Sunday will mark the 38th meeting between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal when the two contest the finals of the 2017 Shanghai Rolex Masters (Nadal leads 23-14 prior to Sunday’s final). Known affectionately as “Fedal”, their rivalry started more than 13 years ago when a 17-year-old Nadal stunned then world No. 1 Federer in straight sets in Miami 2004. While they’ve stood in each other’s way – Nadal twice preventing Federer from achieving the Grand Slam and Federer denying Nadal a year-end ATP Finals crown, they’ve also undeniably pushed the other to new heights. With Fedal XXXVIII upon us, we present some key numbers from one of sport’s greatest rivalries. 1 – First Fedal meeting at the Shanghai Rolex Masters 1-0 – Roger’s head-to-head against Rafa in doubles (Federer / Wawrinka d. Nadal / M. Lopez in Indian Wells 2011) 1-0 – Roger / Rafa as a doubles team (d. Sock / Querrey at this year’s Laver Cup) 2-0 – Roger’s head-to-head over Nadal in China 4 – times Fedal have met in 2017 including Sunday’s final (Roger leads 3-0) 4:48 – Longest final in Wimbledon history and what many consider the greatest tennis match of all time (won by Rafa) 5:05 – longest Fedal match (Rome 2006 won by Rafa in a 5th set tie-break) 6 – most Fedal meetings in a year (2006) 9 – times Fedal have met in Grand Slam finals (Rafa leads 6-3 including 4 French Opens, 1 Wimbledon and 1 Australian Open) 11 – times Fedal have met in Masters 1000 finals (Rafa leads 7-4, Roger leads 2-0 on hard courts) 12-10 – Roger’s winning head-to-head on grass and hard courts 13-2 – Rafa’s dominant head-to-head on clay 65 – Roger’s grass winning streak, ended by Rafa at Wimbledon 2008 81 – Rafa’s clay winning streak, ended by Roger in Hamburg 2007 |