Yet the warrior-like instincts kicked in and we were all reminded that Nadal, as long as he is standing, remains a physical and psychological force of nature on a tennis court.
Rafael Nadal, who lost all four of his previous Miami Open finals, will be out to snap a run of three straight defeats against Roger Federer.
Rafael Nadal will become the first man to win 21 Grand Slam titles if he defeats the Russian in Melbourne.
Here are some facts about Federer and his ranking.
'I'm happy to have the chance to try to stop, one more time, somebody from making history.'
Roger Federer won the inaugural Istanbul Open on Sunday, beating third seed Pablo Cuevas 6-3, 7-6 (11) for his first clay title in three years.
A couple of months ago, the 35-year-old Spaniard was worried that he might never return to the court again.
Nadal plays Berrettini in one semifinal, knowing he's potentially two match wins from a 21st major title.
The Wimbledon Championship runner-up is expected to be a top draw at the ATP 250 event to be played at the Mhalunge Balewadi Stadium in Pune.
The 38-year-old, who has lost six games so far in the tournament, dispatched his hapless opponent in only 62 minutes winning the second-round match 6-0, 6-3.
Federer, who has agreed to play in the Dutch hardcourt event for the first time since 2015, currently sits on the second spot in the world rankings.
Roger Federer's decision to skip this year's French Open has been applauded by Boris Becker, who believes the decision means the Swiss will be a strong favourite at Wimbledon.
Nadal may have 19 Grand Slam titles, one shy of Federer's all-time men's record, but when it comes to IT skills, he resembled a Sunday morning park hacker crumbling under pressure. After some pleasantries, the conversation moved on to the forthcoming virtual Madrid Open being contested with joysticks rather than tennis rackets.
Chasing a sixth US Open title, Federer needed just one hour and 46 minutes under a closed roof at Arthur Ashe Stadium to put away the 31st seed Lopez, leaving plenty in the tank after being forced to go the distance in his opening two matches.
Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have returned to tennis in blistering form this season because they were able to recharge during injury layoffs last year, former world number two Alex Corretja has said.
Carrying her hardcourt success to the French Open and the Wimbledon was the 'biggest goal' going forward for Osaka.
Andy Murray avoided a 'double bagel' humiliation by Roger Federer at the ATP Tour finals on Thursday but conceded that even if he had played well he would not have lived with the "exceptional" brilliance of the Swiss.
Unseeded Novak Djokovic was given some trouble by Jeremy Chardy in the opening set but prevailed 7-6(5), 6-4 to take his record over the Frenchman to 11-0 and 26-0 in sets.
World men's tennis No. 1 Novak Djokovic headed reluctantly home on Monday after being kicked out of Australia because of his COVID-19 unvaccinated status, but the government left the door open for a possible return to his favourite Grand Slam in 2023.
Switzerland's two greatest tennis players will join forces at next year's Rio Olympics when Roger Federer and Martina Hingis play together in the mixed doubles.
Medvedev squandered a two-set lead against Nadal in their previous meeting in the Melbourne final in January, allowing the Spaniard to clinch his 21st Grand Slam title.
Roger Federer beats Tomas Berdych 7-6, 7-6, 6-4 to reach the final!
Seven-time champion Federer faces last year's runner-up Milos Raonic in his quarter-final on Wednesday after defending champion Murray, who is chasing a third SW19 title, takes on big-serving American Sam Querrey for a place in the last four.
Alexander Zverev overcame late nerves to beat world number one Novak Djokovic on Saturday and set up a final showdown with Daniil Medvedev at the ATP Finals.
A rampaging Roger Federer delivered a stunning reminder of his class at the Australian Open on Friday with a crushing 6-2, 6-4, 6-4 win over Tomas Berdych to storm into the fourth round.
Novak Djokovic will begin his Australian Open title defence against Frenchman Jeremy Chardy, while reigning women's champion Sofia Kenin meets wild card Maddison Inglis, following the draw for the year's first Grand Slam on Friday.
Wimbledon fans with Centre Court tickets suffered the disappointment of seeing the opponents of title contenders Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic retire early in their matches - but they might have been given a bonus contest between the pair.
Fans who had poured in to see the Swiss master in action witnessed him fire down a 10,000th career ace and chalk up a record 85th win at Wimbledon, surpassing the benchmark he had shared with Jimmy Connors.
Images from the men's singles quarter-finals at Wimbledon on Wednesday.
'I feel like I'm rested enough. I've had... not the toughest matches. I can look at this quarter-final (on Wednesday against Milos Raonic) in a totally relaxed fashion'
Factbox on Austria's Dominic Thiem, who beat German Alexander Zverev 2-6, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 7-6(6) to win the US Open title on Sunday.
Three-time US Open champion Djokovic, who comes into the tournament having won his fifth Wimbledon title, is followed in the seedings by 2017 winner Rafael Nadal.
Novak Djokovic's bid for a record 21st major title that would have completed the calendar-year Grand Slam collapsed at the final hurdle in a stunning 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 defeat by Russian Daniil Medvedev in the US Open final on Sunday.
Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal and Novak Djokovic have won the last 11 Grand Slams between them and an incredible 54 since 2003.
Debutant Stefanos Tsitsipas crushed defending champion Alexander Zverev 6-3, 6-2 on Wednesday to book his place in the last four of the ATP Finals with a match to spare.
The new crop of young players are poised for a Grand Slam breakthrough and New York's bright lights could provide the inspiration that finally gets one of them over the top, five-times US Open champion Roger Federer said on Friday.
Roger Federer got the better of old foe Rafael Nadal for the first time in more than three years to win a seventh Basel title 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 on Sunday.
Look who was watching the Wimbledon men's singles semi-final between Roger Federer and Tomas Berdych on Friday.
The victory saw him move up by three places to stand only behind Spain's Rafael Nadal and Swiss star Roger Federer.
A look at the records of Austria's Dominic Thiem and Spain's Rafael Nadal before their title clash at the French Open on Sunday.
© 2026 Rediff.com - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances