Federer relishing Nadal showdown
THEY ARE YET TO MEET AT FLUSHING MEADOWS But the world No 1 would prefer someone else in semifinal.
If the tennis gods have their way, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer will be stepping out for a semifinal showdown a week on Friday for their first ever battle at the US Open.
After 37 meetings all over the world, including in the final of each of the other three Grand Slams, a US Open clash would complete the set.
It is a contest Wimbledon champion Federer, who beat Nadal to win the Australian Open in January, would relish, having also beaten his long-time rival in Indian Wells and Miami this year.
But Nadal, who regained the world No 1 ranking this month to be the top seed in New York, is focused on the bigger picture.
“I prefer to play against another one,” Nadal told a news conference at Flushing Meadows. “Is obvious, no? I am not that way. It sounds very good, but the real thing is I prefer to play against another player, an easier one if it’s possible.
“I know you want to hear the other way – that I would love to play him. No, of course I understand it is going to be great for our history.
“It is true we have played in all the other Grand Slam finals. We never played here and this year we are not going to play in the final.
“Meeting him here in the semifinals, if that happens that will be something great and amazing.”
Nadal is back as world No 1 for the first time since 2014, having won his 10th French Open title in Paris in June.
A couple of underwhelming performances in the two Masters 1000 events this summer has not affected his confidence and he is hopeful of a third US Open title, his first since 2013.
“It’s good to be number one in the world again, of course,” he said. “I think it’s a good achievement after three years having some troubles. So, just happy for that.
“For the moment I am very happy the way I played during the whole season. I enjoyed almost every event I played.”
Federer, on the other hand, says he would love a big match against Nadal at the US Open for the first time.
“We never played here in New York so I think that would be fun for everybody involved,” he said. “But there are about 60 players between us who don’t want it.
“I’d love to play Rafa here in New York.”
Nadal leads Federer 24-13 overall and 9-3 in Grand Slams but has lost their last four meetings. –