"Sometimes you just stir up stuff, there's nothing really there" - When Roger Federer slammed media for predicting end of his & Rafael Nadal's era
Roger Federer once criticized a journalist for trying to stir up controversy by questioning whether his and Rafael Nadal’s era of dominance was coming to an end. He made the remarks during the ATP Finals in 2010.
Federer was placed in Group B with Robin Soderling, Andy Murray, and David Ferrer, while Nadal was in Group A with Novak Djokovic, Andy Roddick, and Tomas Berdych. The two eventually faced off in the championship match, where the Swiss defeated the Spaniard to claim the title.
Later, in a press conference, a journalist asked Federer about the "many people" who believed that he and Nadal were approaching the end of their dominance after experiencing some form slumps in 2009.
"Rafael Nadal was 11 months without winning a title. You had ups and downs last year. Many people thought it was an end of the domination of Nadal/Federer. This year you won all the four slams, you and Nadal. Is this going on now? Do you think the domination, Nadal/Federer, will go on also next year?" the journalist asked.
The 20-time Major champion replied:
"I'm not sure it's that many. After all, sometimes you just stir up stuff and there's nothing really there."
"Obviously, with Rafa having won three Grand Slams in a row, seems like not many people stopping him. And now that I've found back to my best form as well, when I'm on, that's a hard thing to do," he added.
In 2009, Rafael Nadal faced a surprising defeat at the French Open when Robin Soderling knocked him out in the fourth round. This marked his only loss at Roland Garros, a streak that remained unbroken until 2015.
It was later revealed that the Mallorcan had been struggling with tendinitis in both knees, which significantly impacted his season and eventually forced him to withdraw from Wimbledon that year.
Meanwhile, Federer also had a rough start to 2009, falling to Nadal in the Australian Open final and facing difficulties in the following months. He entered the clay season without a title but turned things around with a crucial win at the Madrid Masters. From then on, the Swiss found his stride, ultimately finishing the year as the World No. 1.
A look into Roger Federer & Rafael Nadal's head-to-head record
Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer shared one of the most legendary rivalries in tennis. Across their 40 meetings, the former came out on top with a 24-16 record. Their first encounter was in 2004, and over the years, they treated fans to some unforgettable matches, especially in the Grand Slam finals.
Nadal's dominance on clay was clear, winning 14 of their 16 matches on the surface, while Federer had the edge on grass (3-1) and a close rivalry on hard courts (13-10 for Federer).
Some of their battles, like the 2008 Wimbledon final, where the Spaniard won in an epic five-set showdown, are still talked about as the greatest matches ever played. The Swiss' triumph in the 2017 Australian Open final is another classic in their storied rivalry.
Despite their fierce on-court battles, their mutual respect and friendship only made their rivalry more special.