How can you be the greatest of your era (not to mention all time) when your former #2 (now #1) owns you as completely as Nadal has owned Federer? Granted the h2h is 3-2 in Fed's favor, but that includes the 5-setter in Miami where Nadal won the first two sets.

If Nadal wins Sunday, the Fed Train jumps the tracks on the road to GOAT, and mires itself in sand, or in this case cement.

First!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is going to be a great grand slam, but I am predicting Federer over Nadal 7-5, 3-6, 7-6 (4), 6-2. I am sorry but Nadal just came off a five setter against fernando and is extremely exhausted. Although Nadal is an animal, I highly doubt that he can recover in less than 48 hours and try to top the best player of all time, not to mention that he is trying to tie the all-time record of 14 slams. Federer is determined to win. People have counted him out all last year and he wants revenge after Wimbledon. I promise you that Federer WILL win. Let's go Roger!!!!

2nd

This match between Nadal and Verdasco can now be considered as another great epic match of the same weight and class with the Wimbledon 2008 Nadal-Federer finals.
The draws that Nadal and Verdasco has to go through were the most difficult in this year's AO. Their opponents were all very tough, dangerous and all heavyweights (Murray, Tsonga, Simon, Haas and Gonzales).
While Federer's draw was relatively easy with only Berdych giving him some troubles. Safin has lost his touch, thus the decision to retire from the tour this year. Del Potro was overrated and overhyped weakling of a giant. And lastly, Roddick who has all the luck in the world to eliminate Djokovic with help of the excruciating Melbourne heat, but still has a lot to learn how to master the art of beating Federer.
Both Nadal and Verdasco deserved to be in the Finals.
With Verdasco's new-found talent and skills, I believe that Federer has no match to our boy from Madrid.
Nando, you made your country, Spain proud of you as the hero of last year's Davis Cup and your magnificent performance in this year's AO. Good luck to your new top ten ATP rankings.
Federer enjoying a much longer rest is another way to pamper him to come fresher and energized for Sunday's Finals, although this is not his fault.
I do believe that with Nadal's tenacity, deiscipline and strong determination to execute his mission to win his first HC Grandslam title, all these obstacles and "unfairness" by the event scheduler and organizers will all be overcome by Nadal, for the true measure of one true tennis champion is all found in Nadal.
Hail to the "One True Number One Grandslam Champion of All Time" RAFAEL NADAL OF SPAIN!!!
VAMOS RAFA!!!! VAMOS NANDO!!! VIVA ESPANA

Nadal vs. Federer!!! If Verdasco would of won, Federer would of won easily. But now it's a whole new Ball-game. Now its Superbowl Time. Nadal has very little to rest but young to outlast opponents. For how long can he keep this up is up to his body. But my call is Nadal on top and slightly though. His game has improved so much and unbelievable curve balls. Outside hitting, almost seeming like out ball but curving back in, wow, wow. Federer will be the greatest tennis player in history but for how long can Nadal's body do this will determine also.

Fed is lucky that he got to rest during the US Open Final and the Australian Open final, with Nadal and Murray having to play two days in a row.

I am sure if Nadal had more time to rest, this would have been a stronger match!

To early to decide greatest ever. Nadal is younger and i think has won more titles by 22 than Roger. As far as tommorrow. Slight edge to Roger. Nadal needs to mentally block the physical pain from the marathon the other night and sieze the opportunity because he may not have this opportunity again. He must not be satisfied to just get to the big event. Maybe since he is playing Roger he will dig a little deeper.

I honestly doubt Federer could've beat last night's Verdasco. I was of a different opinion before the match, but he seemed downright invincible last night. I still can't explain his loss, or Nadal's miraculous survival.

I see Federer taking it in three. I don't think Nadal will recover, psychologically, in time. He emptied his tank.

I don't even think he cried at match point in Wimbledon vs Federer.

Federer will win 3 sets to 1

Krebs nothing against you personally but wake up! Marat Safin not dangerous? When you're in the same draw as Djokovic it is easy? Roddick beat Djokovic fair and square, even though Djokovic quit because he was losing. You thing Tsonga and Gonzales are more dangerous tha Djokovic and Roddick to go far in a grand slam? FUNNY!!!!

Gotta love it when Rafa and Fed KADs go at it. Theories, quotes, and calculations abound ... I can just imagine with this place will look like tomorrow. Moderators, you'd better get your rest! LOL

Hey Tom, thanks for all the great stuff over the tourney. In answer to your question:

I do think Federer and Nadal have the best rivalry in the history of men's tennis.

I don't know why everyone is complaining how Nadal has only a day to recover. Fed had a five setter against Berdych and he played phenomenally well (even for him) againt Del Potro in a day rest. Nadal can definitely recover in this time. He just likes to take pressure off of himself and declares Fed the favorite before any imp match. He is gonna loop his forehands and slice more than often to get rest during the point. Given that Nadal is playing better than ever but there a lot more players who can defeat Nadal (berdych, murray, djokovic, fed, blake, tsonga) than there are who can defeat Fed (nadal, murray, djokovic). So is Nadal the real no. 1? I guess we will know on Sunday. Actually there is more pressure on Fed on Sunday since everyone giving no chance to Nadal (which is funny) but I hope Fed will win because he is a better player, he just lost confidence against Nadal after hitting two forehand errors at 5-6 15-40 duirng the Rome 2006 final! Let's go Fed!

Roger Federer(SUI)[2] def. Rafael Nadal(ESP)[1] 6-0 7-6(7) 6-7(5) 6-3

Mark my words.

PS Kerbs: don't forget Federer did beat Verdasco in Kooyong.

taht gonna be a thriller match, Nadal vs Fedrer. my thoughts is,that fed.. gonaa win that.

I think Federer will win, but Nadal will win AO in 2010. Watch the pattern:
Nadal has played at the Australian Open four times. Each time he has reached a different round:

Year: Round:
2004 3d round
2005 4th round
2007 Quarterfinals
2008 Semifinals
2009 ?
2010 ?

Nadal had a difficult draw? Who did he have to beat on the way to the semis? Rochus ATP 97, Karanusich AT 92, Haas 79? And later on he played Gonzales who was too tired to compete.
On the other hand Federer... played except Seppi and Korolev in the first two rounds only seeded players and Seppi just missed seeding as ATP 35.

fed u have to win this final. Be strong not only from phhysique but also from mind & heart. Don't fear of, that u will lose to nadal. think nadal will lose to u.

Is it unfair to that RF has one day more off... it's just the way it is and if Roger would have played on Friday would it make a difference given the fact that he barely spent a little more than 2hrs on the court? In other tournaments its different and over the course of a career none will be favored.

If RF the GOAT even though Nadal has a winning record over him? RF made RC finals 3 times in a row and without RN he would have completed the grand slam maybe twice to mach Rod Laver. Nadal is the king of clay, no question... but the reason they played so many times against each other.. mostly in finals is because RF always made it to the Clay Finals... unlike Nadal who sofar has nothing in comparison. Also don't forget how many players are really growing up on Hard court and RF had a much bigger competition in the past 4-5 years where he had to prove himself over and over again. That's not the case with Nadal.

I thing both are great players and probably will become good friends. Both probably will become the best in their own right, but right now RF just has the edge while RN has the youth.

Lets enjoy the finals...

I agree with the assertion that Fed would have probably lost to Verdasco in the Semis had they met. Also, had Nadal not exerted so much energy in that match, I also agree with those that say Nadal would have had the clear advantage as I truly believe that Nadal was playing better than Federer. HOWEVER, given the circumstances I believe that Federer will win in 4 sets.

In regards to the GOAT discussion, I cannot believe there is a discussion. Nadal is the greatest clay court player of all time, who given his Wimbledon victory and #1 ranking has an argument for being a top 10 player of all time. Having Nadal around actually makes Federer's argument for #1 even better, given the same # of slams IMHO. Sampras's best showing in the French was the semis - Federer's now made it to back to back finals, beaten by Nadal in 3 straight times.

There was an article talking about the "misfortune" of Andy Roddick to be playing at the same time as Federer - the same logic could be applied to Federer. Had Nadal not been playing, I promise he would have the career slam by now, going for at least #15 or #16 here, and probably completed the season slam as well - there would be no discussion of GOAT in most people's eyes. However, that Federer is the #2 player on clay, his worst surface, and only beaten by the #1 clay court player of all time is significant in his argument for GOAT.

Furthermore, the greatness also is seen in 19 straight semis - the consistency is remarkable. If he makes it to the semis in the French, he will have effectively doubled Lendl's mark - hell, Lendl is #2 and #3 on that list with 10 and 6 consecutive semis, respectively, and Federer's is longer than those combined. Lendl's record of 19 major finals with also probably be tied or broken by Federer as well.

Thanks for your blogs/thoughts Tom, I always enjoy reading what you have to say. Roger and Rafa bring so much to this sport, I can't imagine it without one or the other. Tomorrow's final should be a classic. I really look forward to it.

This match should be played on Monday in the name of fairness. Federer will probably win very easily due to Rafael's lack of time to recover.

Louis, it's not Rogers fault Rafa had to play the day before the final. Complain to the tournament directors. They haven't given any other player the privledge of moving the final a day later, so why should they this time. And yes I know Rafa will not be fully recovered, but he is a strong, young athlete who I'm sure will bounce back quickly. I seriously doubt that this match will be easy for either player.

I think Roger has a lot more at stake in the final tomorrow, then Rafa.