RAFA v ROGER
It’s now 20 Slams each but Fed is the greatest... just!
FOREHAND
ROGER: This shot is a bit of a throwback to the 1980s, a flatter stroke than Rafa’s without the extreme western grip. Devastating from anywhere on the court but not quite the monster that the Spaniard possesses. 9/10 RAFA: A unique shot which sees him almost hit his head on the follow- through. But that is what gives it so much power and spin, making it bounce up high in a way that has, in particular, broken down so many opposing backhands. 10/10
BACKHAND
ROGER: Again, a classic old-school sort of stroke that has served Roger so well and is especially good on quicker surfaces. His backhand slice, which imparts a deceptive amount of spin, is better than that of his rival.
8/10 RAFA: An area which, 10 years ago, was a bit of a weakness in terms of variety but has massively improved. Rafa benefits from being ambidextrous and, on the day, I thought it was a key shot in winning Sunday’s final. 8/10
VOLLEY
ROGER: His hand- eye co- ordination is so good, and he picks up the ball so early, that he can do pretty much what he wants with his volley. As someone who has come to the net so often from early in his career, he is supremely comfortable there. 10/10 RAFA: He also has a fantastic eye and this is an area of his game that is sometimes under-rated. The baseline is his natural territory but most players would love to have his touch around the net as well. 9/10
SERVE
ROGER: Incredibly accurate in terms of picking his spots and hard to read for his opponents. He also delivers a great second serve from what is another classical part of his game with a smooth and almost effortless-looking action. 9/10 RAFA: This can be put in the category of another area that Rafa has improved in the past 10 years, as it was originally a weakness. He has adapted his technique to make it more powerful and varied. 8/10
MOVEMENT
ROGER: Clearly not quite at the level now that it was 10 years ago but still incredibly good for his age. Roger has always moved almost like a dancer and he uses small, quick steps to get himself into the right position. 9/10 RAFA: For someone of his size and muscularity, he is an incredible mover. As we saw on Sunday, the way he scrambles around to get so many balls back from seemingly impossible situations is scarcely believable.
10/10
ALL-ROUNDER
ROGER: You could argue that clay has been a bit of a weakness, but obviously he has the edge over Rafa on grass. How do you not give 10 to someone who has won 20 Slams across the surfaces?
10/10 RAFA: Yes the majority of his majors are on clay, but he has won Wimbledon twice and let’s not forget four US Opens over a nine-year timespan to go with his Australian Open. Again that has to make him a 10. 10/10
KILLER INSTINCT
ROGER: Perhaps not quite what it was at the peak of his career but don’t be fooled by Roger’s demeanour. He is a ruthless competitor but probably just does it all with a bit more of a smile than Rafa does.
10/10 RAFA: A bit more of an open book, the Spaniard never veers from having that look of ferocious determination. He also possesses extraordinary powers of concentration over long periods. 10/10
LONGEVITY
ROGER: You cannot argue with someone who is still at the top of the game when he is not that far off his 40th birthday. I think he still believes he can win another Slam, especially Wimbledon, otherwise he wouldn’t play. 10/10 RAFA: I am surprised he has kept on as long as he has with his intense game style. We cannot be sure what will happen to him between now and 39 but he is ultra-professional with his lifestyle and recovery so can play on for a while. 9/10
POPULARITY
ROGER: One of sport’s great global ambassadors and maybe among the world’s most famous people. You could put him alongside the likes of Muhammad Ali and Michael Jordan. He is probably even more well-liked than Rafa but that is an incredibly high bar. 10+/10 RAFA: I first met Rafa when he was 14 and can honestly say he hasn’t
changed. I think people recognise his humility and the respectful way in which he carries himself. He is someone to be enormously admired. 10/10
PS: DON’T FORGET NOVAK
The scoreline of Sunday’s final was probably a bit harsh on Djokovic. He did not play his best but I do not think he played as badly as it suggests.
Even if he had been at his peak level I still do not think he would have beaten Nadal on that form. A big factor was his semi-final match against Stefanos Tsitsipas. If he had closed that out in three sets instead of going to five on the Friday night I am sure we would have seen a closer final than 6-0, 6-2, 7-5. It would be very foolish to write him out of the scenario of who can end up winning the most majors, especially as he could remain competitive for at least five years. He regrouped well after what happened at the US Open and next up is the major where he has such a phenomenal record: the Australian Open. So by the next French Open, he could be within two of the others. What will be fascinating to see is how quickly the younger pack take to close the gap on the incredible threesome.