Injuries and below-par results saw both players slide down the rankings in 2016, with Federer even finishing the year at No 16 – the first time he had dropped out of the top 10 since 2002. It was also the first time since 2000 that he did not win a title. This season saw Federer suffer from a knee injury that sidelined him for a majority of the year. Federer returned after surgery but his game was hindered by a back injury that kept him out of the French Open.
For Nadal, too, 2016 was not a kind year, and he managed to win only a couple of titles even as his ranking dropped to 9. He, too, battled injuries and eventually the persistent left wrist concerns led Nadal to close the season prematurely.
The future did not look all that bright for the two at that point, though both got down to improving their fitness and taking care of the injuries.
The rise of Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray over the past couple of years also signalled the beginning of a new era in tennis and many felt the Federer-Nadal golden period was over.
After returning from injury, Federer showed the world he was far from over when he won his fifth Australian Open men’s singles title. It was also his 18th Grand Slam singles title. In the process, he also became the first man to win at least five singles titles at three different major tournaments each.
The Swiss ace was back, and how. The stunning victory silenced the cynics who had been eager to write him off and brought cheer to the millions of fans who consider him the greatest ever. Since then, he has won a total of three titles this year with a win-loss record of 19-1. He is currently ranked No 5 in the world.
The Spanish star, too, has had a great run this year. On Sunday, he claimed his 10th French Open men’s singles title and his ranking soared to No 2. He now has 15 Grand Slam singles titles to his name. Nadal has a 43-6 win-loss record in 2017 and won a total of four titles until now.
The ‘comeback’ of Federer and Nadal is great news for tennis fans, broadcasters, sponsors and the sport in general. If Murray and Djokovic manage to pick up their game and return to form, then fans could be in for an even more fascinating second half of the year. Add to that the sub-plot of Federer vs Nadal (the Swiss ace leads 3-0 this year, including the Australian Open final), any future clash between the two will be nothing short of a blockbuster.