Will the ‘Black Knight’ in the end rule the tennis ‘Court’?

In the Federer era when everyone and anyone has basked in the sublime brilliance of the Swiss master. No one would dare to think that his mark of 16 Grand Slam titles could ever be challenged.I mean lets face it he is almost ‘unbeatable’ on all surfaces bar clay and he triumphed at Roland Garros in 2009 to complete his set of all the Slams.Though in the wake of Federer’s dominance there was always a spectre that loomed large over him.That no one truly appreciated for of him often being injured and a long held view that he was merely a clay court specialist.This man is the very astute left hander from the Spanish paradise of Majorca.If anything, if tennis is Federer’s Royal Court.Then Nadal is the Black Knight in it,stifling and stymiing everything that Federer might achieve.At first this figure that invaded much of Federer’s subconscious only existed on clay. Where no matter how hard he tried he couldn’t beat him.For Nadal was an undisputed king of the Paris red dirt. For the likes that we haven’t seen since the Brazilian Gustavo Kuerten and another Spaniard dominated there in the 90′s in Sergei Brugera.Though much to Federer’s relief Nadal was just another clay court specialist like these two wasn’t he?That’s where Nadal really emerged as a true boogie man for the ‘Fedex’ for inexplicably on the court that Roger owned.Having beaten him two times previously in 06/7.Rafa beat him on the Wimbledon centre court in 08. To miraculously as it was seen at the time take the All England title from Federer.When all and sundry were just expecting Federer to win as sure as peaches and cream would be served in the hospitality tents.

Everyone just saw this as a freak result akin to Marat Safin upending a dominant Pete Sampras at the US Open in 2000Though for me it was a sign of things to come for Nadal always had the ground shots in particular his truly breath taking forehand. Though his serve was adequate, but not a weapon. In this his third Wimbledon final appearance, the serve was definitely a key weapon and with his lethal ground strokes and Rod Laver run down anything mentality.He ultimately triumphed in a true classic 9/7 in the 5th.Was this a fork in the road?To me most definitely for it gave Nadal belief that he could beat Federer on his best surface and for Roger it proved that Rafa wasn’t a Tarzan on clay and a Jane on other surfaces.This was hammered home in the Australian Open in 09 on a hard court that no one gave Nadal a chance of winning on.Thus beating Federer was viewed as akin to him sprouting wings and flying to the moon!Though it happened in a great 5 set match, though symbolically in the fifth Rafa dominated taking it 6/2 to achieve his first Australian Open crown.In the acceptances it was seen Federer shedding tears under the auspices of wanting this title so badly,but it seemed that he was just driven to the point of despair by the fact that now Nadal was mastering him everywhere.Though fate conspired against Nadal and for Federer for at the French. Where Nadal was as near as unbeatable as the World of sport has seen. He gets beaten by Robin Soderling in the Semi’s duly gifting Federer the title for Soderling had played his ‘final’ against Rafa two days earlier.Later it is reported that Nadal had been cruelled by tendonitis in both of his knees…Sadly this lead to him withdrawing from Wimbledon.Much to Federer’s relief who beats Andy Roddick in the final aided by a huge ‘choke by the American in the 5th.When he had Roger truly on toastSo in truth the rest of 09 and early parts of 2010 are a write off for Nadal and everyone questions can he come back from this debilitating condition?This was answered well and truly at the French and Wimbledon where he was as dominant and in truth was more refined than he ever had been.So the US Open again where Federer had truly dominated winning it 5 of the previous seven years.Again in truth no one gave Nadal a chance for it was a fast hard court and Nadal didn’t have the ‘game’ for this court.How wrong they were with Nadal through his heavier serve and him flattening out his ground strokes was untouchable the whole tournament.Even in the final against Novak Djokovic,who was playing truly incredible tennis. He was only able to get a set off Nadal,who hadn’t relinquished one the whole tournament.So at present Nadal has 9 slams and Federer has 16….Though it is a huge call I wouldn’t be surprised at all if Nadal ends his career with more Slams than Federer.Such that the improvements he has made to his game has made him so dominant and Federer’s slipped to the point. Where he has been passed by a few players and isn’t the same threat at slams as he once was.

Only time will tell,but my word we will have fun watching the ‘Black Knight’ known as Rafael Nadal thrill us with his sublime tennis!