Roger Federer believed there was one match he had with Rafael Nadal that didn’t deliver on their epic rivalry.
Federer and Nadal shared great respect off the court, but they produced some of the greatest Grand Slam finals of any generation.
The pair’s 2008 Wimbledon final is widely considered one of the greatest matches of all time, as Nadal narrowly defeated his great rival in a five-set thriller.
Ahead of the 2009 Australian Open final, Federer named one match between the pair that he didn’t quite feel lived up to the expectations the two men had previously set.
Roger Federer was disappointed by the Roland Garros 2008 final
Federer and Nadal produced one of tennis’s best-ever rivalries, with the two men delivering some of the greatest matches of all time, but there was one that match that Federer felt that didn’t live up to expectations.
Speaking in 2009 ahead of their clash at the Australian Open, Federer revealed: “The only one I remember that really didn’t live up to expectations was the one last year at the French Open.”
Federer lost in straight sets to Nadal in the Roland Garros final in 2008, the first time he failed to pick up a set against the Spaniard at a Grand Slam up until that point.
“When he beat me quite easily,” revealed the Swiss superstar. “So, I think other than that, we’ve always had very good matches against each other.
“High level, and I think this is another great opportunity to show the world what a great rivalry we have,” he added.
Federer and Nadal played 40 times throughout their careers, with the Spaniard leading the head-to-head with 24 victories.
Rafael Nadal’s incredible record against Roger Federer in Grand Slam finals
Federer and Nadal’s rivalry saw them go toe-to-toe in nine Grand Slam finals between 2006 and 2017, but Federer only came out on top on three occasions.
Federer toppled his Spanish rival at the Australian Open in 2017, as well as at Wimbledon in 2006 and 2007.
| Year | Tournament | Winner |
| 2017 | Australian Open | Roger Federer |
| 2011 | Roland Garros | Rafael Nadal |
| 2009 | Australian Open | Rafael Nadal |
| 2008 | Wimbledon | Rafael Nadal |
| 2008 | Roland Garros | Rafael Nadal |
| 2007 | Wimbledon | Roger Federer |
| 2007 | Roland Garros | Rafael Nadal |
| 2006 | Wimbledon | Roger Federer |
| 2006 | Roland Garros | Rafael Nadal |
Nadal picked up the win against Federer the other six times, with four of those wins coming at Roland Garros as the Spaniard lived up to his King of Clay moniker.
Nadal’s other victories over Federer came at the Australian Open and Wimbledon, with the two men bizarrely never meeting in a US Open final.
