LONDON—Roger Federer discusses Rafael Nadal’s improvement since they first faced off in 2004, a match the Spaniard won when he was just 18 years old. Nadal owns a 22-10 record against Federer and has won 14 of their 19 matches since the start of 2008. His won over Federer in the semifinals of the ATP World Tour Finals at the O2 Arena was his first over in the Swiss indoors.
“I think he definitely starts to play naturally better, on the quicker courts,” Federer said. “There was no way around that because usually 70 percent of the tour you play is on hard court. So he just had to get used to that more. How old was he when I played him first, 18? That is still young. The improvement you’re going to make from 18 to 22 is always going to be an extreme one, especially in his situation, because he’s a quick learner. He’s a great player. Everybody played to his weakness. Everybody played the backhand, like everybody played at my backhand at first. That becomes more consistent. Then they go harder to your forehand. Then you improve that. Eventually you become that well-molded player he is today. I think he improved lots.”