20 YEARS AGO TODAY! The First EVER Federer vs Nadal Match at Miami 2004 ❤️

[@arthurlaubach2076]

Federer became #1 for the first time here only 2 months before. Then Rafa gets him. Foreshadowing of epic matches to come. Great respect for a great rivalry. Nadal was the only player to consistently beat Federer in his prime. It made for must see tv in the 2000’s. Thanks for the memories guys!

[@InvisibleMan95]

Can't believe it's been 20 years.

[@anseinueseima408]

cant believe we still seeing Nadal play

[@asud2571]

@@anseinueseima408 we only see him practice

[@anseinueseima408]

@@asud2571 I mean he played pretty fine in brisbane

[@michelewilliams4702]

@@anseinueseima408fine? That wasn’t fine, it sucked. He should retire.

[@anseinueseima408]

@@michelewilliams4702 oh😅

[@ertugrulkorpinar51]

One of the most underrated Nadal performance in his career even

[@abarakadabaras]

Well rated. He is one of the all time greatest.

[@TheRafaelBond]

lol, he did nothing too much, Fed was whack.

[@JK-fw3tb]

@@abarakadabaras He is talking about this match, not Nadals career genius

[@Pakos-Terimos]

@@JK-fw3tb i love you.

[@JK-fw3tb]

@@Pakos-Terimos Thanks

[@7l0r1an4]

A classic and a beginng for what was an incredible rivalry!

[@moheganson]

And friendship

[@joeljoseph4518]

wow! that prediction from the commentator about Rafa being number one someday was spot on.

[@LafalletteH]

What a performance only at 17 years of age

[@jadr3123]

Rafa Nadal, at the age of a high school student, beat world number 1 prime Federer, on hard court, a surface that it’s not his favourite. Absolutely incredible.

[@dash5687]

I think this is probably one of his favourite court as he himself mentioned in one of those interview "i like fast hard court"

[@codegeek-il5fm]

@@dash5687 lol this was a slow court and Nadal absolutely sucks on Fast hard courts. I love Nadal but he is more dangerous on slow courts and history has shown that.

[@AlejandroGarcia-wz1qi]

​​@@codegeek-il5fm Cincinnati is faster than Miami and he won it one time. However, he couldn't win in Miami after 5 finals.

[@dash5687]

@codegeek-il5fm oh my mistake about Miami state,yeah you are right he won many titles on slower court I'm just sayin that he likes fast court more,he admitted it himself

[@garrettharrington6993]

@@dash5687no he doesnt, hes a slow court player. it allows him to utilize the high bounce. hes never been a flat hitter. thats why he has won RG 14 times and Wimbledon only 2

[@mozo199]

First ever meeting and he beat Federer on a hard court, Wow..!

[@markokostickox]

Who?Nadal or steroids?

[@huzcer]

Nadal beat Federer 2 to 1 for the first 30 matches

[@HeavyTopspin]

It's funny, you can actually see Federer struggling with the insane topspin.

[@yongli4304]

@@markokostickox Nadal muscles through all his shots, alcaraz is the same; both are injury prone; I do not see artistry there.

[@jeannalacubana10]

I remember!!❤

[@orenthaljames2534]

love the intro. Rafael Nadal could very well become number 1 player in the world on day. IMMENSE PROMISE

[@JuanyOrue]

Al fin unos highlights extendidos de este partido, 20 años tuvieron que pasar

[@Phi1.618]

In my opinion, the best possible camera angle and an excellent surface for having rallies that are neither too long nor too short.

[@soryapum7932]

Their level her is so far from their 2008 Wimbledon final. It is amazing how these two men manage to increase their level to summits never explored and contributed to the level of tennis that even video games developer cannot cope with today.

[@MM-dm4xj]

Nadals level yes, but not Federer.

[@hetsahk]

@@MM-dm4xj what ? this kids

[@ccox2823]

This gave me chills, I really admire Rafa, true athlete.

[@matanjacoetzee5457]

A classic rivalry that will ho down in History. Many more to come!❤😊

[@zoltanember6353]

I have been waiting for this... actually literally for 20 years!😄

[@santirf1619]

You can see Nadal had a strategy because he planned this match beforehand… and Federer didn’t, because as he himself admitted, when he was younger he only planned the matches against his mail rivals or final rounds, and Nadal here was none of it.

[@badarauflo]

What level of tennis😮. Fantastic!! Impossible to have other two like them in my life

[@Aksriv100]

And rest is history ♥️

[@quentincrisp6933]

It's evident that in 5 years the pace of the groundstrokes increased measurably from '04‼

[@魚-c3d]

Yeah, it is really blatant how the pace became faster and more violent over the following 15 years or so

[@mirnesnuhanovic9597]

I am a Novak's fan but Nadal was amazing.

[@freidagreenfield6270]

I remember this match so well 🎾🤩 Hard to believe 20 years have passed ! Today is April 28th 2024 & it's apparent that Rafa will be retiring in the next few weeks 😢 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🥇🥇 I have no idea how many trophy's they've won between the 2 of them, but I've enjoyed them all ❤️🎾 End of an era for Roger too ❤ I understand that Djokovic came along and & surpassed both of them 👏👏👏 and also, I can't leave out Andy Murray ✅️ Djokovic is still going strong & will go down in History as the Best ❤🥇🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🥇 I Wish All of Them the Best ❤️ Loved all of the Tennis Greats before and the Newbies giving us a new generation to watch 😎 Soo many to bet on, but without injuries, my money would be on Yannick Sinner & Carlos Alcatraz ✅️

[@PolnipatTemiyajatiProMann]

He s so good in hard court as well , good relationship between us 👍👍

[@juancarlosnadermora716]

I was at that match! Always a Federer fan but that day Nadal shows who he was and going to be. He moved like a cat that day.

[@SundownCity]

I've watched this several times over the years and marvel at Rafa's performance again and again.

[@kevinzahri78]

Greatest tennis rivalry of all time. The contrast of styles is what makes it so interesting. U know exactly what u are going to get from both players. There are no surprises. Just a question of who can prevail.

[@FMD023]

Hearing Rafa not grunting surprised me

[@ansk8352]

Little did Alcaraz know back then because he was just a 1-year-old child... after 20 years he has a RG trophy with him already. Time flies and new stars will be born and in future as well.

[@mjbkk]

Federer did make tennis is tennis and even classy🎉. Artistry

[@moheganson]

Was Fed even playing ATP matches at 17? After seeing this, I think Rafa is the 🐐 he had tougher competition than Roger and Novak and battled lots of injuries. To be 17 and beat prime Fed on a hard court is mind blowing. His backhand (angles) and net play are also very underrated

[@nikolaspassisis1668]

I agree. Also Nadal missed - had to pull out of 11 Grand Slams due to injury. The mind boggles what he could have achieved if he was blessed health wise like Federer and Djokovic.

[@laurentdu78]

At 17 yo, Rafaël Nadal was already too good for Federer ! 😎 And Novak Djokovic passed them both and became the Greatest of All Time

[@LizardPeep]

FEDAL ❤

[@agar12r]

this 17 yr old kid has potential

El inicio de una era.

[@BG-1970]

Wow I forgot about this, some unbelievable ground strokes from both!

[@Godse-Putuka]

And Federer won the last battle in 2019 wimbledon

[@victoria_marleo]

Don Rafael Nadal Parera 🙌🙌🇪🇸

[@skarteek2000]

Pure gold !!

[@aidanhiggins3499]

It's funny how this match point closely resembles the 2007 Wimbledon Final match point, except the outcome (and part of the court) was the reverse.

[@somebody9762]

I think the most beautiful thing about the Federer- Nadal rivalry is that they have made each other better players over the years, and tennis lovers all over the world very happy 😊

[@martinceballo7534]

Acá empezó todo Cómo los extraño

[@somerset006]

Fed: I better prepare for the next game against this youngster!!!

[@MichèleNoriega-k6d]

Rafa turned pro when he was 14????

[@AlejandroGarcia-wz1qi]

Yes, at the beginning of 2001.

[@HuhHa-pm8fc]

he turned pro when he was born 😂

[@ksc743]

That surprised me as well. 14!

[@raph42]

“One wonders where it will all end.” 😢

[@sunset3052]

This young kid will win many FOs in coming years

[@sunset3052]

🤣🤣🤣 14 FO is a lot...

[@DonYang73]

Nadal took this so easily, it was like ripping the unpolished Fed apart. Thereafter Fed knew that the ponytail had to go.

[@guerre1859]

Does it seem like this young version of Nadal was more willing to play aggressively and go to the net?

[@sad20yrold]

Yeah, he said it himself, he had to change style to avoid injuries

[@HannaSQubti]

“Quite an astonishing win by a young man whose progress is so fast, so rapid, that one wonders where it will all end.”

[@RD-yc6dg]

Fed said right then. This guy's gonna win a couple of French Opens

[@iulianpartenie6260]

The next round he lost to F. Gonzales and the title was won by Andy Roddick.

[@wanda64]

Fedal ❤

[@meilstone]

He just stunned Fed and the rest of the World 🌎

[@sammymac008]

Federer's backhand already struggling here against the heavy topsin forehand of Nadal. A sure sign of things to come. What makes tennis so great is the three different surfaces which allowed such contrasting matches between the two.

[@pbl0_o]

Gracias por todo Rafa

[@Ssagar304]

From the very first match Nadal made him uncomfortable on the court. Only player to be able to do that to Federer in his prime

[@MalekAhmed-kz3zu]

Novak too, he beat Federer in 3 straight sets at 2008 Australian Open semi-finals. He was The first one to stop federer on hard courts at grand slams, even before Nadal who dominated federer then just at Roland Garros

[@codegeek-il5fm]

@@MalekAhmed-kz3zu To be fair, yes Novak beat federer in AO 2008 but until 2013-2014ish, Federer was ahead of him in head to head and only after 2014 onwards, Djoker started beating Federer more often than not. Federer true nemesis was always Nadal especially because Nadal beat him in his Prime many times.

[@initialize21]

@@MalekAhmed-kz3zubeginning of 2008 was mono-Fed. If Federer wasn't sick, he would have dominated Bathroombreakovic in that match

[@MalekAhmed-kz3zu]

@@codegeek-il5fm I don't disagree with you. Nadal was actually the biggest threat to Federer in the first half of his career. But from 2012 to 2020, Djokovic became the biggest obstacle in Federer’s path in his beloved tournaments. At Wimbledon, US Open, Australian Open, Sunshine Double and ATP finals. Since 2017, Nadal has no longer posed any problem to Federer outside of clay courts, as evidenced by the fact that he beat Nadal with relative ease at 2019 Wimbledon semi-final, while he was unable to beat Novak in the final, even though Roger was at his best and even though Novak was not on his day and was not playing at his best level.

[@masters.1000]

Federer had the flu this match, barely beat Davydenko before this. Nadal said so.

[@abradfordajb]

Great post, thanks!

[@jsetennis9224]

I had forgotten how good Nadal was at 17.

[@thomasecallaghan1111]

13:21 Perhaps the most comical Nadal celebration I've seen - "the Prancing Elbow"

[@ozik1912]

Beating the GOAT at the beginning of his prime is outstanding. That's why he is Rafa. I am also surprised to see Federer's stats. 22 years old and already he had 14 single titles. OMG...

[@mariuszneugebauer8801]

That's nothing. Sampras had 21 titles at the age of 22😉

[@djenkavasa2690]

This would be like Sinner today losing to Joao Fonseca

[@c3vzn]

Wow yeah. Puts it in perspective

[@taopaille-paille4992]

Indeed

[@arnzwon]

I think if these guys keep training they might be world champions one day

[@dasnarebo]

Times go so fast

[@bluevon5021]

Little did we know....

[@gavaskar761]

adorable to see young Rafa celebrating jumping ..those days as gone far behind

[@cattlebuyer]

Nadal obviously added a lot to his game, but all the ingredients were there and he was pretty consistent. Compared to Alcaraz, he wasn't quite as fast around the court but he could direct the ball anywhere he wanted with heavy topspin. You can tell he had good hands from the drop shot he put in-no wonder he started coming to the net.

[@cattlebuyer]

@@Skiiiiiifreeeeeee It's definitely a close call! Nadal could definitely put more work on the ball when he got to a difficult shot to get those extreme passing banana shots that somehow land in.

[@teodortodorov2609]

"THE REST IS A STORY"

[@bradleydavis9502]

Prime Nadal is just insane, so much speed. Federer had just entered his prime. Federer had to deal with 2004 version of Nadal. Nadal had a booming serve and hard, flat strokes mixed with occasional topspin! Great match!

[@jayshomer4191]

The ATP tour isn’t the same without these 2 legends.

[@geomonabe]

❤who is here after Nadal exit from RG😢

[@MrEkin03]

That inexperienced Nadal if played today would literally go through the entirety of ATP with ease. He had ludicrous amount of speed.

[@brentsmith5892]

Rafa is the reason Roger can never be called The G.O.A.T. You cannot be the best ever if you have a losing record to your arch rival (26-14 overall, 14-10 in finals). Heck, you can't even be considered the best of your era.

[@initialize21]

Dumbest crap I've ever heard. Federer has more talent in his pinky finger than Claydal and Bathroombreakovic combined

[@mg4680]

Two legends 👍

[@Kumagood]

They are good friends now😊

[@lopadey4707]

Two great player

[@pdcdesign9632]

This is the time when Federer realized real competition was in the horizon. Fed rode that 4 year Roddick-Hewitt-Old Agassi era to his advantage before Nadal started spanking him consistently.

[@prashantbokade347]

He is the hardest hitting player ever

[@initialize21]

lol what? Federer literally spanked Claydal in every match after 2014 😂😂😂

[@HYousif-u6s]

Time flies indeed 😮😢

[@nickthiru]

i think the stat that makes RF the goat is the record of 23 consecutive Slam semifinals

[@logosinghi6574]

Rafael Nadal N01 gentilman talented honesty handsham player in the world forever ever

[@md1021]

This was in 2004... we're in 2024. They're probably hitting at 90% of their peak (assuming that since it was early their career)... but the ball speed seems sooo slow compared to how players hit today. The racquet technology changes have been pretty ridiculous.

[@smashthestateX]

i saw this live, wow i was only 15, time flies and father time takes no prisoners. the spice must flow

[@rhadzbass1986]

this nadal until 2008 i think is the best version of nadal, his backhand was power and control.

[@danbotez1307]

First ever Nadal vs. Fed meeting was Dubai 2004, not Miami 2004, when Nadal won in straights. In Miami Fed tied their H2H record: 1-1. It was also the last time Fed tied their H2H record, as Nadal stayed way ahead up to their final H2H record: 24-15.

[@thecoach1683]

Rafa going hard at Fed's backhand right from the beginning

[@nildoguimaraes925]

Nadal makes me like and look to tennis. He's for the tennis as CR7 is for the football. We have the privilege to see this atlets each other: Nadal, Federer and Djokovic; CR7 and Messi. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@sandromaghlakelidze5402]

Rest is history...

[@slonicsson]

They look so young in this video, and by the end of this year (2024), they will be gone from professional tennis! End of the GOAT era.

[@z1az285]

i can't believe how aggressively Rafa was playing especially on his backhand

[@Nostalgic14-zo3pk]

Wow an 18yr old Nadal beating a Prime Federer Any surprises? Fed fans : No way he hit is prime in 2006 Reality : He still lost 4 matches and won 2 in 2006 Fed fans again : No way Fed was down with fever hence lost Reality : I am down with fever too whenever it comes to ur logic...

[@edoardocippitelli4158]

Those bandanas looked cool

[@Chronicler92]

Rafa's game doesn't seem to have changed much since 2004. All the shots seem same as they are today. In contrast, Roger's game seems different. His forehands are slower now and his backhands started sucking sometime from 2008 until 2017. There was more power & variety in his shots. Interesting to see them play against each over across 15-odd years and see how their games evolved.

[@dash5687]

I still not born yet that year

[@DonYang73]

Fed knew immediately this was the man who was gonna give him a run for his money the next 20 years

[@zoltanember6353]

It's very interesting how RF couln't read Rafa's game at that point and how a 17 year-old kid could keep that tennis monster under control. At this point, Roger already had all the big scalps under his belt. Not only that, but he humiliated Agassi only a half year and Hewitt a couple of weeks earlier both times on home soils. And here you can see some kind of puzzledom and a bit of fear especially after those huge lefty forehands. This rivalry is a treasure not only for the tennis but for the world heritage.:D

[@masters.1000]

Federer was sick, nothing to do with Nadal. He would have lost to anyone.

[@zoltanember6353]

@@masters.1000 yeah, just like against Marat 05, Nalbandian 05, even against Canas in 07 two times in a row...etc. And of course, all the time against Rafa or the Joker. You FedFans are unbeleivable.🤣

[@miroslavjanecek9993]

​@@zoltanember6353 It's actually true that he was sick during this tournament but I believe he would have lost anyway, because he didn't know Nadal and had no idea what kind of a monster was coming at him. Nadal's game was extremely unpleasant to him and he wouldn't be able to find solutions in their first match even if he was 100% healthy. That's what I think as a Federer fan.

[@justchillin6314]

No excuses for Fed here, Nadal was just the better player on this day, but Fed was far from his best.

[@josealvim6596]

Federer must be thinking: This guy didn't play like Sampras, or Agassi or anyone!! How to play against him?? And, he still didn't know that the worst still coming, the Serbian !!!

[@erkkikvell3659]

There is an error. In 2004 Federer was 23, not 22. So I assume this video is from 2003 Miami tournament since it says that Rafa is 17

[@emilianoroncagli7035]

No è giusto Nel mese di aprile 2004 Federer aveva 22 anni e Nadal 17

[@mje2518]

That Nadal kid looks like he might be pretty good some day

[@henry-bo3np]

And the rest, as they say, is history 🙂

[@kevinrombouts3027]

Brilliant performance and he was only 17. We can clearly see why Federer had so much trouble against him throughout his career.

[@CVSylver08]

Tennis world wasn't ready.

[@philharrisson7738]

Imo, Federer took this match too lightly, especialy in the first set, where he played rather poorly and let the young Nadal gain confidence and show what Incredible fighter he was