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Tennis
How Federer’s key change helped him turn tide vs Nadal
TL;DR
Roger Federer initially struggled against Rafael Nadal, losing 15 of their first 19 matches. However, from 2008 to 2014, Federer made key changes that led him to win six out of their next seven encounters.
Key points
- Federer lost 15 of 19 matches to Nadal initially
- From 2008 to 2014, Federer won six of seven matches against Nadal
- Federer made key changes to his game to achieve this turnaround
Mentioned in this story
Roger FedererRafael Nadal
Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
Roger Federer’s early career head-to-head with Rafael Nadal painted a one-sided picture in favour of the Spaniard…
From 2008 to 2014, Nadal claimed 15 wins out of their 19 meetings.
But Federer soon shifted the balance, taking six wins from their next seven encounters. What did he change to spark that turnaround?
How Ivan Ljubicic helped Roger Federer’s game against Nadal
Photo by Simon Bruty/Anychance/Getty Images
On the latest episode of ‘Beyond the Numbers’, Jim Courier broke down how Federer’s approach to playing Nadal shifted.
“He had to take six months off after he lost in the quarters of Wimbledon in 2016,” said Courier.
“That was an interesting period because that was the time when Ivan Ljubicic finally convinced him to change to a bigger racket.
“That helped him solve the riddle of [Rafael] Nadal.
“He went on a run against Rafa because he had a bigger sweet spot, and he was willing to make the backhand earlier, and that was a massive difference.”
Courier then recalled: “Do you remember that Australian Open final in 2017?”
Jessica Pegula’s coach, Mark Knowles, weighed in on how big of a step it was for Federer to switch rackets.
How Federer explained the impact of his new racket
Speaking after his fourth-round win at Indian Wells in 2017, Federer spoke about the impact of switching to a bigger racket and how it had impacted his game. The former World No.1 said:
“I think the backhand has gotten better because I have been able to put in so many hours on the racket now.”
Q&A
What changes did Federer make to beat Nadal?
Federer adjusted his playing style and strategy, which contributed to his success in their later matches.
What was Federer and Nadal's head-to-head record before 2014?
Before 2014, Nadal won 15 out of their 19 matches against Federer.
How did Federer's performance against Nadal change after 2014?
After 2014, Federer significantly improved his performance, winning six of their next seven encounters.
