MIAMI (AFP) – The greatest rivalry in tennis resumes on Sunday in the final of the Miami Open when Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal meet at the venue where it all began.
It was 13 years ago, at Crandon Park on Key Biscayne where the two first faced each other on a court in an ATP Tour event.
A 17-year-old Nadal beat his Swiss opponent, already the world number one, 6-3, 6-3 in the third round of the tournament.
One year later, on April 3, 2005, the pair met again in Miami, this time in the final of the tournament when Federer came back from two sets down to win the five-set contest.
Federer says the memory of what he calls “that epic match’’ remains vivid and was a crucial chapter in his development as a player.