Australian Open Final Preview: Rafa vs. Roger XXXV

Feeling nostalgic? You're not alone. Less than 24 hours remain until Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal turn back the clock on Rod Laver Arena for the Australian Open championship, a record ninth clash in a Grand Slam final. Nadal sought to describe his emotions ahead of the renewal of one of the greatest rivalries of all-time.

“[Our rivalry] is amazing for me and for tennis,” said Nadal. “It is the combination of two different styles that makes the matches really special. It is a different way to play tennis. I feel that this rivalry is not only in the tennis world. People from outside of our world talk about this and that's good for our sport. It is good that we are back here.

“It is special to play with Roger again in the final of a Grand Slam. I cannot lie. It is great. It is exciting for me and for both of us that we are still here and still fighting for important events. So that's important for us. That's very special.”

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Most Grand Slam Final Meetings (Open Era)

"Having matched up for many years, they're older now, but still playing just great tennis," said Aussie great Rod Laver. "They know each other's game. Roger has improved his backhand and that would take away the advantage Nadal has with his forehand." 

Federer and Nadal both survived five-set semi-final thrillers, with the Swiss overcoming countryman Stan Wawrinka and the Spaniard denying a resurgent Grigor Dimitrov. It will be their second encounter in the final Down Under, following a four-hour and 23-minute epic in 2009, which saw Nadal prevail 7-5, 3-6, 7-6(3), 3-6, 6-2. On Sunday, plenty will be at stake:

A win for Federer would see the No. 17 seed lift an unprecedented 18th major trophy and return to the Top 10 of the Emirates ATP Rankings. He is looking to become the first player in history to win five or more titles at three different Grand Slam events and take sole ownership of third place on the Australian Open titles list. A win for Nadal would see the ninth seed close the gap on Federer with his 15th major title, moving past Pete Sampras into solo second place on the all-time list. More impressively, he would become the first man in the Open Era – and third in history (Emerson, Laver) – to win each of the four majors multiple times.

Meeting for the first time since October 2015 at the Swiss Indoors Basel, Nadal owns a 23-11 FedEx ATP Head2Head edge and is 14-7 in tour-level finals. Federer, however, has won three of their five hard-court title matches and enters as a four-time champion at Melbourne Park. But the numbers don’t tell the entire story.

With 35 titanic clashes over the last 13 years, Federer and Nadal have staked their claim as the greatest rivalry in sporting history. In tennis, time is a commodity. Careers don't last forever. It's not the longest-running rivalry of all-time, but it is arguably the most pervasive, transcending Federer and Nadal themselves and becoming a staple of modern culture.

From Lionel Messi-Cristiano Ronaldo in football to Muhammad Ali-Joe Frazier in boxing, Jack Nicklaus-Arnold Palmer in golf and Larry Bird-Magic Johnson in the NBA, there have been many legendary rivalries over the years, but few have captured the imagination quite like Roger vs. Rafa. They have made each other stronger, more influential figures both between the lines and away from the court.

Australian Open Final Appearances (Open Era)

"I just think he's an incredible tennis player," said Federer. "He's got shots that no one has. When you have that, you are unique and special. Plus, he's got the grit. He's got the mental and physical ability to sustain a super high level of play for years and for hours and for weeks.

"He's proven that time and time again. He's come back from many injuries, you know, time and time again. He made it seem easy, and it's not. I think he's been tremendous for the game. I have a lot of respect for him on many levels."

Grand Slam Titles Won (All Time)

Effusive in their praise of one another, Federer and Nadal have established a special bond. During the offseason, as the Swiss was continuing to plot his comeback following a knee injury, he took time out to visit his rival’s hometown of Manacor for the launch of the Rafa Nadal Academy. As the tides begin to turn on the ATP World Tour, with a fresh crop of young talent and surging #NextGenATP stars fighting their way to the forefront, the days of Federer and Nadal ruling the tennis universe had been pushed aside, but they are legends of the game for a reason. Despite enduring their share of injuries and ailments in 2016, the Swiss and the Spaniard have immediately reclaimed their moments in the spotlight, proving that the old guard is here to stay.