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The three best rivalries in tennis history: Which one comes out on top?

By Brandon Daniels

John McEnroe of the United States reaches over the net to shake hands with Bjorn Borg after defeating him during the Men's Singles Final match at the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championship on 4 July 1981 at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon in London, England. (Photo by Tony Duffy/Allsport/Getty Images)
John McEnroe of the United States reaches over the net to shake hands with Bjorn Borg after defeating him during the Men's Singles Final match at the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championship on 4 July 1981 at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon in London, England. (Photo by Tony Duffy/Allsport/Getty Images) /
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Rafael Nadal celebrates victory after beating Rodger Federer in the Wimbledon Tennis Championships Mens Final 6th July 2008. (Photo by David Ashdown/Getty Images)
Rafael Nadal celebrates victory after beating Rodger Federer in the Wimbledon Tennis Championships Mens Final 6th July 2008. (Photo by David Ashdown/Getty Images) /

2. Roger Federer vs Rafael Nadal (2004-Present)

Head-to-head: 24-16 (Nadal)

Grand Slam head-to-head: 10-4, 6-3 in finals (Nadal)

Grand Slam Titles: Federer – 20, Nadal – 19

It’s fair to say that the Navratilova-Evert rivalry is the greatest in tennis, but only closely ahead of this. Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are arguably the two greatest tennis players, at least on the male side, in history. They rank #1 and #2 in major championships won on the ATP Tour and are the faces of tennis. Their contrasting styles leave little doubt that every single match they play is one you can’t miss, with Roger’s art-like grace combatting Rafa’s primal game every single time the two step out onto the court.

It’s obvious that recency bias might come into effect here. Evert-Navratilova was more important for the establishment of the modern game, but the ‘Fedal’ rivalry is what defines tennis. They are the true definition of the sport: two players, distinct in their own style, constantly battling each other for the top spot. Both hardcore tennis fans and casual ones can watch and enjoy any one of their matches. Some like Federer’s grace on the court, making the game look too easy, whereas some prefer the grinder mentality and intensity that Nadal brings to the court. This is why Fedal is the most recognizable and popular in tennis.

Federer-Nadal might not be the end-all, be-all greatest tennis rivalry ever, but it has, without a doubt, the greatest tennis match in history. The 2008 Wimbledon Final was incredible in so many ways. For starters, the nearly 5-hour match was delayed heavily by rain, leading to a nighttime finish with barely any light left as Nadal prevailed in a thrilling five sets. The 6-4, 6-4, 6-7, 6-7, 9-7 victory by the Spaniard marked the first time he was able to capture a major championship outside of Roland Garros. It was also Nadal’s first victory over Federer on grass, a surface that still holds as his toughest challenge (and alternatively, Federer’s best).

What makes this rivalry so incredible is the fact that, after more than 15 years, Federer and Nadal still can produce some of the best tennis of the year at any given point. Take, for example, the 2017 Australian Open. Both players were said to be out of their primes and falling behind the dominance of Novak Djokovic. Federer’s  6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 defeat of Nadal was his first major victory over Nadal since the 2007 Wimbledon final. Even now, the two still battle it out on the game’s biggest stages, most recently at the 2019 Wimbledon semifinal (a 4-set Federer victory). Tennis would never have been the same if these two never faced off against each other.

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