipp Kohlschreiber has lost all his 15 meetings against Federer, and his lone win in 16 meetings against Nadal came in the second round at Halle 2012.