Tennis Chatter

Tomorrow will be a day for the history books. Roger Federer, the world’s number one tennis player, will face his arch rival Rafael Nadal, the world’s number two tennis pro. What’s so historic about that? Well how about the fact that they will both play on their best surfaces AT THE SAME TIME. Yep, Rog and Rafa will swing away on a court that is one half clay and one half grass. Never before has this been attempted. This match, called The Battle of Surfaces, should theoritically determine who is the best…period.

So who are you betting on?

First there is Grass King, Roger Federer. Who in the past five years has developed into the most dominating player on grass. He’s won Wimbledon 4 times and the other Grand Slams as well. Except the French Open. He can’t seem to pull down the big one on clay. And of course there is that ever-present clay master Rafael Nadal to deal with.

Rafael Nadal is on the streak of a lifetime. Currently, he’s won 72 consecutive matches on clay. He’s beat Federer and everybody else at every event. He’s the King of Clay without a doubt. But his grass game isn’t what it could be. Sure he made it to the final last year at Wimbledon, but who was standing there on the other side of the net? The Rog.

So we have a classic rivalry. A Russell vs Chamberlain. A Sosa vs Maguire. A Chevy Chase vs. Bill Murray. Federer and Nadal are each other’s opposite. Nadal succeeds on clay because he game is built around precise returns and strategic volley play. Federer wins on grass due to his brilliant service game and strong armed returns. So who will win this Battle of Surfaces?

Nadal.

The man’s playing his best tennis ever AND if he wins this it would extend his streak to 72 1/2. Nadal is competing at such a high level. Federer hasn’t been in the light as of late and actually struggled a bit in Monte Carlo earlier in April. Sure Roger met up with Nadal in the final there, but held his racket firmly with both hands and backhanded past Number One to the trophy.

So I say Nadal wins in three sets, but not by much. Federer will put up a worthy fight. I mean half of the match will take place on HIS surface. And he is getting better on clay. But I just don’t think anybody can stop Nadal’s current game. Not even Wimbledon’s heir apparent.