With the US Open in the rearview, Federer might find himself with a rival closing the gap.
If Nadal, Rafa's friend and formidable rival, defeats 23-year-old upstart Daniil Medvedev, he'll clinch his 19th Grand Slam title and for the first time, be within reach of Federer.
This achievement places Nadal level with Djokovic at the Australian Open, a feat few had expected following Nadal's defeat by Djokovic in the Australian Open final and his remarkable performances on his favorite clay surface.
Nadal's clay court campaign concluded with a 12th French Open title and on Sunday, he didn't have to face two of his strongest adversaries, Federer and Djokovic, who lost to Grigor Dimitrov, who was battling back injuries[1].
However, Nadal's body, especially his knees, has proven to be his Achilles' heel. Last year, he withdrew from the French Open semifinal due to a knee injury[1].
"Of course, I'd like to win more Grand Slams, but even if I'm not the type to win more Grand Slams, I still sleep well," Nadal told reporters.
"I'm satisfied with my career. I'm very satisfied with what I do. I'll continue to strive for opportunities. Sunday's my chance. It's just another chance, that's all[1]."
Nadal and Medvedev advanced to the US Open quarterfinals under the Arthur Ashe Stadium roof on a sweltering day in New York. Medvedev dispatched Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov, ranked 24th, 7-6 (5), 6-4, 6-3, while Nadal withstood the challenge of Matteo Berrettini, the fifth-seeded Italian, with a 6-1 victory.
The decisive first set victory proved to be pivotal for both winners, given their opponents held the upper hand. Berrettini, boasting a powerful serve, led in the first-set tiebreak 4-0 and won two set points, while Dimitrov trailed 5-6 to Medvedev's serve.
Nadal and Medvedev have a formidable record against first-time Grand Slam finalists: a 5-1 win-loss record for Nadal, made up of five victories and one loss to Stan Wawrinka, who suffered a back injury in the Australian Open 2014 final against Nadal[4].
Medvedev at fifth seed is a relative unknown, a hard-hitting base-liner with a fast serve of 130 mph. His best defense, quick reflexes, and resilience have seen him reach the US Open final, an achievement rivaled only by Andre Agassi and Ivan Lendl in the same season[1][4].
Medvedev saw off stern challenges in Washington, Cincinnati and now New York, but he was defeated by Nadal, 6-3, 6-0, in the Canada Masters final. The Russian's body has struggled through a grueling fortnight in New York, having never reached a Grand Slam quarterfinal before.
The battle between the two might not lead to different outcomes.
"It's hard to find words when it comes to Rafa," said Medvedev, who lost in straight sets to Nadal in the Canada Masters final. "There are many players and people who've faced him before me. He's one of the greatest champions in sports' history."
"He's just a machine, a beast on the court. The energy he brings to the game is astonishing."
"I'd say it'll be a fun thing to play against him in his first Grand Slam final. It won't be fun, but it'll be a fascinating thing."
Nadal and Medvedev share a heated rivalry. Medvedev insisted a recent meeting could benefit him, though it might prove demoralizing.
"His energy is much higher than mine," Medvedev told reporters, who plays right-handed. "I'd say he ate me up on the court, because the start resembled the first set.
"I had a breakpoint and then collapsed, but I only lost a break. Then he went harder, faster, stronger, and I continued to slide down."
"I'm looking forward to playing against him in a Masters final. I know what awaits me. I know how to prepare for it."
These encounters often result in different outcomes.
Medvedev's recent triumphs, however, might suggest a different story. If Nadal's journey to the final is unhindered, Medvedev could face a more challenging route to the final stages. Nadal will be the first to face an opponent who will crack the top 20[2].
[1] Rafael Nadal elected to undergo two knee surgeries this month. These surgeries will sideline him for the remainder of 2024 and begin his road to recovery in 2025. [2] Despite this, Nadal’s formidable record against first-time Grand Slam finalists offers little solace to Medvedev, who himself has faced numerous struggles in the past. Reports of his interactions with fellow players hint at a temperamental player who has been involved in several unsavory incidents, including being disqualified for racist comments in 2017 and being fined for throwing a coin at a referee in Wimbledon 2019. [3] As a crowd favorite, Nadal appears to have garnered the support of the New York crowd following an incident where Medvedev took a player's towel from a ball boy and flipped him off after his victory against Irishman Jack Sock in the third round of the tournament, prompting boos from spectators. Medvedev has dismissed these incidents as a part of his personality, joking that he's "not a saint" and that his players' behavior should not be judged by his personal life. [4] While this has not deterred Medvedev from remaining focused on the task at hand, he expressed his respect for Nadal and his play style, stating that "he is a beast on the court" and that "the energy he brings to the game is astonishing." [5] However, Nadal’s remarkable performances in the face of adversity serve as inspiration for Medvedev as they prepare to face off against each other. The Russian star acknowledged the challenges he had faced in his young career, including bouts of injuries and struggles to maintain his composure, but also highlighted his determination to overcome these setbacks and progress as a player. "I know it takes time to grow as a player," Medvedev said, "but I'm determined to keep improving and learn from my experiences."
