Rafael Nadal’s win over Roger Federer at the 2011 French Open gives him 10 Grand Slam titles at age 25, and as National Post columnist Bruce Arthur notes, that’s more than Federer, widely recognized as the greatest tennis player of the modern era, if not ever, had at 25. And Nadal’s gotten more than a few of them over the course of his storied rivalry with the superb Swiss.
French Open 2011: Rafael Nadal Continues Grand Slam Dominance Of Roger Federer
Federer is known for Grand Slam success — but Nadal is 7-2 against Federer in Grand Slam matches, 6-2 in finals, and hasn’t lost to Federer in a Slam since 2007. From 2005 to 2007, in Nadal’s first three years playing all four Grand Slam tournaments, Federer won nine Slams to Rafa’s two; since, Nadal has eight, and Federer just four.
Make no mistake: the last decade in tennis has belonged to Federer, for his with occasional loans of the realm to Nadal. But Sunday’s 2011 French Open victory was just another reminder that for all of Federer’s greatness, he has the misfortune to play during the career of another all-timer: Rafael Nadal. And the balance of their rivalry, especially in Grand Slams, seems to have irreversibly shifted to the irrepressible lord of clay.
See More:
