Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer enjoy one of the most intriguing rivalries in tennis. It’s no secret that the Swiss sensation has been struggling a lot when facing the Spanish legend as Rafa is using his wicked lefty forehand to pick on Roger’s one-handed backhand. Federer has managed to sort of defusing Nadal’s forehand in the last few years, especially after he adopted a racket with a larger frame.
The legend
Since Rafa is naturally right-handed, there was a story going around that the Spaniard chose to use his left-hand to play tennis to get an extra advantage over his opponents. However, that was no true. During the tasty Instagram video chat with Federer, Nadal explained:
“I cannot play righty. That’s just a legend! My basketball skills are with the right, everything else is with the right, but not with football or tennis. I started playing with a two-handed backhand and forehand. The people I was working with probably didn’t know if I was righty or lefty.”
Roger “accepted” the answer saying that he was “happy” with that as that meant that Rafa’s playing with the left was not a “sneaky move.”
Funny!
Roger with the question we've all been needing answered 👀@rogerfederer | @RafaelNadal pic.twitter.com/w9SOqEKYjC
— ATP Tour (@atptour) April 20, 2020
Rafael Nadal’s ranking and performance in 2020
Now the world no.2, Nadal played his last match on the 29th of February when he overcame Taylor Fritz 6-3 6-2 in the final in Acapulco to win his 85th career title.
Presently, this year Nadal has a 13-3 win-loss record. Rafael has won 1 title in Acapulco.
Roger Federer’s ranking and performance in 2020
Currently ranked no.4, Roger played his last match on the 30th of January when he lost to Novak Djokovic 7-61 6-4 6-3 in the semifinal of the Australian Open.
Roger Federer’s most significant result of this year was reaching the semi-finals at the Australian Open.
Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer played each other 40 times. The head to head is 24-16 for Nadal. The last time that they played, Roger Federer won 7-63 1-6 6-3 6-4 in the semifinal in London (Wimbledon) in July 2019.
Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer |
| Embed from Getty Images |
