Spring Break
Federer vs. Nadal: The rivalry no one knows about
By: James Mason
Issue date: 7/13/07 Section: Sports
Originally published: 7/13/07 at 12:19 AM EST
Last update: 7/13/07 at 12:18 AM EST
Originally published: 7/13/07 at 12:19 AM EST
Last update: 7/13/07 at 12:18 AM EST
If a tree falls in the woods and nobody hears it, does it make a sound? I always thought that was a dumb riddle. However, it's definitely relevant to the best rivalry in sports. The best rivalry in sports is not found in Major League Baseball, the NBA, or even the NFL - America's favorite. In fact, the world's game (soccer) is not even home to sport's greatest rivalry. This rivalry can be found in professional tennis.
Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are ranked No. 1 and 2 respectively on the ATP tour. The 25-year-old Federer has 11 Grand Slam titles, all since 2003, and 49 career tournament victories and counting. Nadal, 21, has been the reigning French Open champion since 2005. In addition to his three French Open titles, he's won 22 tournaments. Federer has been No. 1 in tennis since February 2, 2004, while Nadal has been No. 2 since July 25, 2005. These two don't seem to slow down, and have combined to win every Grand Slam title since the 2005 Australian Open.
Unfortunately for tennis, nobody seems to be paying attention in the United States. Federer is beginning to get recognition as one of the games greats here in the U.S., and he is frequently compared to Tiger Woods. Nadal, on the other hand, is barely mentioned in the U.S. unless its French Open time.
Granted, tennis is not one of the major sports in the country. It is far behind the three major leagues (NFL, MLB, NBA), it's definitely behind NASCAR and golf, and probably even behind hockey right now. This is largely due to the fact that the Federer vs. Nadal rivalry has been pretty much downplayed in the states.
Women's tennis, which is more popular than men's tennis, can rely on the looks of Maria Sharapova and its mercurial American stars Venus and Serena Williams to keep it relevant in the American sports scene.
On the men's side, Andy Roddick and James Blake get just as much, if not more coverage and attention than Federer and Nadal. Roddick and Blake, America's best in men's tennis right now, have a combined 31 wins and 1 grand slam. They are good players, but they shouldn't get as much coverage as someone like Rafael Nadal. I understand that they are Americans, but I thought that Americans liked greatness, period.
Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are ranked No. 1 and 2 respectively on the ATP tour. The 25-year-old Federer has 11 Grand Slam titles, all since 2003, and 49 career tournament victories and counting. Nadal, 21, has been the reigning French Open champion since 2005. In addition to his three French Open titles, he's won 22 tournaments. Federer has been No. 1 in tennis since February 2, 2004, while Nadal has been No. 2 since July 25, 2005. These two don't seem to slow down, and have combined to win every Grand Slam title since the 2005 Australian Open.
Unfortunately for tennis, nobody seems to be paying attention in the United States. Federer is beginning to get recognition as one of the games greats here in the U.S., and he is frequently compared to Tiger Woods. Nadal, on the other hand, is barely mentioned in the U.S. unless its French Open time.
Granted, tennis is not one of the major sports in the country. It is far behind the three major leagues (NFL, MLB, NBA), it's definitely behind NASCAR and golf, and probably even behind hockey right now. This is largely due to the fact that the Federer vs. Nadal rivalry has been pretty much downplayed in the states.
Women's tennis, which is more popular than men's tennis, can rely on the looks of Maria Sharapova and its mercurial American stars Venus and Serena Williams to keep it relevant in the American sports scene.
On the men's side, Andy Roddick and James Blake get just as much, if not more coverage and attention than Federer and Nadal. Roddick and Blake, America's best in men's tennis right now, have a combined 31 wins and 1 grand slam. They are good players, but they shouldn't get as much coverage as someone like Rafael Nadal. I understand that they are Americans, but I thought that Americans liked greatness, period.
JM
posted 7/13/07 @ 2:12 AM EST
Tennis fans have known about them for ages. Who cares what the casual US sports fan thinks?