Little argument that Federer deserved that. The first set was even - and Rafa could have won it - but the second serve was pretty one-sided as Roger found his serve. Roger’s 19-1 for the year and this is looking more and more like it’s a long-term return to form rather than an upward blip.
Roger Federer wins the Miami Open 6-3, 6-4
Both players jog back from their seats to big cheers. Roger shows even the best of us get nerves when he starts the game with a double fault. Then he does something, which separates him from the rest of us - the smoothest of backhands down the line to make it 15-15. Rafa shakes his head and allows himself a rueful smile as a crashing forehand clips the line and brings up match point. Roger’s serve is too good - Rafa can only bat it long and it’s another title for the great man.
Federer breaks Nadal: Second set: Federer 6-3, 5-4 Nadal* (*denotes server)
Rafa was broken late in the first set - let’s see how he copes this time around. He’s not helped when an unthreatening forehand from Roger clips the net and forces Rafa to scramble to the front of the court. He doesn’t recover and a nice lob from Roger brings up break point, which he converts with little trouble. Federer will serve for the match!
Second set: *Federer 6-3, 4-4 Nadal (*denotes server)
Rafa finally wins a point on Roger’s serve - for the first time in the set his returns are bothering Roger a little (in that they’re actually going over the net). Roger holds to 30 but that was an encouraging game for Rafa, who had looked way off pace on his opponent’s serve thus far.
Second set: Federer 6-3, 3-4 Nadal* (*denotes server)
A point against serve! And it’s a good one too as Roger powers a forehand that Rafa can only dribble into the net and for the first time this set one of our stars looks a little wobbly on serve. Roger scents blood and batters away at Rafa’s forehand until the Spaniard sends one long to make it 30-40. But Rafa’s not done! He closes Roger off at the net and sends a volley down the centre of the court to make it deuce. We get a “Come on” and a fist pump from Rafa as a reward. Rafa goes on to hold - that was an important one. Not only did he keep himself in the match, the flirtation with disaster seems to have energised Rafa and he looks very peppy indeed now. And very sweaty too, in truth.
Second set: *Federer 6-3, 3-3 Nadal (*denotes server)
Federer has yet to lose a service point this set - Rafa helps him out by looping a 90mph second serve horribly long. A dump into the net makes it another stroll for Federer.
Second set: Federer 6-3, 2-3 Nadal* (*denotes server)
Another hold to love. Are both men rope-a-doping each other? Is it possible for both fighters to rope-a-dope? Roger barely bothered to run for the clinching winner from Rafa there.
Second set: *Federer 6-3, 2-2 Nadal (*denotes server)
Oh, lovely drop shot from Roger at the net, scooping up a Rafa return and depositing it about 2mm from the net. He made it look as easy as a stroll to the shops to pick up some milk (assuming your nearest shop isn’t at the top of a cliff or anything). Anyway the easiest of holds to love.
Second set: Federer 6-3, 1-2 Nadal* (*denotes server)
After the furious break-point-tastic energy of the firs set, this one has started out a little sedately with both men looking a little more comfortable on serve. Not sure if both of them are catching their breath in the heat. And just as I say that, Roger floats to the net to hit a zinging forehand winner. Rafa does hold though, which proves my point. To an extent.
Second set:* Federer 6-3, 1-1 Nadal (*denotes server)
As if to emphasize this match’s old school qualities, the early 2000s (Brazilian) Ronaldo is in the crowd rather than 2010s peppy upstart (Portuguese) Ronaldo. Although that’s perhaps not that surprising given that Cristiano Ronaldo played for Real in Spain about three hours ago. A good hold for Roger.
Second set: Federer 6-3, 0-1 Nadal* (*denotes server)
So, Roger took the first set but it was by no means a stroll and it could easily be Rafa sitting down at the break with a first set lead - Federer’s struggling to get his first serve in but Rafa hasn’t take the chances - he had four break point opportunities. Roger also leads the winner count 18-9. One thing to bear in mind in this heat and humidity - Rafa has spent a lot less time on court in the last few days. He looks fresh enough as he digs out a forehand from under his feet to hit a superb winner. A comfortable hold.
“People often tend to get carried away in the world of tennis, I’ve found. Everyone is calling three tournaments (AO and the last two Masters) as the ‘fightback of the old establishment’. I hate to be a nostalgia killer but Sir Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic are still the top two players in the world and the ‘new old establishment’ will strike back come the claycourt season and beyond. What do you think?” Well, Rafa isn’t too bad on clay so I wouldn’t rule him out of the French Open but I don’t see him winning consistently again. But Roger ... I think he’s still got a good few years in him. The way he’s played recently suggests he has evolved - which is crazy at his age.
Federer wins the first set 6-3
Federer’s forehand has been exemplary today, even if his serving has been distinctly average. His 12th forehand winner makes it 15-0 and for the first time this afternoon Nadal gives Roger an easy service game as two limp backhands gift the Swiss the game ... and the set.
Updated
Federer breaks! First set: Federer 5-3 Nadal* (*denotes server)
Once again, one of our protagonists finds himself in trouble on his serve - and once again he negotiates a way out. Rafa rips a backhand down the line - it was breaking the speed limit in most countries around the world - before another forehand winner from Roger makes it 30-40. A healthy dose of deuces then ensues (I believe the technical term is Epic Tussle) before we have a break when Nadal nets. That one was coming - but it could have been either player that lost their serve.
“Tom, with all this talk of greatest players of history, where would you rank MaliVai Washington in the pile,” says Pat Boivin. “Also Michael Chang, Petr Korda and Gael Monfils?” Ummm. I would say Nos 198, 114, 208456 and 56. But only because Korda owes me money.
First set: *Federer 4-3 Nadal (*denotes server)
Roger is giving Rafa a lot of chances to face his second serve and does so again a few times in this game. Rafa batters his way to 30-40 with some huge shots - the decisive one Roger simply can’t control and a volley flies wide. But Roger hits back with an incredibly hard crosscourt winner that he makes look simple. Roger wins the game ... just.
First set: Federer 3-3 Nadal* (*denotes server)
There haven’t been too many easy holds so far - it’s almost like each player is facing one of the greatest tennis geniuses of all time. Nadal has to be at his best to stay in the point at 0-15, and it’s just as well because Federer is attacking his serve early. Roger then scoops out a dipping backhand from Rafa and dumps it back at him to bring up break point - both players could conceivably have broken a couple of times so far. Rafa - as he has done a few times today - brings it back with some big serves late in the game.
First set: *Federer 3-2 Nadal (*denotes server)
Roger sends a nasty, kicking serve out wide to Rafa’s forehand at 40-30 but the Spaniard dismisses it with a booming forehand down the line to make it deuce. Roger had looked pretty comfortable until then and Rafa has a chance to break a couple of points letter - he looks disappointed as he sends a shot into the net and he should be, it was a decent opening. Federer holds.
First set: Federer 2-2 Nadal* (*denotes server)
A chance for Federer at 0-30. Rafa does a little fist pump (maybe 15% of his full capacity) as a nasty backhand from Roger floats just long to make it 15-30 and relieve the pressure a little. But Roger brings up 30-40 when Rafa sends his own backhand long. Rafa saves that one - he’s sweating heavily already in the humidity - but some strong serving helps him hold.
A little more on who’s winning the Masters title count. “Before the Masters events there was the Super Series, from 1970-1989 (under a few different guises),” writes Greg Crowther. “Same idea though - 9 most prestigious events after Slams and Year End tournaments, some the same as the current Masters 1000 such as Monte Carlo, Rome, Canada. Lendl won 22, McEnroe 19, Connors 17, Borg 15....Federer, Nadal and Djokovic still outstrip them all.”
Updated
First set: *Federer 2-1 Nadal (*denotes server)
A wild serve from Roger at 40-15 - his radar (on his serve at least) is a little off today. But an equally wild backhand from Rafa helps Roger hold.
First set: Federer 1-1 Nadal* (*denotes server)
Yikes! Federer’s serve may be off but his forehand is fizzing. He hits his fifth forehand winner of the match to make it 15-15 - it skimmed the baseline and Rafa didn’t even bother to run after it. Make that six forehand winners as Roger makes it 40-30. An ace wins the game for Rafa though.
First set: *Federer 1-0 Nadal (*denotes server)
It’s steamy conditions in Miami with very high humidity - will that play a part after Federer’s leg-sapping victory over Kyrgios on Friday night? Roger will serve first - and wins the first point after Rafa hits a weak forehand into the net. Rafa does a lot better with an 88mph crosscourt backhand to edge to 15-30 and that leads to a break point on the first game of the match. Roger looks to have saved it with a big forehand early on but Rafa stays in the point - just about - until his opponent come into the net to take it to deuce. There’s another break point but Roger eventually serves it out. Roger’s serve didn’t look great in that game though - and Rafa had chances to attack.
The players are out on court so we’ll be starting soon. Rafa is first out, sporting a day-glo yellow shirt. Roger comes out to big cheers dressed in green.
“Hello Tom, says Woolie Madden. “Cracking weather, isn’t it? Gives me chance to air my own fuzzy Dunlops out. I was wondering if you had the numbers to hand for total Masters titles for the Big Four, and how they compare with history’s greatest – Jimmy Connors had the most, if I remember correctly?” I do! Jimmy Connors has the most me’s titles in the Open era (109) compared to Ivan Lendl (94), Federer (90) McEnroe (77) and Nadal (69). But Djokovic has the most Masters 1000 titles: 30. Nadal has 28, Federer 25 and Murray 14. But seeing as a few of the Masters tournaments didn’t exist until after Lendl and Connors had retired and weren’t even called Masters until after 1990 the fact that the Big Four dominate the list isn’t that surprising.
“While I’m all warm and fuzzy about the Nadal-Federer bromance/rivalry being rekindled, I do wonder how much it is to do with them getting loads better and how much it is to do with Djokovic (hanging out with his guru) and Murray (injury) not being at their best,” writes Alex Fitzsimmons. I’d say a bit of both. But Nadal has benefitted most from Murray and Djokovic’s downturns - while he’s been good, Roger has actually improved.
We all know about Federer’s resurgence - he’s 18-1 to start the year - but Rafa has put up impressive numbers so far in Miami. He’s leading his rival in 1st serve percentage (71% to 57%), service games won (92% to 91%), break points saved (67% to 60%) and break points converted (48% to 26%).
The Big Four (Nadal, Murray, Djokovic and Soderli Federer) have won 57 of the last 62 Masters titles and surprisingly – to me, anyway – it is Roger who trails the pack. In order we have Djokovic (25), Nadal (13), Murray (10) and Federer (9).
The two players have some history in Miami. They played their first competitive match against each other at this tournament in 2004, with the 17 year-old (awww, look at him) Nadal winning in straight sets. A year later, they met in the final with Federer winning over five sets. Since then, Rafa has had the better of Roger he leads the series 23-13 although the Swiss has won their last three meetings.
Federer v Nadal: Part [checks Roman numerals extra hard] XXXVII ...
... or, as the ATP website would have it, their 37th FedEx ATP Head2Head meeting. As both men contemplate the ageing process (although both are doing a pretty good job of ignoring it) they’ve adopted a loving tone about a relationship that was kind of warm and fuzzy to begin with. Here’s Roger on today’s FedEx ATP Head2Head meeting: “It feels like old times. We’re playing each other every week now. We can’t get enough of each other,” Federer said. Is there a word that means nostalgia, romance and athleticism all the same time? If it’s not FedEx ATP Head2Head meeting then it should be.
Hello! I had a terrible nightmare last night that it was 2017 and the world was zooming towards the apocalypse, robots were after my job, Criminal Minds was still on TV and Stan Wawrinka had won three grand slams. But then I read that it’s Nadal v Federer in a Masters final and was reassured we’re still back in good old 2009. I wonder if Andy Murray will ever win Wimbledon?
Tom will be here shortly, in the meantime here’s Andrew Anthony on Roger’s resurgence:
Two comeback kids met in Miami and played a very fine match of tennis this week. One was Juan Martín del Potro, the lanky, lugubrious Argentinian who has suffered two career-threatening wrist injuries. Since returning last year, after a two‑year hiatus, he narrowly lost to Andy Murray in the Olympic final and led Argentina to their first Davis Cup win.
His is an uplifting story of triumph over adversity, stalwart determination in the face of debilitating physical and psychological setbacks. He played beautifully this week, with his elegant backhand slice and his thunderous slap of a forehand. But unfortunately for him he was up against Roger Federer, who, at 35 and following his own long lay-off with a knee injury and then a back injury, is playing perhaps the best tennis of his life.
Given that Federer is arguably the best player in history, that would make his tennis right now the best there has ever been. That’s an extremely large claim that is probably easier to shoot down than support. But there is no doubt that Federer, that most heavenly of players, is enjoying a second coming at an age when most top players are either retired or long past their peak.
