Rafa Won't Write Roger Off

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Rafa Won't Write Roger Off

China Open ATP
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Rakuten Japan Open ATP
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By Adrianna Outlaw
© Michael O'Kane

(October 6, 2010) Rafael Nadal is a master of all majors after winning the US Open to complete the career Grand Slam. But the man who owns nine Grand Slam titles still longs for one tennis talent "Roger Federer's ability to play tennis easily," Nadal told Vanity Fair.

Given Nadal's admiration for Federer's style of play, it's not surprising the top-ranked Spaniard says the Swiss stylist, who opened the season winning his 16th career Grand Slam crown in Melbourne, will continue to contend for Grand Slam titles.

"Of course he is going to challenge to win the big tournaments," Nadal told the media in Tokyo. "He is still — what? — number two or three in the world and his game is still at a very high level."

The 24-year-old Nadal is five years Federer's junior, owns a 14-7 career edge over Federer in their head-to-head series and will be playing for his fourth consecutive Grand Slam crown at the Australian Open in January, but Nadal says he remains in awe of Federer's achievements.

"He won at the Australian Open and won in Cincinnati, got to the final in Madrid and Toronto so it's a good year for him," Nadal said. "It's very difficult to always be 100 percent and what Federer did the last seven or eight years is almost impossible to repeat. It's unbelievable."