A Complete Comparison of Rafael Nadal & Roger Federer's Careers After Retirement: Who Comes Out on Top?

Overview

• Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer are two of the greatest tennis players in history.
• Both have retired from professional tennis, with Federer retiring in 2022 and Nadal in 2024.
• Their rivalry has been central to modern men's tennis.

Career Highlights

• Rafael Nadal: 92 career titles
• Roger Federer: 103 career titles

Head-to-Head Record

• The duo met 40 times.
• Nadal led with 24 wins to Federer's 16.
• Federer dominated on grass and hard courts.
• Nadal was superior on clay, winning 14 times against Federer’s 2 wins.

Grand Slam Performances

• Nadal: 22 Major titles
  • Notably strong at Roland Garros with 14 titles.
  • Led Federer 6-0 at Roland Garros.
  • Had a 3-1 lead over Federer at the Australian Open.
• Federer: 20 Major titles
  • Excelled at Wimbledon with 3 victories over Nadal in 4 matches.
  • Memorable win in 2017 Australian Open final.

Masters and Other Achievements

• Nadal: 36 Masters 1000 titles, 26 on clay.
• Federer: 28 Masters 1000 titles, dominant on hard courts with 22.
• Federer won 6 ATP Finals, a title Nadal never secured.

Winning Streaks

• Nadal: 81-match win streak on clay (2005-2007).
• Federer: 56-match win streak on hard courts and 65-match win streak on grass.
• Nadal ended Federer’s streaks at 2006 Dubai Tennis Championships (hard) and 2008 Wimbledon (grass).

National Representation

• Nadal: 5-time Davis Cup winner with Spain.
• Federer: Led Switzerland to Davis Cup victory in 2014.
• Olympic Achievements:
  • Nadal: Gold medals in both singles (2008) and doubles (2016).
  • Federer: Gold in doubles (2008), silver in singles (2012).

Conclusion

• Both players have left a significant impact on the sport.
• Federer's achievements in certain arenas like ATP Finals and his career titles lead, contrast with Nadal's dominance on clay and Grand Slam count.
• The debate of who is the greatest continues, with varying opinions influenced by these records.