Roger Federer has no fear of a potential dream final with Rafael Nadal at the US Open.
With the final Grand Slam of the season starting on Monday, the road to the title match is still more than a fortnight away. But the Swiss number two is boosted by last week’s Cincinnati Masters title, his fourth at the Midwest venue.
In addition, the 29-year-old with five Open titles has a loss in last year’s New York final to put behind him after dropping a 6-2 fifth set to Argentine Juan Del Potro. The Argentine is missing from the title defence as he heals slowly after wrist surgery, which has kept him away from the ATP since late January.
With fans at Flushing Meadows dreaming of a Federer-Nadal showdown — the elite pair have played one Grand Slam hard-court final (Australia 2009, won by Nadal) and last met in the 2010 Madrid title match on clay where the Spaniard also prevailed — the possibility remains well into the future.
Federer is not fussed either way. “I think it’s an advantage or disadvantage, depending on when you play against him,” he said of the rivalry, which has fascinated tennis for the last half decade.
“I was able to beat him two times (Madrid 2009 and Hamburg 2007).
“But I’ve also lost to him over ten times. It depends where you play him.” New York has all the attributes which suit Federer’s game on hard-courts, while Nadal has always struggled at the venue, his best finishes semifinals at the last two editions. Federer is keen for any eventual showdown.
“Unfortunately we hardly ever get a chance to play here in the States where conditions maybe suit me more. That’s the way it is,” he said.
“I think we get excited when we play each other, but I don’t think we miss each other when we don’t play. We’ve had that many matches against each other, and the matches are tough and gruelling on both of us.
“There’s a huge hype around it, which is also a bit exhausting at times.” But the Swiss, always a realist, is not getting ahead of himself: “Look, I hope I can play him at the Open. I don’t think it’s possible before the finals again, so we’ll see how it goes.”
Nadal has had a day or two of training with his uncle and long-time coach Toni, who prefers his summer down time during August, only arriving in time for the Open.
On a women’s side, world number one Serena Williams is missing due to a foot injury and ensuing surgery, which have yet to be fully explained. So Dane Caroline Wozniacki takes the top seeding.
Last year’s losing finalist to Belgian Kim Clijsters has dropped an off-court bombshell, saying in New Haven at this week’s WTA event that she hopes to enrol at Yale University for online course work to help take her mind off of tennis 24x7.
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