Answering the massive questions for Federer vs. Nadal

PARIS — For the sixth time, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal will face off at Roland Garros. Nadal is 5-Zero of their earlier conferences, however will Federer have the higher hand this time round in his return to the French Open for the primary time since 2015? Our consultants preview Friday’s semifinals conflict:

Which is extra spectacular: Federer’s general 20 Grand Slam singles titles or Nadal’s file 11 French Open titles?

ESPN TV analyst and seven-time Grand Slam singles champion John McEnroe: Each data are wonderful. Clearly, what Nadal has completed in France is unprecedented, and I can not even think about in my wildest goals it should occur once more. However, general, Roger has been so good for thus lengthy, he is stepped up at the entire Slam occasions and has had success on each floor/court docket for an extended time period. So, whereas it is extraordinarily shut — you would be blissful to take both of them — I might say Roger’s physique of labor is just a little bit extra spectacular.

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ESPN.com tennis reporter Peter Bodo: Federer, the all-time males’s Grand Slam singles title winner, has a splendidly numerous file. He has received eight Wimbledon titles, 5 US Open crowns (consecutively, no much less, from 2004 to ’08), six Australian Opens and a one French Open championship. One element which will leap out from amongst these honors: Why only one French Open? The reply is apparent: Nadal. The King of Clay has overwhelmed Federer in all 5 of their conferences within the French Open and is a mind-boggling 91-2 at Roland Garros.

Whereas Federer might go down in historical past as the game’s most versatile participant, it is not tough to visualise both Nadal, Djokovic or some future participant catching and surpassing him within the Grand Slam derby. However does anybody actually imagine Nadal’s French Open file can be surpassed? I can not. It is probably the most exceptional file in tennis.

ESPN.com contributor Simon Cambers: So onerous to say. Nadal’s file of 11 French Opens is a joke, and one which absolutely won’t ever be damaged. Thoughts you, we stated that about Pete Sampras when he reached 14 slams and now he is solely fourth all time. Federer’s general file is unbelievable and, for me, he nearly edges it, as a result of he has been capable of win many titles, on all surfaces. Profitable 11, and possibly 12, French Opens is ridiculous, however as a result of it’s all on clay, one distinctive floor, Federer nearly takes it.

ESPN.com senior author Bonnie D. Ford: I’m loath to attribute extra weight to both of those two unbelievable accomplishments. However when you’re asking which one won’t ever be surpassed, it is Nadal’s. He is withstood challenges from probably the most gifted and motivated gamers on the planet 12 months after 12 months, and he has made the prospect of beating him appear psychologically and bodily insurmountable. And it isn’t nearly what he does within the semifinals and ultimate. The best way he usually takes care of enterprise earlier within the draw has helped him preserve power for a very powerful moments.

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have confronted off 5 earlier occasions at Roland Garros, with Nadal profitable every of them.Federer, nonetheless, has received 5 in a row general towards his rival. Pierre-Franck Colombier/AFP/Getty Photos

Federer has received his previous 5 matches towards Nadal, however they haven’t met on clay since 2013 in Rome or right here on the French Open since 2011. Does Federer have a psychological edge, even on clay?

McEnroe: Roger has been capable of get just a little little bit of a psychological edge these previous couple of years, since he is added to his sport by turning into extra aggressive, attempting to take the web away from Nadal and shorten the factors. That is thrown off Nadal’s rhythm and helped him win these final 5 matches. He will want to try this Friday, which is clearly rather a lot harder to do on clay. Federer goes to wish to maintain the factors quick, go for his pictures and transfer ahead rather a lot — and it is onerous once you’re slipping and sliding on clay and also you’re enjoying the grasp of all masters on the floor in Nadal. At Federer’s age [37], it will be a significant accomplishment if he can win this match, even for him.

Bodo: Psychological edge to Federer? I might say it is extra a case of Nadal relishing the chance to lastly extract just a little payback. And who might blame him? It is comprehensible that Federer made himself scarce on clay previously few years. One of many nice classes he took out of his six-month hiatus following minor knee surgical procedure in 2016 is you possibly can’t play all of them — no less than not when you hope to win a superb variety of them.

In avoiding clay, Federer was additionally avoiding Nadal, who holds a 23-15 edge on Federer although they have not met on clay because the Italian Open ultimate of 2013 (Nadal received that one, 6-1, 6-Three). True, Nadal beefed up his sequence lead with a whole lot of clay-court wins early within the rivalry and, in contrast to Federer on clay, he didn’t at all times go deep sufficient to fulfill Federer on onerous or grass courts. That current 5-Zero benefit to Federer? It is much less intimidating for Nadal than jet gasoline for his psyche.

Cambers: That is probably the most fascinating a part of the matchup for me. On onerous courts, with the assistance of his greater racket, Federer has reinvented his sport. His backhand is twice pretty much as good because it was when he was profitable three slams a 12 months and his angle towards Nadal has modified, turning into extra aggressive, particularly on returns. The query is whether or not he can do this on clay, the place Nadal has barely extra time to recuperate and his personal pictures have that bit extra chunk. Federer has to play at his best possible to have an opportunity, whereas Nadal might play under his greatest and win this match. Nadal will win.

Ford: I am going to let Federer reply this as an alternative. When requested Tuesday concerning the looming matchup, he stated, “There’s at all times an opportunity,” and went on to explain how Nadal may very well be sick or struggling, or it may very well be windy, or it’d rain. Translation: If Nadal is Nadal on heart court docket at Roland Garros, neglect it.

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The place does the Nadal-Federer rivalry rank among the many nice rivalries in tennis historical past?

McEnroe: Roger and Rafa’s rivalry has been superior, no query. There have been occasions when individuals have talked about who’s the best participant ever and it is gone from considered one of them to the opposite, no less than for me, a few totally different occasions. They’ve performed all over the place, a number of occasions, and it is ironic that late of their respective careers that Roger has lastly figured how you can get the sting and how you can take care of Nadal and that left-handed, topspin forehand and huge serve on the advert court docket.

Bodo: The best rivalry in tennis remains to be the one between Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova, which completed with Navratilova main 43-37. That file is unlikely to be eclipsed in our period, though the Federer-Nadal rivalry has among the identical figuring out traits. Each sequence characteristic an incredible distinction in types, their floor of alternative and personas.

Focusing solely on the lads within the Open period, the Pete Sampras-Andre Agassi rivalry has been the one one to realize the type of hype Federer and Nadal generate. The numbers are comparable: Sampras completed 20-14 over Agassi. The John McEnroe-Jimmy Connors rivalry additionally hit many excessive notes. Additionally they embodied nice contrasts, however, maybe extra vital, each had been American at a time when the U.S. dominated tennis. McEnroe prevailed, additionally by 20-14.

Cambers: It is proper up there. Bjorn Borg-John McEnroe was nice, Connors-Ivan Lendl, too, whereas Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert met 80 occasions (61 in finals), which is loopy. However the Federer-Nadal rivalry is so nice due to the distinction in types; the artist towards the bull, the attacker towards the counterpuncher (although Nadal is way more than that). Like all nice rivalry, they’ve introduced out one of the best in one another, and although Nadal and Novak Djokovic have really performed one another extra occasions, these two set the usual.

Ford: I grew up with Evert-Navratilova and Borg-McEnroe-Connors, and I reduce my enamel as a tennis author on Sampras-Agassi. Watching their story arcs over time was thrilling, riveting and emotional. However Federer-Nadal has taken the game to a different stage globally/socially/culturally. They’ve transcended all borders. For those who ask any hard-core tennis fan their allegiance, they virtually at all times have an on the spot reply. I am sufficiently old to recollect when the youngsters in my neighborhood insisted everybody select sides between the Beatles and Rolling Stones. It is like that.

It is not simply Nadal’s distinctive lefty forehand Federer should be anxious about; Nadal’s backhand also can trigger issues. JB Autissier/Panoramic/Icon Sportswire

What’s your favourite second from this rivalry?

McEnroe: My favourite was commentating and being a tiny a part of their wonderful match on the 2008 Wimbledon males’s singles ultimate. You had two contrasting personalities, model of play, the way in which they seemed, the way in which they function, the way in which they expressed themselves — and all of it got here collectively on the All England Membership. It seemed like they might barely play any longer and the match resulted in a manner nobody anticipated, with Rafa with the ability to pull it out late within the fifth set in a 6-Four, 6-Four, 6-7 (5), 6-7 (eight), 9-7 win. That was probably the most wonderful factor I’ve ever seen between the 2 of them.

Bodo: In Might 2006, Federer and Nadal performed one of many biggest matches in tennis historical past, an Italian Open Sunday ultimate that ended with Nadal triumphant, 6-7 (Zero), 7-6 (5), 6-Four, 2-6, 7-6 (5). Each males had been entered within the Hamburg Masters (which has since vanished from the calendar), which started the next day. They determined they weren’t going to have any a part of that after their five-hour Italian ordeal and determined to withdraw. Each warriors appeared with match officers for the formal announcement, wanting ragged however proud. They obtained a hero’s welcome. The lack of the highest two seeds was a critical blow to the match and triggered the ATP to undertake a best-of-three set format for Masters finals.

Cambers: It will be straightforward to say the 2008 Wimbledon ultimate, however I’ve two, if that is allowed. One, when Nadal produced arguably probably the most dominant efficiency within the 2008 French Open ultimate after demolishing Federer 6-1, 6-Three, 6-Zero. The second was when Federer beat Nadal to win the 2017 Australian Open title. The primary was merely a bloodbath on the clay; the second, an instance of the brand new Federer, when he attacked on his backhand, and returns, to disclaim Nadal the title.

Ford: Why not watch, indubitably, their biggest mutual problem:

What one shot does every participant must prep for towards his opponent?

McEnroe: For Roger, it is that prime backhand from Nadal; he is aware of he will get it, and it is a query of how he will take care of it. For Rafa, it should be, “How am I going to take care of Roger’s serve?” Nadal has chosen to face manner again; however is he going to proceed to try this, realizing Roger goes to maneuver ahead and attempt to reduce off his return, or is he going to face just a little nearer and blend it up? It is going to be fascinating to see who can be more practical at doing the one factor they actually need to do nicely to win the match.

Bodo: Nadal must dial in his return sport. Federer has an excellent serve. He is not even within the prime 5 at Roland Garros in relation to the ace depend, however he is No. 2 in profitable first-serve factors. Put that all the way down to Federer’s precision, placement and selection. Nadal absolutely will attempt to push Federer again and drive him into baseline rallies if he can learn that magnificent serve and management of an affordable variety of factors along with his return.

The Nadal forehand is a novel shot. There’s by no means been something fairly like that depraved, lefty topspin drive that actually leaps up off a court docket at an opponent. Getting caught in rallies manner again behind the baseline with Nadal whaling away from the forehand aspect is a recipe for catastrophe. Federer might must gamble and undertake the counterintuitive technique of going proper to Nadal’s forehand to tug him huge, thereby opening up the court docket.

Federer’s glorious serve — and doubtlessly his serve and volley — may very well be a key to beating Nadal. Gwendoline Le Goff/Panoramic/Icon Sportswire

Cambers: Federer will put together for the Nadal serve, particularly the serve out huge on the advert court docket. Prior to now, Federer was responsible of slicing it too typically, permitting Nadal to get onto his forehand. Now, he is higher at hitting by way of the backhand, and he’ll want to try this. For Nadal, he’ll put together for Federer to come back ahead, but it surely’ll be the Federer serve and volley that may very well be the important thing. If Nadal stands as deep as he often does on clay, the serve and volley, particularly on the deuce court docket the place he’ll assault the backhand out huge, may very well be very efficient for Federer.

Ford: Variation and well-constructed level geometry would be the key for Federer. He has to attempt to personal every part however the baseline, and to cite him, be “fearless … to tackle the spinny balls, the sliding balls, the kicking balls.”