Where would you have it? AO - a chance for federer to avenge the tears + arguably the best atmosphere. FO - a final chance for fed to beat nadal at RG W - We all know the history there US - The one slam final they have never played
that's tough. all of the choices have their merits. if i had to choose, i would pick the big W. all of the slam final scenarios have the potential to be classics. the australian would provide a nice rematch of the AO09 final on a surface where they are almost nuetral, (a relatively slow/medium speed, high bouncing hardcourt). Although the AO has a highly electric atmosphere and really tough conditions, i dont find it as prestigious as the other slams, therefore i don't really like the idea of their last slam finals meeting to be in the AO. between the other 3 choices, it was a lot tougher to choose. the french came in third in my book. it would be very nice to see an RG final between the two, let alone their last slam encounter ever(in the finals). but no matter the outcome, i dont think it changes anything. if fed beats nadal, it doesn't make him a better clay courter, perhaps a better player all-around, but not a better clay courter. if nadal wins, it just further solidifies his status as one of, if not the, best clay-courter ever. the USO came in a close second. it is the only slam nadal hasn't reached the final of. it is the only slam nadal hasn't won. if he wins it will complete his career grand slam. it may also silence some critics who don't hold any credibility to his fast hard court game and his endurance/stamina in the latter end of the season. if fed were to win, he will arguably be the best hard court player of all time, but it can also be argued that he already was. wimbledon is where i see the most drama unfolding. it is the most prestigious of all majors, where both fed and nadal have a fair chance of beating the other. from how i see it, and i will sound really biased here, it will allow fed to show that rafa is not as good of player on grass than he is. there. but kidding aside, Wimbledon's status as being the most prestigious slam plays a big role in this, it only seems fitting that their last final against each other take place in the big W. it is also each player's favorite surface (nadal's being tied with clay)
aw, paul...:neutral: It's OK. We know the Fed's got it in him! Even Nadal was quoted recently as saying his dream for 2010 would be to win Wimbledon again. As you've pointed out, that's where it's really at for most of these guys.
I'd like to see it at the French. Allow Nadal a chance to get back in top form where he has been at his best, and give Federer a chance to win the French against his biggest rival where he has been unable to beat him at. Taking nothing away from Federer's '09 French victory, but you have to know winning one over Nadal would be one the most satisfying victories of his career. I think Federer could do it, but they would both want it very badly.
hehe well at least it's not because of what I write. I will change in the end of the year. I'm also mourning. *sigh*
USO. Just so then they will have played at all GS finals, and Federer can get some revenge for all of those FO losses.
wimby or uso, because wimby final in 2008 was the greatest of all time, or uso because they havent played a final there before
Wimbledon. The other slams are a long way behind in terms of "impact" on the Game and viewership overall among non-tennis Fans. 15 years from now, every sports fan will still recall/talk about every Wimbledon final between the two. Other slam finals just don't have the same drama as Wimbledon, where it all started. Just about every player dreams of winning Wimbledon as a little kid. It's the "holy grail" of Tennis.
Nonsense, the French Open is by far the most popular slam now. Everyone knows that clay is the surface that separates the men from the boys.
Wimbledon. the last time they played there, we were given the greatest match of all time. I'd be eager to see how they'd follow it up. after that, I'd probably say FO, then AO, then USO. FO for possible revenge, AO for possible revenge, and USO for variety's sake.
uso. give rafa one more chance... assuming rafa's form was tight enough to send him to meet fed in the finals.
I'd love to see a Fed/Nadal USO final, much like the Sampras/Agassi 2002 USO final. The aging champion out to prove himself one last time versus the resurgent hot shot and long-time rival on a neutral ground (both geographically and surface wise). It would make for very interesting rhetoric for the rest of history to ponder. Don't get me wrong, I would love to see Nadal/Federer finals elsewhere, but this is where I would like to see it the most.
You've gotta be kidding me. Wimbledon, without a doubt, is the most popular slam. It was, is, and will continue to be the tournament of tennis.
I think it should be the USO. One last chance for Nadal to win his Grand Slam. One last chance for Fed to beat him in a final.
this is a great question!! tbh i want to see a lot more fed-rafa matches so perhaps what needs to happen is one of them to drop to 3!
MuseFan, what do you base your assertion that the French Open is now "the most popular" of all the Grand Slams? Define "popular" tournament for me please. I agree that among Clay Courters, many aspire to win the French, due to the realization that the FO represents their best shot at winning a Slam, but that misses the overall value of Wimbledon vs. the French Open to Tennis. I agree that Clay is the MOST PHYSICAL test overall, in terms of stamina/running ability. Yet, Wimbledon is also very physical, in that it requires a lot of quick adjusting to balls, especially to ones that drop lower, so it really works the legs as you have to constantly get down a bit lower for shots. The other Slams are not in the same league as Wimbledon in terms of "cache/prestige". That will likely always be true as long as Wimbledon maintains its traditions and plays the Tournament at The All England Club. It has too much history in relation to the other Slams.
None, Federer v Nadal matches are awful. I would rather watch Karlovic v Roddick - seeing as there are more points being won than lost.
