Australian Open 2014: Roger Federer vs Rafael Nadal - Elegance vs determination

“Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies.”

Rafael Nadal’s muscle vs Roger Federer’s class

Roger Federer vs Rafael Nadal; it can never get bigger than this! In a few minutes from now this epic battle will take place at the Rod Laver arena. A rivalry that has assumed monumental proportions over the years, it may well turn out to be a defining moment in the history of tennis. The fans have been eagerly waiting for the clash of these titans in a Grand Slam event (even more the Sherlock Holmes), as 2013 turned out to be a dampener for Federer.

Let’s do some number crunching here. 9 years, 10 countries, 32 head-to-head matches, 8 Grand Slam finals, 10 Masters series finals, and Nadal leads 22-10 having beaten Federer on every surface. Pair them as one and you get staggering numbers. A mammoth 30 Grand Slam titles between them, appearances in 56 Grand Slam semifinals, a total of 138 titles, 441 Grand Slam wins, and a combined 421 weeks at the number one position in the ATP rankings. Leading with a 8-6 record on hard courts, a pure statistician would straight away declare Nadal to emerge as a winner. But the players are more than just the numbers they represent.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 22: Roger Federer of Switzerland celebrates winning his quarterfinal match against Andy Murray of Great Britain during day 10 of the 2014 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 22, 2014 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

After a slump of form in his 2013 calender, 2014 began on a good note for Roger Federer. With a new coach, a bigger racket, and a third baby on the way, he has shown the glimpses of the dominant force he once was. A change in strategy – adopting the serve and volley philosophy – has been paying him rich dividends in the tournament. Looking more to attack, the 32-year-old has been given a fresh lease of life in tennis by the legendary Stefan Edberg, one of the all time great volleyers.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 23: Rafael Nadal of Spain looks at his hand during a practice session on day 11 of the 2014 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 23, 2014 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

On the other hand, Nadal is seeking to stamp his authority as the World No. 1. The year 2013 witnessed one of the greatest comebacks in tennis by the Spaniard. Coming out of a seven-month injury layoff, he won the French and the US Open in style, reinstating his game and reclaiming the crown. What is worrying here is the blister on his hand, which occurred during his pre-quarter match against Grigor Dimitrov, and which clearly affected his serve. But for a player who had married pain pretty early in his career, this might not even cross his mind.

These two greats have a great regard for each other, but on the field they give it their everything. The level of competitiveness would be at its prime, with each digging deep inside to find their last ounce of energy left. The stakes are high to reach the finals of the Australian Open, and this is sure to be an epic in the making. There can’t be a better way to start the 2014 Grand Slam tennis season.