Two Extraordinary Players

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are Nº 1 and Nº 2 on the world; they have become the classic duel of the decade and their styles are completely different, although both very attractive. A breathless struggle for glory.

"The Battle of Surfaces" could not have better feature players: the Nº 1 and Nº 2 on the world ranking. Swiss Roger Federer, aged 25; a professional player since 1998, is on his way to breaking all the records. He is at the head of the world ranking since February 2nd 2004, and has been in the lead for 133 consecutive weeks. He has won 47 titles; 10 of which are Grand Slams: he won four times at Wimbledon, three in Australia and three in the US Open. Right handed; he plays his back-hand stroke with only one hand; his tennis is exquisite on whatever surface he plays, although it is on fast surfaces that he feels more comfortable. Roland Garros is the only tournament that he has as yet not conquerer, although he was in the final last year. Naturally it was not just any player who beat him then: Rafael Nadal was his tormentor; this Spanish player who has become his shadow and who, no doubt about it, could be the tennis king... if "Federer Express" did not exist.

Rafa, Federer's junior by five years, is left-handed and hits his back-hand stroke with both hands. He entered the professional circuit in 2001; his ascent was unstoppable and he positioned himself as Nº 2 on the world ranking on July 25th 2005. He has been runner up in the world ranking for 79 weeks after the Swiss player, and when the latter reached the top position, Nadal was only just 40th. Unlike his great adversary, with whom he is co-protagonist of the classic match of the decade, his favourite surface is the red clay surface, on which he learned to play at Manacor, and on which he is considered the best player on slow surfaces of the present day. It is precisely on the most important tournament played on red clay that he obtained his two Gran Slam titles: Roland Garros 2005 and 2006. He has won 18 tournaments so far and has only lost three finals; two of them -of course- at the hands of Federer.

One is the undisputed Nº 1 and King of the grass courts; the other, his arch-rival and runner-up on the ranking is King on slow surface courts. He has a background advantage over the Swiss player: the score is currently 6-3 and Federer has never beaten him on slow surfaces. "The Battle of Surfaces" brings together the very best. In every sense.