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After winning the French Open a sixth time and increasing his major title count up to 10, the question was could Rafael Nadal finish his career with more grand slam trophies than Roger Federer.
It didn’t seem unreasonable considering Nadal had won four of the last five majors going into this year’s Wimbledon. But there was this nagging feeling in Rafael’s gut following his victory over Federer at the French. The Spaniard knew he dodged a bullet when Novak Djokovic lost in the semifinal to Fed.
You see, Rafa already knew what few people would admit aloud. The new and improved Djokovic was kryptonite to Nadal. Novak had become to Nadal what Nadal was to Federer. A career killer.
Roger Federer cried after losing to Nadal in 2009 Australian Open final because he knew he played his best tennis and lost to a better player. Rafa is about to go through the same thing with Novak.
Djokovic is now 5-0 against Nadal this season after the four-set win in the final at Wimbledon, and don’t think those four wins Novak notched over Nadal earlier this year didn’t mess with Rafa’s confidence.
"When one player beat you five times, (it's) because today my game don't bother him a lot," Nadal said after the match. "Probably, the mental part is little bit dangerous for me."
Roger Federer can smile now knowing that Nadal is now moving into a role that the Swiss master had trouble accepting: The world’s second best player.
It didn’t seem unreasonable considering Nadal had won four of the last five majors going into this year’s Wimbledon. But there was this nagging feeling in Rafael’s gut following his victory over Federer at the French. The Spaniard knew he dodged a bullet when Novak Djokovic lost in the semifinal to Fed.
You see, Rafa already knew what few people would admit aloud. The new and improved Djokovic was kryptonite to Nadal. Novak had become to Nadal what Nadal was to Federer. A career killer.
Roger Federer cried after losing to Nadal in 2009 Australian Open final because he knew he played his best tennis and lost to a better player. Rafa is about to go through the same thing with Novak.
Djokovic is now 5-0 against Nadal this season after the four-set win in the final at Wimbledon, and don’t think those four wins Novak notched over Nadal earlier this year didn’t mess with Rafa’s confidence.
"When one player beat you five times, (it's) because today my game don't bother him a lot," Nadal said after the match. "Probably, the mental part is little bit dangerous for me."
Roger Federer can smile now knowing that Nadal is now moving into a role that the Swiss master had trouble accepting: The world’s second best player.
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