Great rivalries make sport unforgettable. Two competitors push each other to new heights, fans pick sides and the contests become part of history. In our new series, The Greatest Rivalries in Sport, we look at ten rivalries that defined their games. We begin with one many consider the finest in tennis history: Roger Federer against Rafael Nadal.
Two contrasting champions
Roger Federer, from Switzerland, born in 1981, was known for effortless elegance: a fluid one-handed backhand, attacking play and a calm presence. Rafael Nadal, from Mallorca in Spain, born in 1986, was a left-handed powerhouse, famous for heavy topspin forehands, relentless defence and fierce intensity.
Their contrast in style and personality, combined with deep mutual respect, made every meeting compelling.
The numbers
Federer and Nadal played each other 40 times on the main tour, with Nadal leading their head-to-head 24 to 16. They met in nine Grand Slam finals, with Nadal winning six. Nadal dominated on clay, especially at the French Open, while Federer had the edge on grass and many hard-court matches.
The early years
Their first meeting came in Miami in 2004, when a 17-year-old Nadal beat the world number one. By 2005 Nadal had won his first French Open, and a pattern formed: Nadal ruling Paris, Federer ruling Wimbledon. Federer beat Nadal in the Wimbledon finals of 2006 and 2007, while Nadal beat Federer in the French Open finals of 2006, 2007 and 2008.
Wimbledon 2008: the greatest match?
The 2008 Wimbledon final is often called the greatest tennis match ever played. Federer was chasing a sixth straight Wimbledon title; Nadal had just won the French Open. Rain delays stretched the day, and the match lasted about four hours and 48 minutes of playing time.
Nadal won the first two sets. Federer fought back to take the third and fourth in tie-breaks, saving championship points. In near darkness, Nadal won the fifth set 9 to 7. It ended Federer's reign at Wimbledon and marked Nadal's arrival as a champion on every surface.
Other classics
- Australian Open 2009: Nadal won a five-set final, and a tearful Federer said "God, it's killing me" at the trophy ceremony, with Nadal comforting him.
- French Open finals: Nadal beat Federer in four Roland Garros finals.
- Australian Open 2017: after both returned from injuries, Federer won a dramatic five-set final, one of the great comebacks in tennis.
Pushing each other higher
The rivalry raised the level of both men. Nadal improved his serve and grass-court game to beat Federer at Wimbledon. Federer adapted his backhand and aggression to handle Nadal's topspin. Their battle for records, later joined by Novak Djokovic, created what fans call the "Big Three" era, in which they won the vast majority of Grand Slam titles for nearly two decades.
Federer finished with 20 Grand Slam singles titles, and Nadal with 22, including a record 14 French Open titles.
Rivals and friends
What made this rivalry special was respect. They praised each other in public, worked together on charity matches and served together on player councils. When Federer played his final match at the 2022 Laver Cup in London, he teamed up with Nadal in doubles. The image of the two great rivals sitting side by side in tears became one of the most memorable moments in sport. Nadal retired in 2024.
Why it matters
Federer versus Nadal showed that rivalry does not need hostility. It can be fierce on court and generous off it, and it can lift a whole sport to a global audience.
In Part 2, we step into the boxing ring for one of the most brutal rivalries ever: Muhammad Ali against Joe Frazier.
The Greatest Rivalries in Sport: the full series
- Part 1: Federer vs Nadal (you are here)
- Part 2: Ali vs Frazier
- Part 3: Real Madrid vs Barcelona
- Part 4: Senna vs Prost
- Part 5: Magic vs Bird
- Part 6: The Ashes
- Part 7: Borg vs McEnroe
- Part 8: Evert vs Navratilova
- Part 9: Yankees vs Red Sox
- Part 10: Coe vs Ovett
Records, scores and statistics are commonly cited figures and may vary slightly between sources.
