Tennis is a game of on-court rivalries. One of the most prominent ones in the sport is the all-time classic rivalry of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. Having its roots back in 2004, the two have faced each other 40 times. Their latest meeting was in the semifinals of the 2019 Wimbledon.

Going back in time, Nadal and Federer faced each other in one of the most anticipated matches of the tournament. After a marathon match of 3 hours and 2 minutes, it was Federer who came out victorious in four sets. Three years since then, recently, one of Nadal’s coaches, Francisco Roig, revealed what went wrong for Nadal during the match.

The probable reason for Rafael Nadal losing the 2019 Wimbledon semifinal

Winning the Australian Open and the French Open, Nadal is currently at the 2022 Wimbledon Championships, eyeing his third major title of the year. His coaches, Marc Lopez and Francisco Roig, are helping him to be at his best during the tournament.

Recently, taking time out from his training schedule, Roig indulged in a conversation with ATP. During the conversation, the 54-year-old Spanish coach was elaborating on how Nadal needs to play on grass courts.

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“There is no choice but to be aggressive at certain times, and that helps him. Against Federer he was too conservative last time, in 2019,” he started.

Forcing Federer to go on the back foot

Thanks to his highly aggressive game, Federer is one of the most successful players on the grass. On the other hand, having a complete baseline play has restricted Nadal from performing at his best on the green surface. Instead, having a high top spin game, it has given Nadal the ability to rule the clay courts.

Opening up about his advice to Nadal prior to facing Federer, Roig said, “I told him ‘If Federer hits four flat backhands at you in a row we won’t win, but if you make him cut the ball… you have a chance of winning.”

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Even after giving his all, Nadal failed to withstand the storm of the 8-time champion. However, this year, with the absence of the Swiss Maestro, Nadal is breezing past his opponents. Winning the first two rounds, he is now set to face the 27th seeded Italian, Lorenzo Sonego, in the third round.