Although comprehensively beaten by Novak Djokovic on the Monte Carlo semi-finals, clay court king Rafael Nadal believes he is on the right path as his beloved French Open looms.
Following is a list of the previous matches between Switzerland's Roger Federer and Spain's Rafael Nadal ahead of their meeting in the title decider at the Australian Open on Sunday
Rafael Nadal's absence from Indian Wells saw the 22-times Grand Slam champion slip out of the top 10 for the first time since 2005.
'I'm disappointed and sad because after a good start to the season I was coming to a very important part of the year with very good feelings and good results.'
Rafael Nadal's 30-match winning streak ended on Friday when the world number one was upset 7-6(1), 6-4 by fellow Spaniard David Ferrer in the Monte Carlo Masters quarter-finals.
The ATP Tour brought the world number ones for a short conversation as they prepared for the prestigious tournament.
'I had a tough season in the last few years, but I've had better preparation this year, even with a tough start to the season'
World No 3 Roger Federer has delayed his ATP World Tour return by a month and plans to make his comeback from knee surgery at the Monte Carlo Masters in April.
Novak Djokovic was stunned 7-6(4), 6-2 by Matteo Berrettini in the Qatar Open first round on Tuesday as the Italian enjoyed his first win over the former world number one.
'Whilst I feel fit and healthy, I would like to give it a go.'
Former Australian Open runner-up Stefanos Tsitsipas hopes a return to his "home" Slam at Melbourne Park can spark an upturn in his fortunes after an inconsistent 2024 saw the Greek drop out of the top 10.
Although Nadal has revealed that he has seen improvements in his hip injury after trying a new treatment, the question still remains: Will Rafa defend his title at the French Open?
Rafael Nadal overcame a stern challenge from Ernests Gulbis to reach the Rome Masters final on Saturday, prevailing 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 after the Latvian had exposed chinks in the clay master's armour.
Holder Rafael Nadal provided more evidence that he is regaining his old dominance on clay after an injury-hit 2009 by cruising past Romanian Victor Hanescu 6-3, 6-2 at the Rome Masters on Thursday. British world number five Andy Murray struggled, however, and lost 6-3, 6-4 to Nadal's Spanish compatriot David Ferrer.
Top seed David Ferrer summed up his error-strewn defeat by qualifier Dmitry Tursunov as "one of the worst I have played" after falling at the first hurdle at the Barcelona Open on Wednesday.
Rafael Nadal reached the final of the Barcelona Open for the ninth time by beating German Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-3, 6-3 on Saturday.
Swiss tennis maestro Roger Federer poked fun at Andy Murray after scribbling his own signature next to the Briton's face in spot No 2 at an official ATP event in Monte Carlo.
David Ferrer admitted he effectively 'threw in the towel' on the way to a 4-6, 6-4, 6-0, 6-1 quarter-final defeat by defending champion Rafael Nadal at the French Open on Wednesday.
The Swiss beat David Ferrer 6-4, 6-0 at Monte Carlo Masters to clinch his 500th professional win.
Australian Open champion Stanislas Wawrinka crashed to a shock second-round defeat at the Madrid Open on Tuesday when he was upset 1-6, 6-2, 6-4 by qualifier Dominic Thiem.
Fernando Verdasco's confidence on clay is sky high as long as he does not have to play Rafael Nadal, the Barcelona Open champion said on Sunday.
Fernando Verdasco's confidence on clay is sky high as long as he does not have to play Rafa Nadal, the Barcelona Open champion said on Sunday.
Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi had contrasting results in the second round of the Monte Carlo Masters doubles on Wednesday night.
World number seven Tomas Berdych has withdrawn from the Barcelona Open due to illness, organisers said on Tuesday.
Both in action in the French Open second round on Wednesday, could be considered the tournament's favourites.
Nadal will meet defending champion Guillermo Coria in the final of the Monte Carlo Masters.
Rohan Bopanna and his Romanian partner Florin Mergea advanced to the semi-finals of the ATP Shanghai Rolex Masters with a shock victory over the fourth seeded Croat-Brazilian pair of Ivan Dodig and Marcelo Melo on Friday. The unseeded Indo-Romanian won the quarter-final 6-4, 3-6, 10-7.
Eight-times champion Rafael Nadal was taken to the brink by Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov before completing a 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 victory on Friday to reach the Monte Carlo Masters semi-finals. He will meet Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who beat Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka.
After pairing up with different partners in the initial months of 2013, Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna have decided to rejoin forces for the rest of the season.
The defending champion was beaten by wildcard compatriot Alex Correjta in 69 minutes in the Monte Carlo Masters.
World number one Roger Federer beat Greg Rusedski 6-3, 6-1 while Marat Safin breezed past Lee Hyung-taik 6-0, 7-5
An ultra-confident Rafael Nadal takes his clay-court master-class to Spain this week going for a third Barcelona Open title in succession.
World No 2 Rafael Nadal swept into the third round of the Barcelona Open when he thrashed Guillermo Garcia-Lopez 6-1, 6-2 as he began his quest for a seventh Conde de Godo trophy in eight years on Wednesday.
World No. 1 Novak Djokovic has pulled out of the Serbia Open tennis following the death of his grandfather during the Monte Carlo Masters event last week.
The French Open will be held in Paris from May 22 to June 5.
Novak Djokovic's erratic form, Rafael Nadal's fitness woes and untimely injuries to top-ranked youngsters have set up an uncertain French Open men's tournament
Leander Paes and Nenad Zimonjic beat Wayne Arthur and Paul Hanley of 6-3, 6-4 in the semifinal.
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