Roger Federer – “Rafael Nadal is Not Just a Clay Court Specialist”

Five weeks after their rendezvous at Roland-Garros, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal once again put up their semifinal showdown in at Wimbledon Championships 2019. On the Parisian clay, Rafa could put an end to his six-match losing streak against Federer.

World Number three, Roger Federer reminisced their Grand Slam meeting in 2017, where he came back from a 0-3 down trail in the final set, consequently he lifted up his 18th major title in Melbourne and remarked his comeback on the ATP Tour.

He hopes to come across similar instances from Australia at Wimbledon, but at the same time, he is intimidated by Rafa’s level of tennis at this year’s Wimbledon. In London, Nadal has been producing some genius tennis, his lethal forehand and his revamped serves have aided him to dominated against most of his opponents.

After his semifinal loss in Madrid to Stefanos Tsitsipas, Rafa hasn’t lost any match over the span of two months, and whereas Roger Federer conceded a defeat to Nadal at French Open 2019.

“I mean, maybe Australian Open final. Obviously, best-of-five set match, five sets. Then again, yeah, I don’t know. It doesn’t matter anyway. Who cares. It’s about how has he played so far, how have I played so far. I hope it goes my way. It’s going to be tough, you know. Rafa really can hurt anybody on any surface. I mean, he’s that good. He’s not just a clay court specialist, we know.”

Tomorrow, it will be the fortieth meeting of their career, and according to Roger Federer, their previous encounters wouldn’t affect their battle on Friday. “Not so much the French Open, I do believe,” the Swiss alluded to the unusual hurricane-like conditions at Court Philippe-Chatrier last month. 

The British Slam incorporates the ideal conditions for playing tennis also the weather and wind for tomorrow in London happen to be perfect for tennis. Even after the sun sets the Centre Court roof would make the conditions ideal to carry out professional tennis matches.

“I feel like conditions were slightly different. It was so windy, as you know. It was just insane. I haven’t heard it was going to be the same in a couple of days, so I hope not, even though that would be funny again,” Roger Federer added.

In the lawns of SW19, Roger Federer has an upper-hand against Rafael Nadal as the Swiss maestro leads by 2-1 in their head to head record.