• What the Deuce

The rise and fall of Rafa Nadal

On the top of his game, Rafael Nadal was unbeatable © Getty Images

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Gentlemen's singles final, Wimbledon, July 6, 2008. Widely regarded to be the greatest tennis match ever seen in a Grand Slam final, it was a turning point in men's tennis; the match that marked the beginning of Roger Federer's downfall, toppled from his throne at the top of the men's game, a position he had occupied for over four years.

There was talk of a handing over of the baton; a changing of the guard. The usurper, Rafael Nadal was tipped as the next man to dominate the sport as Federer had done before him. There was no way back for Federer, he was 26, and was a beaten man.

In the space of just over two years, between April 2006 and that epic final in July 2008, the pair met 13 times, 11 of which were in the final - Nadal won eight of those contests. Up to that point, the results had been more or less the status quo - Nadal would win on clay, Federer on grass with just the hard court contests up for grabs.

But Nadal's victory in Federer's backyard at the All England Club, where the Swiss master had enjoyed a 41-match unbeaten streak, signalled a real shift in momentum. It was not until after his gold medal at the Olympic Games in Beijing that Nadal ended Federer's 237-week occupation at the top of the world rankings, but the match at SW19 was the turning point.

But what was supposed to be just one highlight of a great sporting rivalry turned out to be the climax - the ongoing duel cut agonisingly short by Nadal's knees. Since that historic match at the All England Club 19 months ago, the rivalry has been reignited just twice.

After beating Federer for the 13th time at the 2009 Australian Open to win his third Grand Slam in the space of a year, Nadal was the dominant force at the top of the men's game. Going into his favoured clay court season, he looked strong, unbeatable, winning three tournaments on the trot, in Monte Carlo, Barcelona and Rome.

But then it all fell apart. After saving three match points against Novak Djokovic to make his fourth straight final in Madrid, Nadal was beaten to the title by Federer, on his own stomping ground, in front of a partisan Spanish crowd. The victory was significant, not only as it was Federer's first title since October 2008, but it was a shift in momentum once more.

"I got the win I needed badly because I have had some rather bad losses this year," said Federer. "It is the right time to get a victory like this." Next up was the French Open, where Nadal was odds-on favourite to defend his title for the fourth time.

Nadal's shock fourth-round defeat to Robin Soderling left Federer with a relatively painless route to his first French Open title, allowing him to complete a career Grand Slam and equal Pete Sampras' record of 14 majors. Was the victory empty without the familiar foe in his trademark long shorts across the court? Perhaps, but as the cliché goes, history never remembers the runners-up.

Rafael Nadal has been plagued with injury since becoming world No. 1 in 2008 © Getty Images

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Federer was happy to admit he was relieved when Soderling managed to do what he is still yet to achieve - to beat the Spaniard at Roland Garros. Nadal's absence from the final in Paris may well have detracted from Federer's historic victory but, in time, Federer will be remembered for his record number of Grand Slams, and the men he beat will be forgotten.

Nadal took a break after the French Open, as he announced he would not defend his title at Queen's Club and then Wimbledon as he recovered from tendinitis in both knees. Federer won at Wimbledon for his sixth title in seven years, and returned to the top of the rankings.

Nadal was not seen again until August, when he returned to reach the quarter-finals at Toronto where he fell to Juan Martin del Potro. He has not won a title since his victory at Rome in May 2009.

Coming into the Australian Open last month, Nadal cruised through his opening matches, looking back to full fitness. But his withdrawal from the quarter-final, two sets and a break down against Andy Murray was a worrying sign.

At 23, Nadal should be at the peak of his career, and yet he finds himself crippled by knee injuries that are unlikely to go away, and for as long as he continues to play in the only way he knows how - with intensity, passion and power - injury will not be far away.

At the age of 28, Federer has never missed a major tournament, and the mark of a great champion is longevity. His durability has allowed him to win 16 Grand Slams, making him the most successful player to have graced a tennis court.

But the facts speak for themselves - Nadal has beaten Federer in five of their seven meetings in a Grand Slam final; when on the top of his game, Nadal is unbeatable. But if Nadal fails to overcome his problematic knees and return to the game with a bang in 2010, one of sport's great rivalries may be cut tragically short.

This year will be a make or break one for Nadal as we wait with bated breath to see whether he will return to re-establish his rivalry with Federer, or simply fizzle out, leaving us to ponder on what might have been.

Jo Carter is assistant editor of ESPN.co.uk

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