Roger Federer vs. Rafael Nadal: Thunder Down Under in the Australian Open Final

It is the dream final. Organizers are experiencing waves of super-charged delight and ESPN commentators are swooning in over-hyped media splendor! When Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer meet one thing is for certain—things are never dull. Even in the lopsided contests, the energy and anticipation are heart-stopping.

They have danced 18 times, mostly on clay. Rafael has led 12 times and Roger six.  The reason is simple. Roger is the second best clay court player in the world and he gets to clay tournament finals or semifinals often to meet Nadal. 

But Nadal has met Roger only eight times on surfaces other than clay—three times at Wimbledon finals including that epic Wimbledon championship in 2008.

They rarely meet outside the gritty, powdery clay surfaces where the ability to slide and the slow pace heighten Nadal’s natural talents and abilities. The man is the best clay court player the world has ever seen—yes, Mr. Borg—even better than you.

Is there anything more fitting than these two—No. 1 vs. No. 2—in the final of the first grand slam of the season? The critical factor here is that they both made it through. They will face each other for the grand prize and one of them will succeed and one will not. 

When you consider all the attention given to Andy Murray at the start of the tournament, it is easy to see why Federer felt that confidence misplaced. Nadal and Federer have won 17 of the last 20—14 of the last 15 grand slam titles. 

They know how to win. Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray are splendid young talents and they will have their place in the sun. Djokovic won this title last year. But they are not yet good enough to knock these two perennial champions off their perches.

The Australian Open inevitably brings out a new star every year. It is what makes this tournament so special. We watched Marcos Baghdatis make a run in 2006 and Fernando Gonzalez stir the crowds in 2007, and last year we watched the emergence of a crowd-pleasing Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. 

In 2009, we were stunned at the powerful game of Fernando Verdasco, who challenged Rafael Nadal through five grueling sets of tennis.

Tennis is the huge beneficiary of this blockbuster matchup because the world will focus once again on what we all hope is a memorable match between two men of staggering talent with different styles of play facing off for the final.

Who will win? Who cares? Right? Granted, all of the thousands of Federer fans will boil over with intense passion for their man to win this one and match the grand slam record of Pete Sampras. Don’t we all secretly wish to witness that once in life time event? 

All of Nadal’s legion of fans will with great fervor implore the mighty Spaniard to win on this surface and pave the way for him to bring home a calendar year grand slam. There is much ahead for the Mallorcan magician. This would mark a thrilling first step in his promised path to glory.

We are the true winners of this contest because no matter what happens, we will witness not only the two greatest tennis players on the surface of the planet battling to the end, but also history unfolding before our eyes. 

Here is the best part—no matter what happens—it is not over. It will go on and on in 2009 and beyond, and we get to be on hand during, perhaps, the era of the two greatest players to ever wield a tennis racket. 

How remarkable they co-exist to challenge each other to ever-greater heights and in the process elevate the men’s game to extraordinary levels. It just gets better and better.

So tennis fans, buckle up and batten down my mate...'cause the seas are going to be choppy and the tennis spectacular...Aussie final 2009...