Rewind 2006 Rome Final: Roger Federer vs. Rafael Nadal 1
Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer accepting trophies at the conclusion of the 2006 Rome Masters.
All roads lead to Rome. So the saying goes.
But none of them are easy or even navigable in the final analysis.
The prize at the end of the journey in 2006 for Roger Federer was a trophy to make him a winner at the Rome Masters for the first time in his career and in the process, allow him to have an edge as he entered the draw at the 2006 French Open.
All the Swiss had to do to secure the victory was circumvent world No. 2 nineteen-year old Rafael Nadal who, according to the media, sported a new crown––King of the Clay-Courters.
Roger Federer congratulates Rafael Nadal at the 2005 French Open semis.
In 2005, Nadal had upset Federer in the semifinals of the French Open, going on to secure his first French Open Championship––his first Grand Slam, as a matter of fact.
Just prior to Rome in 2006, Federer had been bulldozed by Nadal in the finals of Monte Carlo, playing what most would deem a sub-par match for the mighty Swiss warrior. So far in 2006, Federer had lost two matches, both to Nadal. The world No. 2 had also bested Federer in the finals at Dubai.
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