When Roger and Rafa Played in India
For tennis fans, the mention of Federer vs. Nadal conjures up memories of their classic Wimbledon final in 2008. For the more than 13,000 fans in the Indira Gandhi Stadium on Saturday night who got the chance to see the two greatest players of all time clash in their own country, the mention of Federer vs. Nadal will conjure up the memory of IPTL2 in New Delhi.. the anticipation, the hype and perhaps the disappointment.
For hardcore fans accustomed to seeing their favourites battle it out over five long arduous sets in Grand Slams, the IPTL format comes with its obvious shortcomings. But the fans who paid anywhere between INR 4,000 to INR 48,000 for the three-day pass (you cannot buy a one-day pass) were very much aware of the same. They were there to see Federer and Nadal live in action, not to see a Grand Slam level showdown.
The IPTL format throws up strange scenarios.. like when the crowd got wildly cheering ‘Roger, Roger’ even though he was playing for the UAE Royals while Nadal was playing for the home team, the Indian Aces. And while league promoter Mahesh Bhupathi was happy to have more than 13,000 fans in the Stadium, the buzz, excitement and crowds were somewhat muted as compared to last year when Federer, playing for the Indian Aces then, took on Novak Djokovic. It didn't help that by the time the two rivals took to the court, the Aces already had an insurmountable 24-14 lead in the tie, although the IPTL format means that each game still counts towards the final standings.
While the quality of play may not have been anywhere as close to their Wimbledon final, there were some memorable moments and rallies. Like when Federer shanked the ball on the very first point of the match or when he hit an ace with the help of a net cord and then jokingly fist pumped on the next. Or when the Chair umpire thought he was umpiring a regular tour match and mistakenly called a let on a serve, something well within the IPTL rules. Or when Nadal scooped a forehand pass on a Federer drop shot that had the crowd enchanted.
There was the full repertoire of shots that have made the two the legends that they are. The long-winding Rafa forehand, the two-fisted backhand.. the Federer slice, the crisp Federer volley, the smooth Federer forehand the not-so-smooth Federer topspin backhand.
As far as the set is concerned, Nadal broke Federer in the first game and then held on for 2-0 before the Swiss broke back and levelled the match at 2-2. The Spaniard broke once again to go up 4-2 and then held for 5-3 before the Swiss broke back to 5-5. The tie-break saw Nadal jump to a 5-1 lead before Federer brought it back to 4-5, but the Spaniard finally wrapped up the set 7-4 to give the Aces a comprehensive 30-19 win in the tie.
When I look back on the match, I'm more likely to remember the post-match press conference where Nadal and Federer let their guard down and joked with the media, displaying the friendliness and respect that is as much a part of their rivalry as are their epic clashes and contrast of styles. For the other fans in the Stadium, the game may not have been of Grand Slam level but they will surely remember watching their idols live in action if nothing else. But when you look back at the rivalry, the fans, as well as me will still remember watching their 2008 final on television rather than watching their one set shootout in the Stadium.