Rafael Nadal Is Better Than Roger Federer...Period.

Much has been made over the last several days about Federer's loss to Nadal in the Final of the Australian Open 2009.

The sports punditry all appear to be either amazed Federer lost or amazed Nadal won, particularly given that Federer was attempting to win his 14th Grand Slam and that Nadal was trying to come back from an exhausting five hour and 14 minute semifinal against his compatriot, Fernando Verdasco.

How was this possible? Is this the changing of the guard at the top of professional tennis? Has the king been dethroned? Can Roger possibly regroup after what appears to be a devastating loss? Can Rafael possibly maintain without injuries his impossible athleticism on the court?

Who knows? Who cares? It's only fun to watch if you aren't certain of the outcome, but in this rivalry with Nadal, the outcomes are beginning to appear pre-ordained. We, the legion of tennis fans and sports pundits will, nonetheless, watch with bated breath each and every one of the magnificent points these champions deem us worthy to observe.

And, indeed, all must admit regardless or race, color, creed, or Nadalian or Federesque leanings, these Goliathan tennis players are "champions", above all else.

Both these champions are exquisite tennis players, and unlike some others who rate Federer's game as superlative because it is effortless and elegant, there is another side to that coin. Nadal's physical skills are just as superlative, but Nadal shows us how much hard work he puts in, whereas Federer makes it look easy.

Because Nadal shows us how hard he's trying, Nadal is somehow less talented than Federer? Not according to the scoreboard. And who among us truly believes Federer doesn’t really work that hard?

Yet, when determining the better tennis player, whether from an actual match, or hypothetically, or even prospectively, one must take into account mental talents as well as physical gifts, and Nadal has these, and much, much more.

But has there been enough dissecting of the Australian Open Final and disseminating of points of view on the state of men’s tennis. Perhaps, but let me posit the reason Nadal has come out on the winning end of these more recent championship matches: Nadal has had, for the past few years, someone to raise his game for, someone against whom he must improve if he wants to win championships.  

And, indeed, Nadal wants to win championships, and he has made himself the better player for it.

Unfortunately for Federer, he has not truly had anyone over the past several years against whom he has had to raise his game consistently (save, perhaps, Roddick), against whom he has always had to find a 4th and 5th gear, against whom he must win championships if wants to be unanimously considered the “greatest ever.”

Well, he certainly does now.  

This is not to say that Federer has never found a 4th and 5th gear for his closer tennis matches, or that there are no arguments to consider Federer the “greatest ever.” I have seen Federer slam the door shut in many, many matches. It is to say Rafael Nadal has had more practice in wanting it.

The question then becomes, "What will Federer do?" Will he find a coach to help him mentally and strategically get past Nadal? Is it too late for Federer to get past Nadal given his age, and Nadal's spectacular (and improving) game?

Who knows? Who cares? No wait...that's not right. I care.

Another commentator seemed to suggest that there is no work to be done on the court for Federer. The commentator did not seem to care whether or not Federer ever beats Nadal in a final again, as Federer’s game will always be the most magnificent.

Are we really to believe it is sufficient to simply hit the ball beautifully and win the vast majority of your matches against your professional tennis contemporaries…except one? Or, at the very least, is it sufficient for Federer?

It cannot be sufficient if Federer wants to be unanimously considered the “greatest ever.” Perhaps Federer does not concern himself with this title, but Federer revealed with his weeping on Sunday that simply hitting the ball beautifully and winning most of the time does not suffice for him. He is clearly not above weeping openly after a loss in which he was emotionally and physically-vested...but is he above asking for help?