Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer are adding yet another layer to their historic rivalry.
The 2009 Australian Open champion defeated No. 15 seed Grigor Dimitrov on Friday in an instant five-set semi-final classic, earning the right to face Federer for the title in Melbourne. After a difficult 2016 plagued by wrist issues that forced Nadal to cut his season short in October, he’s thrilled to be healthy again and playing the level of tennis he's capable of producing.
“I am a positive person. I never say never because I worked very hard to be where I am,” said Nadal. “I didn’t think about being where I am today. I always had the confidence that if I’m able to win some matches, then anything can happen.
“Last year was tough. When you are playing very well and you have to [withdraw] from Roland Garros before going on court,” he admitted, referring to his left wrist injury that forced him to pull out of his third-round match in Paris. “I remember crying in the car going back to the hotel. That was a tough moment.”
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Nadal and Federer meet for the 35th time when they take the court on Sunday. The Spaniard leads their FedEx ATP Head2Head rivalry 23-11 and has won all three of their previous matches in Melbourne, including the 2009 final that saw him prevail in five sets. Their last Australian Open meeting saw Nadal defeat the Swiss star in the 2014 semi-finals, but he said those previous victories will have no bearing on their latest match.
“That was a long time ago. It’s a different match, different moment for both of us,” said Nadal. “It’s special. We haven’t been in that situation for a while. I really don’t think about what happened in the past. I think the player who plays better is going to be the winner.”
Nadal noted that his rivalry with Federer has gone beyond the tennis world and become a global sporting interest. Part of the worldwide fascination with these two champions has to do with their friendly relationship off the court, which even saw Federer attend the opening of Nadal’s tennis academy this past October in his hometown of Manacor, Mallorca.
More: Federer Praises Rafa's Journey At Launch Of Nadal's Academy
The Spaniard was dealing with his wrist injury at the time and Federer was also continuing rehabbing from knee surgery in February. But three months later, their remarkable turnarounds in fortune will lead to one of them walking away with the winner’s trophy in Melbourne.
“In that moment, for sure we never thought we had the chance to be in a final again, and especially in the beginning of the year,” said Nadal. “Both of us worked very hard to be where we are. It’s great that we are going to have a chance again to enjoy a moment like this.”