Roger Federer vs. Rafael "Rafa" Nadal
Head-to-head: Fed 4, Rafa 8
Last meeting: French Open '07, Rafa 6-3 4-6 6-3 6-4
Head-to-head: Fed 4, Rafa 8
Last meeting: French Open '07, Rafa 6-3 4-6 6-3 6-4
The saga continues...
The two most dominant players in the men's game are meeting for the 13th time overall, 4th time this year, and second time in the Wimby final Sunday match. Fed is going for his 5th consecutive Wimby championship, which would tie him with Bjorn Borg for most consecutive wins. The legendary Swede was in the Royal Box to watch Fed easily handle the No. 12 seed Frenchie Richard Gasquet in the semifinals 7-5, 6-3, 6-4. Rafa had a quick path to the final when No. 4 seeded Novak "Djoker" Djokovic quit the match at 3-6, 6-1, 4-1 due to injury.
The two most dominant players in the men's game are meeting for the 13th time overall, 4th time this year, and second time in the Wimby final Sunday match. Fed is going for his 5th consecutive Wimby championship, which would tie him with Bjorn Borg for most consecutive wins. The legendary Swede was in the Royal Box to watch Fed easily handle the No. 12 seed Frenchie Richard Gasquet in the semifinals 7-5, 6-3, 6-4. Rafa had a quick path to the final when No. 4 seeded Novak "Djoker" Djokovic quit the match at 3-6, 6-1, 4-1 due to injury.
Fed had this to say about Rafa's play this year at Wimby:
"He had a couple of scares here, you know. He could have lost two matches. Came through. So in the end it looks like he played incredible again. But I think he was struggling a little bit. I don't know if he's playing better. The draw's been different for him. But he's tough as always, consistent. Gave himself a chance. He totally deserves to be back in the final."
Here's Rafa on Fed's grass game:
"Well, he has a very complete game. He's a very complete player. He has all shots. He control very well the speed of the ball here. It looks like he always has time to get to the ball. So that's very important."
Outlook: Fed will have more pressure on him this final to match the record of Bjorn Borg. If Rafa can get on top early, he could unsettle Fed and make him think about the moment. But, Fed's game is tailor-made for the grass so a 5th consecutive Wimby title is in his sights.
MSNBC.com's Bud Collins has picked Rafa to win the title. Do you agree?
Let me know who you think will win the men's final!
(images courtesy of AP Photo)
"He had a couple of scares here, you know. He could have lost two matches. Came through. So in the end it looks like he played incredible again. But I think he was struggling a little bit. I don't know if he's playing better. The draw's been different for him. But he's tough as always, consistent. Gave himself a chance. He totally deserves to be back in the final."
Here's Rafa on Fed's grass game:
"Well, he has a very complete game. He's a very complete player. He has all shots. He control very well the speed of the ball here. It looks like he always has time to get to the ball. So that's very important."
Outlook: Fed will have more pressure on him this final to match the record of Bjorn Borg. If Rafa can get on top early, he could unsettle Fed and make him think about the moment. But, Fed's game is tailor-made for the grass so a 5th consecutive Wimby title is in his sights.
MSNBC.com's Bud Collins has picked Rafa to win the title. Do you agree?
Let me know who you think will win the men's final!
(images courtesy of AP Photo)
I give this one to Federer as he is not one to wilt under pressure. He senses the moment and I expect he will rise to it.
ReplyDeleteNadal is going to make it tougher this time. He has made it to another Wimby final and gotten through some tough matches to do it. He really wants Wimby though. More than Fed seems to want the French. So there is pressure on both players.
DTL, i think you are right, Feds game is made for grass and he sees Wimby as his lose.
yes - it may be a classic in the making!
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