ATP > Carlos Moya on Nadal-Federer rivalry: “While Roger has been the best player for four years, at the start of 2008, Rafa was hungrier and more motivated than ever. It was time to take the crown”

After returning to the immense legacy left by Rafael Nadal following his retirement, Carlos Moya, his coach from 2018 to 2024, in a special interview granted to the ATP, this time spoke of the start of his great rivalry with a certain Roger Federer.

“At the start of 2008, Nadal was a global Tennis superstar, narrowly missing the world number 1 position. It was time to take the crown. For almost four years, Roger Federer has been the best player in the world. But at the start of 2008, Rafa was more hungry and motivated than ever: he wanted to take first place in the rankings. The chase began in Monte Carlo, at the start of the European clay season. At the end of a perfect run in the tournament, Nadal beat Federer in the final and triumphed for the fourth time in a row. The race for number 1 had begun. Tournament after tournament, final after final, Nadal chased Federer. Rafa beat the Swiss in Hamburg and Roland Garros, then the two faced each other in the final at Wimbledon. It was an epic match, a brutal duel between the two best players in the world, considered by many to be the best match of all time. After 4 hours and 48 minutes, Nadal clinched the Wimbledon grass court title. Once again, Federer was defeated. First place in the ranking was now within his reach. Three weeks later, Nadal won the last Masters 1000 of his season, in Toronto, before celebrating Olympic gold in Beijing. Federer's record streak was over. After 160 consecutive weeks as number 2, Nadal becomes the new world number 1. He had finally reached the pinnacle of tennis. »

Published on Monday December 2, 2024 at 7:16 p.m.