The Federer vs Nadal rivalry will probably go down as one of the best rivalries in tennis history.
Federer and Nadal have played each other a total of 40 times on the ATP Tour with Rafael Nadal leading their head to head 24-16.
The last time Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal played each other was in the semifinals of the 2019 Wimbledon Championships with Federer winning the match in 4 sets (7-6, 1-6, 6-3, 6-4).
Federer vs Nadal Head to Head Stats
Federer vs Nadal Head to Head at the Grand Slams
Federer and Nadal played each other a total of 14 times in grand slam tournaments with Nadal leading the grand slam head to head 10-4.
Of the 14 matches they played in grand slam tournaments, nine of the matches were in the final with the remaining five matches being a semi-final.
In total, they played each other four times at the Australian Open (2009, 2012, 2014, and 2017), six times at the French Open (2005, 2006, 2007, 2011, and 2019), and four times at the Wimbledon Championships (2006, 2007, 2008, and 2019).
Despite playing each other 14 times in grand slam tournaments, they never played each other at the US Open.
| Year | Grand Slam | Round | Winner | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Wimbledon | Semi-Final | Federer | 7-6, 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 |
| 2019 | French Open | Semi-Final | Nadal | 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 |
| 2017 | Australian Open | Final | Federer | 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 |
| 2014 | Australian Open | Semi-Final | Nadal | 7-6, 6-3,6-3 |
| 2012 | Australian Open | Semi-Final | Nadal | 6-7, 6-2, 7-6, 6-4 |
| 2011 | French Open | Final | Nadal | 7-5, 7-6, 5-7, 6-1 |
| 2009 | Australian Open | Final | Nadal | 7-5, 3-6, 7-6, 3-6, 6-2 |
| 2008 | Wimbledon | Final | Nadal | 6-4, 6-4, 6-7, 6-7, 9-7 |
| 2008 | French Open | Final | Nadal | 6-1, 6-3, 6-0 |
| 2007 | Wimbledon | Final | Federer | 7-6, 4-6, 7-6, 2-6, 6-2 |
| 2007 | French Open | Final | Nadal | 6-3, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 |
| 2006 | Wimbledon | Final | Federer | 6-0, 7-6, 6-7, 6-3 |
| 2006 | French Open | Final | Nadal | 1-6, 6-1, 6-4, 7-6 |
| 2005 | French Open | Semi-Final | Nadal | 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 |
Federer vs Nadal Head to Head by Surface
Out of the 40 times, Federer and Nadal played each other, four of the matches have been played on grass, 16 have been played on clay, and 20 have been played on a hard court.
Federer vs Nadal Head to Head on Grass
Federer and Nadal played each other four times on grass (all at Wimbledon) with Federer leading the head to head on grass 3-1.
The one match where Nadal beat Federer on grass was in the 2008 final which is widely regarded as one of the best tennis matches of all time.
| Year | Tournament | Round | Winner | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Wimbledon | Semi-Finals | Federer | 7-6, 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 |
| 2008 | Wimbledon | Final | Nadal | 6-4, 6-4, 6-7, 6-7, 9-7 |
| 2007 | Wimbledon | Final | Federer | 7-6, 4-6, 7-6, 2-6, 6-2 |
| 2006 | Wimbledon | Final | Federer | 6-0, 7-6, 6-7, 6-3 |
Federer vs Nadal Head to Head on Clay
Rafael Nadal the “King of Clay” dominated Roger Federer on clay with Federer only winning two out of the 16 matches they played on clay.
| Year | Tournament | Round | Winner | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | French Open | Semi-Finals | Nadal | 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 |
| 2013 | Rome Open | Final | Nadal | 6-3, 6-3 |
| 2011 | French Open | Final | Nadal | 7-5, 7-6, 5-7, 6-1 |
| 2011 | Madrid Open | Semi-Finals | Nadal | 5-7, 6-1, 6-3 |
| 2010 | Madrid Open | Final | Nadal | 6-4, 7-6 |
| 2009 | Madrid Open | Final | Federer | 6-4, 6-4 |
| 2008 | French Open | Final | Nadal | 6-1, 6-3, 6-0 |
| 2008 | Hamburg Open | Final | Nadal | 7-5, 6-7, 6-3 |
| 2008 | Monte Carlo Masters | Final | Nadal | 7-5, 7-5 |
| 2007 | French Open | Final | Nadal | 6-3, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 |
| 2007 | Hamburg Open | Final | Federer | 2-6, 6-2, 6-0 |
| 2007 | Monte Carlo Masters | Final | Nadal | 6-4, 6-4 |
| 2006 | French Open | Final | Nadal | 1-6, 6-1, 6-4, 7-6 |
| 2006 | Rome Open | Final | Nadal | 6-7, 7-6, 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 |
| 2006 | Monte Carlo Masters | Final | Nadal | 6-2, 6-7, 6-3, 7-6 |
| 2006 | French Open | Semi-Final | Nadal | 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 |
Federer vs Nadal Head to Head on Hard Courts
Federer and Nadal played each other a total of 20 times on hard courts (indoor and outdoor) with Federer leading their hard court head to head 12-8.
The 20 matches do not include a walkover Federer received when Nadal pulled out of the 2019 ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Indian Wells.
| Year | Tournament | Round | Winner | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Shanghai Masters | Final | Federer | 6-4, 6-3 |
| 2017 | Miami Open | Final | Federer | 6-3, 6-4 |
| 2017 | BNP Paribas Open | Round of 16 | Federer | 6-2, 6-3 |
| 2017 | Australian Open | Final | Federer | 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 |
| 2015 | ATP Basel | Final | Federer | 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 |
| 2014 | Australian Open | Semi-Final | Nadal | 7-6, 6-3,6-3 |
| 2013 | ATP Finals | Semi-Final | Nadal | 7-5, 6-3 |
| 2013 | Cincinnati Open | Quater-Final | Nadal | 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 |
| 2013 | BNP Paribas Open | Quater-Final | Nadal | 6-4, 6-2 |
| 2012 | BNP Paribas Open | Semi-Final | Federer | 6-3, 6-4 |
| 2012 | Australian Open | Semi-Final | Nadal | 6-7, 6-2, 7-6, 6-4 |
| 2011 | ATP Finals | Round Robin | Federer | 6-3, 6-0 |
| 2011 | Miami Open | Semi-Final | Nadal | 6-3, 6-2 |
| 2010 | ATP Finals | Final | Federer | 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 |
| 2009 | Australian Open | Final | Nadal | 7-5, 3-6, 7-6, 3-6, 6-2 |
| 2007 | Tennis Masters Cup | Semi-Final | Federer | 6-4, 6-1 |
| 2006 | Tennis Masters Cup | Semi-Final | Federer | 6-4, 7-5 |
| 2006 | ATP Dubai | Final | Nadal | 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 |
| 2005 | Miami Open | Final | Federer | 2-6, 6-7, 7-6, 6-3, 6-1 |
| 2004 | Miami Open | Round of 32 | Nadal | 6-3, 6-3 |
Federer vs Nadal matches played per year
Federer and Nadal first played each other in 2004 and since then they have played each other a total of 40 times.
Their last H2H match was in 2019 in the semifinals of the Wimbledon Championships.
| Year | Matches Played | Federer Wins | Nadal Wins | H2H (Federer – Nadal) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0-1 |
| 2005 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1-2 |
| 2006 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 3-6 |
| 2007 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 6-8 |
| 2008 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 6-12 |
| 2009 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7-13 |
| 2010 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 8-14 |
| 2011 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 9-17 |
| 2012 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 10-18 |
| 2013 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 10-22 |
| 2014 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 10-23 |
| 2015 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 11-23 |
| 2016 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11-23 |
| 2017 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 15-23 |
| 2018 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15-23 |
| 2019 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 16-24 |
| 2020 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16-24 |
| 2021 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16-24 |
| 2022 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16-24 |
Below are match highlights from probably their most famous H2H match in the 2008 Wimbledon singles final.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Federer and Nadal Rivalry
When did Nadal beat Federer at Wimbledon?
Rafael Nadal beat Roger Federer in the 2008 Wimbledon Final in five sets (6-4, 6-4, 6-7, 6-7, 9-7).
How many times did Federer beat Nadal at Wimbledon?
Federer beat Nadal in the Wimbledon finals of 2006 and 2007 and in the Wimbledon semi-finals of 2019.
When did Federer and Nadal first play each other?
Their first match was in a round of 32 match at the Miami Open tournament in 2004, with Nadal winning the match in straight sets 6-3, 6-3.
Have Federer and Nadal ever played each other in the US Open?
No, The US Open is the only grand slam where Federer and Nadal have not played each other.
Who has won more Grand Slam titles?
Rafael Nadal has won 22 grand slam titles which is two more than Roger Federer has won.
Who has won more Masters 1000 titles?
Nadal has won 36 Masters 1000 titles while Federer has won a total of 28.
Who has won more ATP career titles?
Is Federer or Nadal the GOAT (Greatest Of All Time)?
There is no easy answer to this question. You have to wait until Djokovic, Federer, and Nadal have finished their playing careers then you can make a judgment on who really was the GOAT.
Has Federer and Nadal ever played doubles together?
Yes, they played doubles together for the Europe team in the 2017 Laver Cup. Roger and Rafa beat Sam Querrey and Jack Sock 6-4, 1-6, 10-5 in the doubles match on day 2 of the event, with Team Europe going on to win the 2017 Laver Cup 15-9.
Is Federer or Nadal taller?
Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are the exact same height (1.85m).