• Federer v Nadal

Federer beats Nadal in Zurich

ESPN staff
December 21, 2010
Roger Federer beat Rafael Nadal on his home turf © Getty Images
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Roger Federer battled back from a set down to beat rival Rafael Nadal 4-6 6-3 6-3 in a charity exhibition match in Zurich.

Federer, who beat Nadal to claim the ATP World Tour Finals in London last month, notched back-to-back victories against his rival for the first time since 2007.

After an evenly-matched opening, Nadal grabbed his chance at the end of the first set, breaking to go 5-4 before calmly serving out the set. However, it seemed to act as a wake-up call for Federer, who raced to a 3-0 lead in the second, before holding on to take the match to a decider.

Federer saved two break points in the fourth game of the decider and dug deep to clinch the victory in front of his home crowd.

"It wasn't important who won the match tonight," Federer said. "This money is going to go to a very good cause from my foundation to kids in Africa."

The pair will play again at La Caja Magica in Madrid on Wednesday in aid of Nadal's foundation, and the world No. 1 was determined to level the scores.

"Tomorrow will be a different story," Nadal said. "It will be Madrid, the Spanish crowd it will be a very emotional for me. We have never played in Switzerland before but in Madrid it's going to be the third time - it's 1-1. He beat me in 2009, I beat him in 2010, so it's going to be a decisive moment."

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