The Federer vs Nadal rivalry will probably go down as one of the best rivalries in tennis history.
As Federer is undergoing another operation on his knee, it is unclear whether we will ever see the two tennis greats play each other in a competitive match again.
Therefore I decided to look back on their rivalry and the H2H Stats over the 40 matches they have played over the last two decades including the nine grand slam finals they played against each other.
Table of Contents
- Federer vs Nadal Stats
- Federer Vs Nadal Head to Head Stats
- Frequently Asked Questions about the Federer and Nadal Rivalry
Federer vs Nadal Stats
 | Vs |  |
|---|---|---|
| Roger Federer | Player Name | Rafael Nadal |
| 1981 | Year born | 1986 |
| 1998 | Year turned Pro | 2001 |
| Swiss | Nationality | Spanish |
| Right handed | Plays | Left handed |
| One handed backhand | Backhand | Two handed backhand |
| 16 | Matches won | 24 |
| 40% (16/40) | Winning Percentage | 60% (24/40) |
| 11 | Matches won on a hard court | 9 |
| 2 | Matches won on clay | 14 |
| 3 | Matches won on grass | 1 |
| 10 | Matches won in Finals | 14 |
| 4 | Matches won in Grand Slam Finals | 10 |
| 0 | Matches won in Masters 1000 Finals | 7 |
| 2 | Matches won in ATP World Tour Finals | 1 |
Federer Vs Nadal Head to Head Stats
Federer Vs Nadal Head to Head at the Grand Slams
| Year | Grand Slam | Round | Winner | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Wimbledon | Semi-Final | Federer in 4 | 7-6, 1-6, 6-3, 64 |
| 2019 | French Open | Semi-Final | Nadal in 3 | 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 |
| 2017 | Australian Open | Final | Federer in 5 | 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 |
| 2014 | Australian Open | Semi-Final | Nadal in 3 | 7-6, 6-3,6-3 |
| 2012 | Australian Open | Semi-Final | Nadal in 4 | 6-7, 6-2, 7-6, 6-4 |
| 2011 | French Open | Final | Nadal in 4 | 7-5, 7-6, 5-7, 6-1 |
| 2009 | Australian Open | Final | Nadal in 5 | 7-5, 3-6, 7-6, 3-6, 6-2 |
| 2008 | Wimbledon | Final | Nadal in 5 | 6-4, 6-4, 6-7, 6-7, 9-7 |
| 2008 | French Open | Final | Nadal in 3 | 6-1, 6-3, 6-0 |
| 2007 | Wimbledon | Final | Federer in 5 | 7-6, 4-6, 7-6, 2-6, 6-2 |
| 2007 | French Open | Final | Nadal in 4 | 6-3, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 |
| 2006 | Wimbledon | Final | Federer in 4 | 6-0, 7-6, 6-7, 6-3 |
| 2006 | French Open | Final | Nadal in 4 | 1-6, 6-1, 6-4, 7-6 |
| 2005 | French Open | Semi-Final | Nadal in 4 | 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 |
Federer and Nadal have played each other a total of 14 times in grand slams with Nadal leading the grand slam head to head 10-4.
Of the 14 matches played in grand slams, 9 of the matches were in the final with the remaining being a semi-final.
They have played each other 4 times at the Australian Open, 6 times at the French Open and 4 times at Wimbledon. They have yet to play each other in the US Open.
Federer vs Nadal Head to Head by Surface
Out of the 40 times, Federer and Nadal have played each other, 4 of those matches have been on grass, 16 have been on clay and 20 have been on a hardcourt surface.
Federer vs Nadal Head to Head on Grass
| Year | Tournament | Round | Winner | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Wimbledon | Semi-Finals | Federer in 4 | 7-6, 1-6, 6-3, 64 |
| 2008 | Wimbledon | Final | Nadal in 5 | 6-4, 6-4, 6-7, 6-7, 9-7 |
| 2007 | Wimbledon | Final | Federer in 5 | 7-6, 4-6, 7-6, 2-6, 6-2 |
| 2006 | Wimbledon | Final | Federer in 4 | 6-0, 7-6, 6-7, 6-3 |
Federer and Nadal have played each other four times on grass (all at Wimbledon) with Federer leading the head to head grass 3-1.
The one match Nadal beat Federer on grass was the 2008 final which is widely regarded as the best tennis match to date.
Federer vs Nadal Head to Head on Clay
| Year | Tournament | Round | Winner | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | French Open | Semi-Finals | Nadal in 3 | 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 |
| 2013 | ATP Masters 1000 Rome | Final | Nadal in 2 | 6-3, 6-3 |
| 2011 | French Open | Final | Nadal in 4 | 7-5, 7-6, 5-7, 6-1 |
| 2011 | ATP Masters 1000 Madrid | Semi-Finals | Nadal in 3 | 5-7, 6-1, 6-3 |
| 2010 | ATP Masters 1000 Madrid | Final | Nadal in 2 | 6-4, 7-6 |
| 2009 | ATP Masters 1000 Madrid | Final | Federer in 2 | 6-4, 6-4 |
| 2008 | French Open | Final | Nadal in 3 | 6-1, 6-3, 6-0 |
| 2008 | ATP Masters 1000 Hamburg | Final | Nadal in 3 | 7-5, 6-7, 6-3 |
| 2008 | ATP Masters 1000 Monte Carlo | Final | Nadal in 2 | 7-5, 7-5 |
| 2007 | French Open | Final | Nadal in 4 | 6-3, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 |
| 2007 | ATP Masters 1000 Hamburg | Final | Federer in 3 | 2-6, 6-2, 6-0 |
| 2007 | ATP Masters 1000 Monte Carlo | Final | Nadal in 2 | 6-4, 6-4 |
| 2006 | French Open | Final | Nadal in 4 | 1-6, 6-1, 6-4, 7-6 |
| 2006 | ATP Masters 1000 Rome | Final | Nadal in 5 | 6-7, 7-6, 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 |
| 2006 | ATP Masters 1000 Monte Carlo | Final | Nadal in 4 | 6-2, 6-7, 6-3, 7-6 |
| 2006 | French Open | Semi-Final | Nadal in 4 | 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 |
Nadal (the King of Clay) has dominated Federer on clay with Federer only winning two out of the 16 matches they have played on the surface.
Federer vs Nadal Head to Head on Hard Courts
| Year | Tournament | Round | Winner | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | ATP Masters 1000 Shanghai | Final | Federer in 2 | 6-4, 6-3 |
| 2017 | ATP Masters 1000 Miami | Final | Federer in 2 | 6-3, 6-4 |
| 2017 | ATP Masters 1000 Indian Wells | Round of 16 | Federer in 2 | 6-2, 6-3 |
| 2017 | Australian Open | Final | Federer in 5 | 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 |
| 2015 | Basel | Final | Federer in 3 | 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 |
| 2014 | Australian Open | Semi-Final | Nadal in 3 | 7-6, 6-3,6-3 |
| 2013 | ATP Finals | Semi-Final | Nadal in 2 | 7-5, 6-3 |
| 2013 | ATP Masters 1000 Cincinnati | Quater-Final | Nadal in 3 | 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 |
| 2013 | ATP Masters 1000 Indian Wells | Quater-Final | Nadal in 2 | 6-4, 6-2 |
| 2012 | ATP Masters 1000 Indian Wells | Semi-Final | Federer in 2 | 6-3, 6-4 |
| 2012 | Australian Open | Semi-Final | Nadal in 4 | 6-7, 6-2, 7-6, 6-4 |
| 2011 | ATP Finals | Round Robin | Federer in 2 | 6-3, 6-0 |
| 2011 | ATP Masters 1000 Miami | Semi-Final | Nadal in 2 | 6-3, 6-2 |
| 2010 | ATP Finals | Final | Federer | 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 |
| 2009 | Australian Open | Final | Nadal in 5 | 7-5, 3-6, 7-6, 3-6, 6-2 |
| 2007 | Tennis Masters Cup | Semi-Final | Federer in 2 | 6-4, 6-1 |
| 2006 | Tennis Masters Cup | Semi-Final | Federer in 2 | 6-4, 7-5 |
| 2006 | Dubai | Final | Nadal in 3 | 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 |
| 2005 | ATP Masters 1000 Miami | Final | Federer in 5 | 2-6, 6-7, 7-6, 6-3, 6-1 |
| 2004 | ATP Masters 1000 Miami | Round of 32 | Nadal in 2 | 6-3, 6-3 |
Federer and Nadal have played each other a total of 20 on hard courts (indoor and outdoor) with Federer leading the 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 in Indian Wells.
Federer vs Nadal Matches Played per Year
| Year | Matches Played | Federer Wins | Nadal Wins |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 2005 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 2006 | 6 | 2 | 4 |
| 2007 | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| 2008 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| 2009 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 2010 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 2011 | 4 | 1 | 3 |
| 2012 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 2013 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| 2014 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 2016 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2017 | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| 2018 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2019 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 2020 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Frequently Asked Questions about the Federer and Nadal Rivalry
When did Nadal beat Federer at Wimbledon?
Nadal beat Federer in the 2008 Wimbledon Final.
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 in the ATP Masters 1000 Miami tournament in 2004. Nadal won the match 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?
Nadal has won 21 grand slam titles which is one more than Federer.
Who has won more Masters 1000 titles?
Nadal has won 36 Masters 1000 titles which are 8 more than Federer has won.
Who has won more ATP career titles?
Federer has won 103 ATP career titles which are 15 more than Nadal has won.
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 judgement 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 & Jack Sock 10-5 in a third set tiebreaker. 6-4, 1-6, 1-0 (10-5). Team Europe went on to win the 2017 Laver Cup 15-9.
Are Federer and Nadal friends off the court?
There is a lot of respect between the two players but they would not be considered close friends off the court.
Is Federer or Nadal taller?
Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are the same height (1.85m).
