Cincinatti/Ohio: After a long time, the arch-rivals of tennis faced each other and this time “clay court King” Rafael Nadal has deaeated the Roger Federer in the battle, which went on for three sets.
Facing one another across the net after a long time, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer gave it their all in a match that saw the latter saw save four points before going down to the Spaniard. Federer, who hasn’t really had a great year so far, right from losing in the second round of Wimbledon to dropping down to fifth in the ATP rankings for the first time in ten years, was looking to get back to winning ways after early exits at Gstaad and Hamburg, looked in great form coming into the quarter-final game against Nadal. But, it was Nadal who had the last laugh in the end.
In a humdinger of a contest, Nadal took out Federer 5-7, 6-4, 6-3.
For Federer, who has only managed to win one title this year, the defeat to Nadal will only serve as yet another wake-up call ahead of the US Open. Nadal, on the other hand, has had a great run since his shock exit in the first round of Wimbledon where he was sent packing by Steve Darcis.
Elimination for the five-time champion will drop the fifth seeded Federer in the world rankings, while Nadal will be able to move up to second overall should he win the title on Sunday, according to the ATP Tour.
The Swiss won the first set with a crisp effort but let his game slip away as he allowed Nadal to come from behind and win the next two.
