Rafael Nadal: Is He Carving Out His Own Legacy or Chasing Roger Federer?

By
at Internationaled.org

Published: December 22, 2010

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Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.  In the last ten years, these two giants of the game have become synonymous with greatness.  Their rivalry unmatched in both brilliance of play and their stranglehold at the top of men's tennis.

For the longest time it was Federer who stood atop of the rankings.  Week after week, year after year, Federer kept his hold firm.  He collected trophies at an unreal pace and defeated nearly everyone he faced, except Rafael Nadal.

While Federer had certainly defeated Nadal during the first several years of their rivalry, it was Nadal who often stood in the middle of the court with arms raised in celebration as Federer gathered his bags after a great match.

Despite those great victories, it was Nadal who continued to chase Federer for the number one ranking, grand slams, and most of all true legitimacy as an equal. It took time to do two of those career markers and the third is still a chase in progress.

To forever be linked, remembered, and associated with Federer is fine, but to be defined as a tough but overall bit player in Federer's legacy; that was the longest and hardest path to navigate.  It took work, and tested both Nadal's resolve, and his overall desire to reach the level he is currently at and beyond.  He fought through injury, and family problems and a clearly evolving game to get where his is now.  Through it all, he has reached the level equal with Federer.

But is that all he has achieved?

Certainly Nadal will always use Federer as a measuring stick until the day, if ever, he surpasses him, but after claiming the final piece to his career grand slam by winning the U.S. Open, what is there left to do beyond endlessly chasing Federer's current mark of 16 grand slams?

It may be a surprising answer to some, but could the answer possibly be that the best thing Nadal could ever do is to simply continue carving out hi...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Tennis

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