Roger Federer set to play ‘special’ final match of career on Friday with Rafael Nadal set to play on Sunday
Federer will play his first final match since 2012 when he plays Spain’s Rafael Nadal on Friday.
Federer is looking for his 300th career Grand Slam title when he plays Nadal, who has won five title since his third in January.
Federer, the oldest men’s singles champion ever, has set his sights on a career-defining final with Nadal and the world’s No 1 ranking his main goal.
“I don’t know. There’s so much history with this match, we’ve been at the forefront, winning the last two. It’s the first time we’ll be playing a final, which is quite a unique situation,” Federer said in an interview on Monday.
The Swiss legend, who turns 50 next month, told AFP that his 100th match on the Grand Slam circuit was also a special moment.
“That was a great moment, as you can imagine, because it’s such a long, long run, and I had 200 good matches under my belt already,” Federer added.
For Nadal, who stunned Federer in this year’s final with an almost-imperceptible serve ace in the fifth set, Friday’s decider will be his fifth final of the year.
He has also not been to the final of the last eight consecutive years since he reached the final of the Australian Open in 2014.
“It’s a nice occasion for us to play a final and play in a new territory, at the final of the Open Era. It’s a great match. We’ve been playing in very good finals at the right moment,” said Nadal, who has reached four titles in the last eight years and is one of the most complete players in the Open era.
“I’m not sure, of course, to feel confident and happy, but what is certain is that I want to fight for my 100th Slam in his hometown. This is a great moment for everyone in the tournament.”
Wimbledon champion Roger Federer, who has reached five titles in his last eight years, will face Rafael Nadal in the first of three Grand Slam finals on Friday
Federer will