Watch: Rafa On Very Special Rematch With Roger

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Watch: Rafa On Very Special Rematch With Roger

Andy Roddick calls it the most important tennis match of all time.

For Rafael Nadal, his reunion with fellow comeback champion Roger Federer in the Australian Open final is something special.

Watch: Gritty Nadal Fights Into Australian Open Final

“Is special play with Roger again in a final of a Grand Slam. I cannot lie,” said Nadal after his gripping four hour, 56-minute semifinal victory over Grigor Dimitrov. “Is great. Is exciting for me and for both of us that we still there and we still fighting for important events. So that's important for us, I think. That's very special.

“After that, you know, is a final. Is a very important match for both of us. I hope to be ready to compete well again. I need to go back to the hotel, to rest well, and to recover from now.”

The ninth-seeded Spaniard is playing for his 15th career Grand Slam title and a milestone. If Nadal defeats Federer, he will become the first man in the Open Era to win all four Grand Slam titles twice. Aussie legends Rod Laver and Roy Emerson are the only men in history to achieve that feat.

The 30-year-old Nadal holds a 23-11 career edge over the 35-year-old Federer, including winning six of their prior eight Grand Slam final meetings.

The King of Clay has won all three Australian Open meetings with Grand Slam King Federer, prevailing in the 2012 and 2014 Melbourne semifinals.

Nadal has won five of his last six meetings with Federer, but the 17-time Grand Slam champion won their most recent meeting in the 2015 Basel final and should benefit from the faster court conditions in Rod Laver Arena.

The final is a rematch of the classic 2009 Australian Open final, which Nadal won in five sets the day after fending off Fernando Verdasco in a five hour, 14-minute semifinal duel.

Federer will enjoy an extra day of rest to help recover from the leg injury that required treatment during his five-set semifinal win over Stan Wawrinka. Nadal says their last meeting in the Melbourne final will not impact Sunday’s title match.

“No, was a long time ago. Is a different match, different moment for both of us. I think this match is completely different than what happened before,” Nadal said. “Is special. We have not been there in that situation for a while, so that makes the match different. I really don't think about what happened in the past. I think the player who play better is going to be the winner.”

Photo credit: Mark Peterson/Corleve

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