Federer-Nadal XXVII: Nadal Outplays Federer Again

Despite my predictions to the contrary and disappointing his legion of fans worldwide, Roger Federer was again unable to defeat his main nemesis, Rafael Nadal, this time in the 2012 Australian Open semifinals in their 27th career meeting. With his 6-7(5) 6-2 7-6(5) 6-4 victory, the 10-time major champion improved to a crushing 18-9 career head-to-head over the 16-time major champion, with the more crucial statistic being an 8-2 advantage in grand slam tournaments. The only surfaces in which Federer leads Nadal is on grass (2-1) and indoor hard courts (4-0). Nadal has the advantage on clay (13-2) and outdoor hard courts (4-1).

Nadal is now 25 years old and Federer is 30 so it is becoming increasingly clear that Federer will never be able to make up the entire deficit that he is suffering in their head-to-head, but I do expect that the two wil continue to face each other in Grand Slam matches and that Federer will end his career with more major titles than his Spanish rival. That being said, this defeat was a bitter loss for the fans of Roger Federer.