RIVALRY
Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal's rivalry have been one the biggest tennis rivalries to ever exist. However, there are many differences between their rivalry and some of the other biggest rivalries out there. The biggest difference is that their rivalry is lighter than most other significant rivalries. Many other tennis rivalries were significantly more aggressive. "Very aggressive, pretty aggressive outside the court. They yelled, talked loud about how good they were, and all that." (Fest, 54) While Federer and Nadal's rivalry is more peaceful and light. "Federer made it clear that the peaceful environment hadn't happened by chance, but it was a deliberate choice." (56)
CHARACTER
Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are both extremely amiable, sociable, and humble but they are still significantly different in many different aspects. Nadal is extremely energetic and somewhat childlike in a way. "Normal doesn't describe a player who jumps up to the rafters in the locker room, motivating himself by screaming "Let's go, Rafa!" Normal doesn't describe a player who wants to win every single point, from the first to the last, and upon being told his list of achievements responds by saying that he still has a lot to learn, and that he still needs to improve." (25) Roger Federer is extremely modest and helpful towards younger players. "And I want to help him, and the circuit should be well structured for when I leave tennis and he continues playing." (29) "So if anyone deserves it, it is without a doubt Nadal." (29)
PLAY-STYLE
Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are one of the two greatest tennis players of all time, but, their play-styles are significantly different from each other. "I played against the Federer who possessed such talent, such a perfect tennis technique, with his serve and volley, his slice ... A few things here and there that Rafael doesn't have. And, on the other hand, I played Rafa, a player who makes you feel like it's impossible to win a point off of him, with such tenacity, euphoria, guts." (16) "The two of them are very different. Federer's ball is fast, he leaves you no time to breathe, hits it the instant it bounces, and gains fractions of a second that make everything harder for his rival. Nadal's ball, on the other hand, is very heavy. You see it coming and it throws you back." (18)