Roger Federer: Rafael Nadal Remains Only Opponent Worth Facing Federer

Roger Federer was a maestro against Dudi Sela. He will be magnificent against either Bernard Tomic or Marin Cilic. No mater who it is, Federer will steamroll through the competition.

Until he gets to Rafael Nadal. 

We are both blessed and cursed to be in the midst of a marvelous tennis rivalry. We, of course, have to take account of the usual suspects that love to ruin all the fun.

Guys like Novak Djokovic or Andy Murray may ruin the time-tested storyline. But the obvious hope is yet another matchup between two of the sport's legends. 

Federer was succinct in his assessment of his clash with Sela.

"I just think I was superior today," he said. He certainly was, as he took just 77 minutes to win, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2. 

Federer never wavered, even when he could have taken some time to rest. Why not give Sela a game? Fed knows that he needs every last ounce of rest if he is going to get over on his oldest foe. 

Looming in the future is Rafael Nadal. Nadal was the opposite of precision in his start. That is to be expected from a player that takes his time to do everything. 

The field would love to knock off the legendary stalwarts, but it is a certainty that must be savored. Federer is on the wrong side of 30 and, despite his claims, will soon see his legs leave him altogether.

At that time, we will wish for the days that the two giants met every few months in a Grand Slam. It makes you wonder what Federer is waiting for; he surely has nothing more to play for. 

For a pure competitor, it's simple. He wants one last shot at the champ, not No. 1-ranked Djokovic. He wants the win that truly matters—the one that puts him over Nadal, the pesky Spaniard. 

Then he can truly rest easy, knowing that he finished on a high note.