Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal shared an iconic rivalry that shaped a significant period in tennis history.
Together, they accumulated 42 Grand Slam titles and fiercely competed at the highest level of the ATP Tour for nearly two decades.
The duo faced off in nine Major finals, with Nadal triumphing in six, facing losses only at Wimbledon (2006, 2007) and the Australian Open (2017).
Federer and Nadal delivered numerous unforgettable matches that remain vivid in the minds of those who witnessed them firsthand.
Nadal’s victory over Federer in the 2008 Wimbledon final is often regarded as the ‘greatest match ever played’.
Rafael Nadal’s Epic Five-Hour Win Over Roger Federer at the Italian Open 19 Years Ago
Before their 2006 encounter at the Italian Open, Nadal and Federer had faced each other five times, with Nadal generally coming out on top during the early stages of their rivalry.
Nadal’s Path to the 2006 Italian Open Final
- 2006 Italian Open SF – Rafael Nadal defeated Gael Monfils, 6-2, 6-2
- 2006 Italian Open QF – Rafael Nadal defeated Fernando Gonzalez, 6-4, 6-3
- 2006 Italian Open 3R – Rafael Nadal defeated Tim Henman, 6-2, 6-2
- 2006 Italian Open 2R – Rafael Nadal defeated Filippo Volandri, 6-1, 6-2
- 2006 Italian Open 1R – Rafael Nadal defeated Carlos Moya, 6-1, 2-6, 6-2
Nadal, fresh from titles in Barcelona and Monte-Carlo, showed impressive form in Rome, successfully navigating a challenging first-round match against Carlos Moya before reaching the final.
Federer’s Journey to the 2006 Italian Open Final
- 2006 Italian Open SF – Roger Federer defeated David Nalbandian, 6-3, 3-6, 7-6
- 2006 Italian Open QF – Roger Federer defeated Nicolas Almagro, 6-3, 6-7, 7-5
- 2006 Italian Open 3R – Roger Federer defeated Radek Stepanek, 6-1, 6-4
- 2006 Italian Open 2R – Roger Federer defeated Potito Starace, 6-3, 7-6
- 2006 Italian Open 1R – Roger Federer defeated Juan Ignacio Chela, 6-2, 6-1
The final kicked off with intense play, with Federer taking the first set in a tiebreak, 7-6 [7-0]. He maintained his momentum in the second until Nadal fought back to equalize, also winning the second set in a tiebreak, 7-6 [7-5].
Shifting gears, Nadal broke Federer’s serve to claim the third set, 6-4. Federer then rebounded to win the fourth set convincingly, sending the match to a deciding set.
In a dramatic fifth set, Federer was ahead 4-1 before Nadal fought back to reach 4-4. At 5-6, Federer had two match points on Nadal’s serve but was unsuccessful, ultimately losing the match in another tightly contested tiebreak, finishing with scores of 6-7, 7-6, 6-4, 2-6, 7-6.
After five hours of exhilarating tennis, Nadal emerged victorious, capturing the title in what is regarded as one of the sport’s finest clay-court matches.
Nadal’s win marked his 53rd consecutive victory on clay, matching Guillermo Vilas’ long-standing record. In a recent interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, Nadal expressed nostalgia about this iconic match against Federer.
“In Rome, I experienced emotional moments; those finals were incredible,” Nadal remarked on his previous encounters, highlighting memorable moments from both his 2005 final against Guillermo Coria and the 2006 final against Federer.
Did They Meet Again at the Italian Open?
Initially, Nadal and Federer faced each other just once more in Rome, when they met again in the final seven years later. This rematch, however, didn’t reach the heights of their first encounter, as Nadal dominated Federer in straight sets, 6-1, 6-3, winning his seventh title in Rome.
Nadal went on to secure three more titles in Rome, retiring in 2024 as an unmatched ten-time champion. The intrigue surrounding the 2025 Italian Open continues, as tennis fans eagerly await the outcome of the title match on May 18.
