In a little over an hour from now, world number 1 tennis player and undisputed ruler on grass courts (well any court surface other than clay really), Roger Federer, will take his 48 consecutive game wins on grass and do battle with world number 2 tennis player and King of Clay, Rafael Nadal (aka Rafa), who currently has an unbeaten record on the red dirt of 72 consecutive matches, dating back to April 2005.
Roger Federer has won Wimbledon the past 4 years. Rafa has won Masters Series Monte Carlo and Barcelona for 3 years in a row, and is two-time defening champ in upcoming Rome and grand-slam Roland Garros (French Open) - all on clay.
In this special "made for TV" sporting event, both will do battle on one court divided into each prefered surface - clay on one end, and grass on the other.
Who will win?
Nadal is entering this special "battle" on a roll, beating Federer in the Monte Carlo final on clay. The Federer Express, however, is on a bit of a "slump" having failed to WIN a tournament that he's entered in for the past 4 tournaments -- a record dating back to 2003! Quite the dominance he's been enjoying for sure.
So who will it be? Both say the result is not important, and that "having fun" is the main priority.
Personally, I feel that Nadal is in Federer's head, and although Rafa mostly gets the best of Roger on dirt, this special court is after all located in Nadal's home town of Mallorca, with the sell-out crowd surely behind him.
It is pretty risky to agree to play in such a game, for, after all, though just a sport, it is their careers, and injuries, or psychological effects may hamper their success after this battle is played.
Still, no fan of the sport can say they are not eager to get the "show on the road".
Go Federer!!
2 comments:
Who won?
Nadal. Oh well. It was close. 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (12-10) -- that is, it went to a tie-break in the third and final set with Rafa winning out 12 points to 10 (i.e. very close match!).. But like I said, he's certainly got into Federer's head.. and it's only a matter of time before a half and half court translates to Nadal beating Federer in the grandest of tennis stage of Wimbledon's grass courts. I do like both though, so it's tough to be upset about it all...
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