Top 3 Grand Slam finals between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are unarguably two of the greatest men to have ever wielded a racquet. The epic rivalry between these two icons is widely considered one of the most iconic in the history of tennis, as they took sport-watching to peaks never witnessed before.

The aesthetic and artistic beauty in Federer’s game contrasted by the rugged defiance of Nadal's made for a spectacle that had to be seen to be believed. Between them, the two have won 39 Grand Slam titles and have met each other in numerous Grand Slam finals.

In this article, let us look at three of the greatest Grand Slam finals between Federer and Nadal.

#3 2009 Australian Open final

Nadal consoles Federer after a riveting five-setter in the 2009 Australian Open final

This was the first time that Federer and Nadal met each other in the final of the Australian Open, and they produced some riveting tennis. Even though the Swiss Maestro took an early lead by going up 4-2, Nadal clawed his way back into the match and won the first set 7-5.

Federer then produced some moments of pure magic in the second, taking it 6-3.

The third set went back and forth like a pendulum before Nadal prevailed in the tiebreaker to go up by two sets to one. Federer took the fourth set 6-3, and the match went into the decider.

But Nadal was not to be denied, as he took the fifth set 6-2 to claim his 6th Grand Slam title.

After the match, an emotional Federer broke down and said, “God, its killing me!” Would Federer avenge his defeat to his great rival on the same stage?

Well he would, eight years later…

Result: Nadal def. Federer 7-5, 3-6, 7-6, 3-6, 6-2

#2 2017 Australian Open final

Federer and Nadal rolled back the years in the 2017 Australian Open final

By this time, Roger Federer was 36 and Rafael Nadal was 30. The two legends toiled their way to the 2017 Australian Open final, and rolled back the years by providing some brilliant tennis to the viewers.

Federer was at his dominant best in the first set, and took it 6-4. Nadal came back strongly in the second, and wrapped up the set 6-3 in 42 minutes.

In the third, however, Federer made Nadal look clueless by combining sublime forehands, backhand slices and deft drop shots to take it 6-1. The Spaniard then broke Federer early in the fourth set and wrapped it up 6-3.

The match went into the decider, and again in the fifth set these two men produced some sublime tennis. Nadal broke Federer early and took a 3-1 lead. But Federer came roaring back, winning five games in a row to take the fifth set 6-3 and claim his 18th Grand Slam title - and his first since his triumph at Wimbledon in 2012.

Result: Federer def. Nadal 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3

#1 2008 Wimbledon final

Federer (L) and Nadal

This encounter is widely hailed as the greatest tennis match in history. Roger Federer had arrived at Wimbledon 2008 as the five-time defending champion. Rafael Nadal, on the other hand, had not triumphed even once at the hallowed stage of Wimbledon, having lost to the Swiss Maestro on two previous occasions.

Nadal gained the upper hand in the match by claiming the first two sets. But Federer came back like a caged beast, to take the third set 7-6.

The fourth set went into another tiebreak, and Federer came back from 2-5 down to take it 10-8. He even saved a match point with a glorious backhand down-the-line pass that will go down as one of the most famous shots in history.

The fifth set witnessed probably the greatest display of tennis by two of the game’s greatest players. In the end it was Nadal who prevailed 9-7, to end Federer’s monopoly on grass.

Result: Nadal def. Federer 6-4, 6-4, 6-7, 6-7, 9-7

In conclusion

The 'Fedal' rivalry is a rivalry that has transcended the sport. It is a rivalry that has defied nature and time, and a rivalry that is not over yet.

These two men still have some magic left to provide to the viewers, and when they do, we will once again gape at them in unabashed awe.