Is this the strangest tennis concept ever? Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer played 'Battle of the Surfaces' on half and half courts today in 2007
ATPThursday, 02 May 2024 at 19:30
17 years
have passed since the 'Battle of Surfaces', where Roger Federer and Rafael
Nadal competed on a court made half of grass and half of clay in Mallorca. The
duel held at the Palma Arena had around 7,000 spectators in one of the most
peculiar matches in history.
At that
time, the world No. 1 was Roger Federer, who was on an incredible streak of 42
consecutive victories on grass, including the four previous Wimbledons
(2003-2006), and two months later he would win the fifth in a row. The world
No. 2 Rafael Nadal had an incredible streak of 72 consecutive victories on
clay, including the last two Roland Garros titles.
Federer was
25 years old and Nadal was 20 years old when Argentine publicist Pablo del
Campo came up with the concept that was played only once, although the
intention was to hold an edition every year. The court took 19 days to be ready
and cost 1.63 million dollars.
"We
are both looking forward to this absolutely new event. The idea really appeals
to me as we both dominate one of the surfaces," Federer said before the
match, which ended in a victory for Nadal by 7-5, 4-6, 7-6.
During the
match, both players had to change shoes at every change of ends, and it became
an iconic moment in the history of tennis and in the rivalry between Nadal and
Federer: "It has been a nice experience, although before the match I
thought it would be a disaster because I felt it would be very difficult for me
to adapt to the court," Nadal said after the match.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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