The Running Forehand Where it All Began: When Rafael Nadal Won First-Ever Grand Slam Point Against Roger Federer

Karthik Raman | 05/12/2024
Rafael Nadal (L) and Roger Federer (R) at French Open 2005

Every time Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal stepped onto the court, it felt like the whole tennis world just froze. Fans couldn’t take their eyes off the TV, particularly when they faced each other in Grand Slams. But which Slam was the first one where they actually met? It was the French Open in 2005.

Looks like the Roland Garros’ social media team got a bit nostalgic this Tuesday! They shared a throwback video of the very first Grand Slam point between the duo. The post featuring their semifinal contest in Paris that year instantly became a hit, and it’s easy to see why.

This was the match that really put Nadal on the map. Even though the Spaniard already had some pretty impressive wins under his belt, like one against Federer in the 2004 Miami Masters, that victory in Paris was special for a lot of reasons.

He not only managed to beat an in-form Federer who was chasing a career Grand Slam, but that win also took him to his first Major final, where he defeated Mariano Puerta.

There were barely ten seconds in the clip shared by the Roland Garros account, which apparently started with Federer serving. The then 19-year-old Nadal did well to return the serve with a two-handed backhand but then the Swiss star sent the shot to the other side of the court. The Spaniard raced across to clinch the point with his trademark running forehand. Thus began a classic rivalry in the Grand Slams!

Tennis fans are used to seeing Nadal produce this shot over and over again. Yet, they were pleasantly surprised to learn that this was the way Rafa won his first Grand Slam point against his arch-nemesis.

“Insane from Rafa”: Fans react to Nadal’s running forehand winner

It is understandable that Roland Garros’ social media team posted this clip, especially just weeks after Nadal retired from the sport. A lot of fans are still not over it, so this post quickly gained popularity. The users were really impressed with how Rafa handled this tricky shot.

One fan even went on to claim that the running forehand winner against someone like Federer would be one of the career highlights of many players. For Rafa, he feels it’s just another point.

Over the course of their career, they played each other 40 times on the ATP Tour, with Nadal leading the head-to-head 24-16. From 2004-2019, they mesmerized supporters with a high level of tennis. After all these years, they remain fresh in the minds of their fans even though both have retired from the sport. That says something!

Post Edited By: Dhruv Rupani
Rafael Nadal Roger Federer

About the author

Avatar photo

Karthik Raman

Karthik offers almost a decade of journalism expertise to his position as Editor at The SportsRush. He has extensive experience in print and digital media, having traveled to several locations and written on issues in a variety of fields. He is an editor who values brevity and directness, and he always takes into account the reader's perspective. When Karthik is not editing, he enjoys watching series and movies and is a die-hard Manchester United fan.

Don’t miss these