Roger Federer set to play ‘special’ final match of career on Friday with Rafael Nadal and Rafael Nadal set to play’special’ final match of career on Friday with Novak Djokovic
This article is more than 5 years old
This article is more than 5 years old
Roger Federer is gearing up for his’special’ final match of career on Friday against Juan Martin del Potro, who is in the final of a Grand Slam on the same day, when Federer will play Rafael Nadal in a tie-breaker.
Federer has been set to play a six-set final, with a winner moving on to face Nadal. That result will then go down in tennis history next week, though Federer doesn’t want to be remembered for another tie-break.
“I hope Juan Martin del Potro comes back to win. Let’s see. I’m looking forward to it,” Federer said on Thursday ahead of his first match on Friday. “It’s going to be a very special final, though. He’s the best player [in the final] and one of the favourites, but it’s going to be a special final.
“I think he hasn’t beaten Rafa before. I don’t think he’s played him in a Grand Slam before. I’ve seen some of their matches. We’ve played against each other. I think he’s in the top five of the players who he has played in a Grand Slam.”
Federer was speaking at a press conference for his final match at the Shanghai Masters tournament, which features two men’s singles, with Federer playing a first-round match against Robin Soderling and Del Potro a second-round match against Andy Murray.
Federer and Del Potro have both said they would like to face each other in the final, and have had a long-standing history of playing together since Del Potro reached the quarter-finals of the 2004 US Open with a 6-7 (4/7), 6-3, 6-2 win over Federer.