By Richard Pagliaro
© Mark Peterson/Corleve

(October 22, 2010) Christmas comes early this year as the Rafa-Roger rivalry will come gift-wrapped in a Magic Box. World No. 1 Rafael Nadal and second-ranked Roger Federer will reprise their rivalry in successive charity exhibition matches December 21-22nd in Switzerland and Spain.

The world's top two players will square off in a charity match in Zurich on December 21st to benefit the Roger Federer Foundation before heading to Nadal's home turf in a match to benefit the Rafael Nadal Foundation staged in Madrid's "Caja Mágica" (Magic Box) on December 22nd.

"This will be the first time the Foundation will introduce an event of this magnitude to so many people and we really hope we can count with their support in all of our projects," Nadal told the media at a press conference in Madrid today. "This event is particularly special to me because (of) Rogers’ support. We are friends and we are both very committed to solidarity."

Tickets go one sale Monday, November 1st and can be ordered online at www.fundacionrafanadal.com. The Madrid match, which begins at 6:30 p.m. local time, will be broadcast live on European television. Federer and Nadal are scheduled to appear at a Gala dinner at the Madrid City Hall after the match.

"I am very excited to come to Madrid on December 22 to support Rafa's foundation," Federer said in a statement. "Both the Zurich event the night before and this event will be a lot of fun. Playing against such a great player like Rafa, while at the same time raising monies for those less fortunate, makes it even more special."

The muscular Mallorcan owns a 14-7 career edge over the Swiss stylist in their head-to-head series, but Roger and Rafa encounters have become increasingly rare on the ATP Tour. Since Nadal defeated Federer in the masterpiece match that was the 2008 Wimbledon final, they have met just three times in the past two years. Nadal beat Federer 6-4, 7-6(5) in their lone meeting this year in the Madrid final in May.

Nadal recently returned to Spain from India where he and his mother, Ana Maria, opened the Rafael Nadal Educational & Sports School in Anantapur, India.

The school features three red clay courts, a computer room and classrooms.  The Rafael Nadal Foundation and the Vicente Ferrer Foundation, which has worked in the region for the past 40 years, collaborated on the project.

Nadal took time out to hit with the kids, showing them his forehand grip and formally opened the school in a ribbon-cutting ceremony the Rafael Nadal Foundation announced as cutting "the first of what hopefully will be many ribbons."