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| Roger Federer cracks a smile after downing rival Rafael Nadal in Indian Wells. |
After a rare desert rain delay at the BNP Paribas Open, No. 3 Roger Federer and No. 2 Rafael Nadal took the court for their 28th meeting.
Watching the two display their skill in person is amazing, and it just adds a new level of appreciation for some of the great matches I've watched on television. Federer makes playing the sport look effortless, while Nadal never gives up on a point and can seemingly run any ball down.
"Obviously conditions were tough today, and against one of my greatest rivals, it's always nice if you come out on top. So I'm very, very happy," Federer said after his straight set 6-3, 6-4 victory.
The win in the California desert was just Federer's 10th against Nadal, which is arguably the biggest flaw when talking about where the Swiss stacks up against all-time tennis greats.
However, if clay courts are taken out of the equation, a surface Nadal just owns, Federer now holds a 8-6 advantage in head-to-head meetings and is a winner of two of the last three.
The 10-18 record can obscure the way Federer dominates sets when they play, as previously detailed by WSJ writer Carl Bialik.
Federer has taken seven 6-0 or 6-1 sets against Nadal, with five of those dominant sets by the Swiss coming in the final set of the match. By comparison, just two of Nadal's wins have ended in such lopsided fashion.
Despite Nadal's sizable advantage in head-to-head matches, it is hard to judge which player is greater. Especially given the way Federer worked over Nadal's backhand in the semis.
Add current No. 1 Novak Djokovic into the mix, who has defeated Nadal in seven consecutive finals, and figuring out the big three gets more complicated.
Tennis is experiencing a reniassance with likely three of the games greats all playing at once. I am just glad I got to see Federer-Nadal rivalry in person.
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