As soon as Nadal got a declining Federer as a main opponent he managed to pick up four non-clay slams. (Over what...four years now?) :roll:
Fed won every non-clay slam except for one from 2004-2007. Rafa was a slam winner beginning in 2005.
Facts, BobbyOne, facts.
Here's the facts.
2004 Miami USA Hard 32 NADAL 6-3 6-3
2005 French Open FRA Clay SF NADAL 6-3 4-6 6-4 6-3
2005 Miami USA Hard FR FEDERER 6-2 7-6(4) 6-7(5) 3-6 1-6
2006 Tennis Masters Cup CHN Hard SF FEDERER 4-6 5-7
2006 Wimbledon GBR Grass FR FEDERER 0-6 6-7(5) 7-6(2) 3-6
2006 French Open FRA Clay FR NADAL 1-6 6-1 6-4 7-6(4)
2006 Rome ITA Clay FR NADAL 6-7(0) 7-6(5) 6-4 2-6 7-6(5)
2006 Monte Carlo MON Clay FR NADAL 6-2 6-7(2) 6-3 7-6(5)
2006 Dubai UAE Hard FR NADAL 2-6 6-4 6-4
2007 Tennis Masters Cup CHN Hard SF FEDERER 4-6 1-6
2007 Wimbledon GBR Grass FR FEDERER 6-7(7) 6-4 6-7(3) 6-2 2-6
2007 French Open FRA Clay FR NADAL 6-3 4-6 6-3 6-4
2007 Hamburg GER Clay FR FEDERER 6-2 2-6 0-6
2007 Monte Carlo MON Clay FR NADAL 6-4 6-4
2008 Wimbledon GBR Grass FR NADAL 6-4 6-4 6-7(5) 6-7(8) 9-7
2008 French Open FRA Clay FR NADAL 6-1 6-3 6-0
2008 Hamburg GER Clay FR NADAL 7-5 6-7(3) 6-3
2008 Monte Carlo MON Clay FR NADAL 7-5 7-5
2009 Madrid ESP Clay FR FEDERER 4-6 4-6
2009 Australian Open AUS Hard FR NADAL 7-5 3-6 7-6(3) 3-6 6-2
2010 ATP World Tour Finals GBR Hard FR FEDERER 3-6 6-3 1-6
2010 Madrid ESP Clay FR NADAL 6-4 7-6(5)
2011 ATP World Tour Finals GBR Hard FEDERER 3-6 0-6
2011 French Open FRA Clay FR NADAL 7-5 7-6(3) 5-7 6-1
2011 Madrid ESP Clay SF NADAL 5-7 6-1 6-3
2011 Miami USA Hard SF NADAL 6-3 6-2
2012 Indian Wells USA Hard SF FEDERER 3-6 4-6
2012 Australian Open AUS Hard SF NADAL 6-7(5) 6-2 7-6(5) 6-4
Every player of course, no matter how terrific they are has some questions surrounding their resume. The thing that has always disturbed me about Federer is how even a young Nadal, who was not nearly the player he was to be was able to defeat Federer on hard court and battle him on a grass court. Yes I understand about the matchup problem but that's a part of the sport.
For example Jimmy Connors was able to dominate a young Borg. Connors was able to dominate a young Lendl. Borg and Lendl weren't in their primes yet and were streamrolled by the great Connors.
Yet Federer who you would think would streamroll a young Nadal on fast surfaces was not able to.
Before people complain I do think Federer has GOAT credentials but it's a problem when you analyze the history.
Did Federer really decline in 2008 at the very young age of 27 or was it Nadal improving that may it seem that he declined? Clearly Nadal has never dominated to the extent Federer did? What are the answers?
In a way it's sort of like the Steffi Graf/Monica Seles problem.