Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer have one of the greatest rivalries in tennis history. While Federer is widely regarded—even by Nadal—as the best tennis player in history, Nadal's record against Federer is 18-10 in Nadal's favour.
Comparison chart
 | Rafael Nadal | Roger Federer |
|---|---|---|
 |  | |
| Date of birth | 3 June 1986 | August 8, 1981 |
| Country | Spain | Switzerland |
| Place of Birth | Manacor, Mallorca, Spain | Basel, Switzerland |
| Height | 1.85m (6ft 1in) | 6'1'' (185 cm) |
| Weight | 188 lbs (85 kg) | 188 lbs (85 kg) |
| Plays | Left handed (Two-handed backhand) | Right handed (One-handed backhand) |
| Career Prize Money | $125 million (as of July 2021) | $73 million (as of July 2012) |
| Highest ranking (singles) | No. 1 | 1 |
| Career record (singles) | 1027–208 (83.16%) | 853-192 |
| Career titles (singles) | 88 | 75 |
| Won Wimbledon (singles) | 2008, 2010 | 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 |
| Won French Open (singles) | 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 | 2009 |
| Career titles (doubles) | 11 | 8 |
| Won US Open (singles) | 2010, 2013, 2017, 2019 | 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 |
| Playing style | Strong two-handed backhand, well-angled topspin strokes, fast mobility on the court, preference to play from the deep court | Versatile all-court aggressive player, powerful serve, forehands, and good volleys. Gracious under pressure; not a sore loser. |
| Won Australian Open (singles) | 2009 | 2004, 2006, 2007, 2010 |
| Turned Pro in | 2001 | 1998 |
| Olympic Gold Medals (singles) | 2008 | Never |
| Highest ranking (doubles) | 26 | 24 |
| ATP World Tour Finals | Never won. Finalist in 2010 when he was beaten by Federer and 2013 when he was beaten by Djokovic. | 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2011 |
| Career record (doubles) | 137-74 (64.9%) | 119-78 |
| Residence | Manacor, Mallorca, Spain | Oberwil, Switzerland |
Ferderer and Nadal during Wimbledon 2008
Matches
- Federer and Nadal played their first match in March 2004 at the third round of the Miami Masters. At the time Nadal was only 17 years old and ranked No. 34. He scored an upset win over Federer in straight sets.
- Their second match was in 2005, once again in Miami. Federer came from 2 sets behind to win in 5 sets.
- Their third encounter was two months later in the semifinals of the French Open. Nadal defeated Federer in 4 sets and went on to win the French Open.
See full history on Wikipedia
Head-to-head tallies
Here are the head-to-head tallies for Federer and Nadal as of January 26, 2012 when Nadal beat Federer in the Australian Open semifinal.
Videos
Here are some of the best shots and rallies between Rafa and Fedex over the years:
And this video compiles the top 10 iconic points that highlight the competitive spirit and sheer brilliance of the two players:
Serena 
Andre Agassi 
Joe Frazier 
Heat
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