It will be El-Classico! Super El-Classico for lack of a better phrase. This is not Real Madrid versus Barcelona; I’m talking about one of the biggest match up in the history of sports. And it’s just a step away from reality.
Roger Federer going against Rafael Nadal in the final of the Australian Open, the two most successful tennis players in the history of the sport. We are talking of 17 Grand Slam titles versus 14 Grand Slam titles. Nobody saw this coming as both players had an injury blighted 2016. A final of the Williams sister is also likely
The focus was on Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic and some of the guys who had showed promising signs last year. Roger and Nadal have plummeted down the ranking, they are seen just as an also ran who at best will just get to the second week in Down Under. But match by match, they are notching up victories and now at the semi-final stage.
Both gave a virtuoso and clinical performance in their quarter final matches. Roger Federer made light work of the conqueror of world number one Andy Murray, Mischa Zverev 6-1 7-5 6-2 to set up Thursday’s last-four match against fellow Swiss Stan Wawrinka. Rafa’s feat is even more commendable, he took the scalp of the highest ranked player left in the draw, world number three, Canadian Milos Raonic 6-4 7-6 (9-7) 6-4. Raonic is said to have the biggest serve in the at the moment. Nadal will take on Grigor Dimitrov on Friday.
According to Andy Roddick, winner of the 2009 US Open, “Australian Open final between Roger Federer and Rafel Nadal could be the most important match in Grand Slam history”. “The historical context of what we might see, it’s definitely the most important match in Australian Open history if it gets there possibly in Grand Slam history,” Roddick added. You’d have to be crazy human being, or related to one of the other people in the draw to not want to see it”, he emphasized.
That’s on the men’s side. Another classico is also beckoning on the women’s side. The world might get to see an all Williams final in Melbourne. What a tantalizing prospect to see Serena take on her sister, Venus in a Grand Slam final.
The Williams Sisters-Venus and Serena
The sisters faced off 27 times in professional tournaments, most recently in the quarterfinals of the US Open on September 8, 2015, won by Serena. As of 2017, their head-to-head record is 16–11 in Serena’s favor. Both Williams sisters have been ranked World No. 1: Venus for a total of 11 weeks, beginning in February 2002; Serena for a total of 309 weeks, beginning in July 2002.
The Williams Sisters are the only two women during the open era to play each other in four consecutive Grand Slam finals. Venus holds 49 singles titles; Serena, 71.The last time the sisters met at a Grand Slam final was at Wimbledon in 2009 with Serena defeat her sister who was two-time defending champion 7-6 6-2.
Serena has won 22 Grand Slam titles while Venus has 7. Venus Williams takes on Coco Vandeweghe in all America affair in the first semi final while sister, Serena play M. Lučić-Baroni in other semi final.
