How Nadal's duels with Federer and Djokovic shaped men's tennis

While the Federer-Nadal rivalry was a clash of styles, the Spanish legend's duels with the Serbian master were nothing short of gladiatorial. Nadal leads Federer 24-16 on head-to-head and Djokovic edges Rafa 31-29.
TOI takes a look at the best five from both these famous rivalries:
NADAL VS FEDERER
First glimpse: 2005 Miami final: Federer was the undisputed king and even though he had lost to Rafa the previous year, the Swiss was just unstoppable at that point.

Nadal had won the first two sets and was well on course to stopping Federer from winning his first Sunshine Double, but the experience of the Swiss helped him win 2-6, 6-7, 7-6, 6-3, 6-1.

Rafa truly takes over clay: 2006 Rome Open final: Rafa had beaten Federer in the 2005 French Open semifinal, but the rivalry on clay hadn't been settled yet. The Rome final was the first of the clay swing that year and if Federer had won this match, the head-to head on this surface might not have looked as lop-sided. Federer had two match-points in the fifth set Nadal prevailed 6-7, 7-6, 6-4, 2-6, 7-6.
Best-ever: 2008 Wimbledon final

: Rafa's autobiography starts with how he was feeling when there was a rain-break in this final during the fifth set. The Spaniard had lost the earlier two Wimbledon finals to his greatest adversary and when he went two sets up. Federer then played some of his best tennis to win the next two in tie-breakers. The rain breaks, the fading light - everything added to the drama, till Rafa held after breaking Federer in the 15th game of the fifth set to win 6-4, 6-4, 6-7 , 6-7 , 9-7.
Cheers, tears and a beautiful friendship: 2009 Australian Open: Though Nadal had won the Wimbledon final the year before, the popular mandate was Federer was the better player on faster courts. This was the first time they were playing in a Grand Slam outside Roland Garros and SW19, and the stakes were massive. In a match that went to and fro, Nadal prevailed 7-5, 3-6, 7-6, 3-6, 6-2. The loss left Federer in tears and as he cried, it was Rafa who consoled him on the podium.
Roger's redemption: 2017 Australian Open: Both were coming back after massive injuries and it was a surprise that the two made the final. Federer attacked like never before using his single-handed backhand as an explosive weapon. But Rafa weathered the storm and was up a break in the fifth set. The last four games of that match was probably the best Federer had ever played while trailing against Nadal. He eventually won 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3.
NADAL VS DJOKOVIC
Slam dunk: 2010 US Open final: Nadal was trying to emulate Federer and a select few in the history of men's tennis to win all four Majors. Djokovic, around that time, was establishing himself as the best player on hard courts. But Nadal was just in a league of his own that year after winning his second Wimbledon title and went on to beat Novak 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-2 and make a place for himself in history.
Marathon for all times: 2012 Australian Open final: Five hours, 53 minutes - it went on for that long and by the end of it, the two struggled to stand on their feet in the humidity of Melbourne during the prize distribution ceremony. The fortunes fluctuated, but Novak stood strong. Nadal led 4-2 in the fifth but Novak's resilience came through in a 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7(5), 7-5 win.
Still the Clayboy: 2013 French Open semis: Many call it the greatest clay court match of the new millennium. Novak was desperate to break his Roland Garros jinx but Rafa was just being Rafa. He said after winning the four hour 37 minute thriller 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7, 7-5: "You need to love this game…I lost a similar one in Australia, but this one was for me."
Day-nighter: 2018 Wimbledon semis: Another epic encounter that rolled over to the next day, the match carrying on for an unreal 5hr 15min on grass-court. Novak wasn't at his best after coming back from an injury, but he refused to give up. On Saturday afternoon, the final scoreline read 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (9), 4-6, 10-8 in favour of the Serb as the tennis world revelled at the jaw-dropping resilience of the two champions.
One last time: 2021 French Open semis: Nadal had blown away Novak in the 2020 French Open final. The battle for most Slams was also on and Nadal desperately wanted to win. The quality of the points played was outstanding, the two matching each other shot for shot. Novak won 3-6, 6-3, 7-6, 6-2.