Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, side by side, warming up; it is a sight both thrilling and incredible for an average Indian tennis fan.
Their arrival exploded the Indira Gandhi stadium that had somehow held itself in breathless anticipation. The maddening applause, piercing whistles, the screaming fans, the uninterrupted clicks of cameras; it was a moment to soak in, behold, and to live with for a lifetime.
The turnout for the India leg of International Premier Tennis League (IPTL) had been cold this year. But the prospect of reliving one of the greatest rivalries in sport finally pulled an impressive number to the galleries on Saturday, though, it still dimmed in comparison to the inaugural year.
Together Federer and Nadal have experienced the moments which define the dreams of any sports person; together they have given the audiences the spectacle that has beaten the far reaches of their fantasies.
The two shared a smile and a handshake when they met each other on court. The crowd went berserk. In no time, Federer was all focused, practicing his volleys, Nadal stoic at the baseline.
Later, the two gave a glimpse of their celebrated match-up, first in the men’s doubles, later in the singles showdown with Nadal coming on top both the time; much in line with their head-to-head statistics of 23-11 in favour of the Spaniard. Their rivalry, though, goes beyond that.
“I was a bit rusty but I played good tennis. At the same time, Rafa played very well,” said Federer.
Nadal added: “We played some important points, some of which I won. It is always great to play against Roger.”
The two were quick to catch up with each other after the match. They have always shared mutual respect, not animosity; that can be left to their fans.
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