Both rarely play doubles, but if they do, then… yes – what actually? Is Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal the better doubles player? Double legend Bob Bryan gives his assessment.
11:8 is Nadal’s official record: The Spaniard triumphed in eleven doubles, Federer in eight. Both claim victory in the Davis Cup and gold at the Olympic Games, but Nadal is ahead of Federer with three titles at Masters events (once Monte Carlo, twice Indian Wells) (Federer won “only” in Miami). The big but: For both of them, doubles play only a minor role, only rarely do Federer and Nadal really play. So how to determine the better player?
Almost only Bob Bryan can help. Half of the Bryan-Twins, the most successful double duo of all time, were recently talking to Jon Wertheim from the podcast Beyond the Baseline – and had a hard time making a real decision. But at least Bryan put forward an interesting thesis.
“I think Federer is the more natural volleyball player, but he’s a little less intense with his feet. It’s very elegant, but in doubles, you have to be very committed. I’ve seen Federer play double matches when he crosses and it gets him into trouble; I’ve seen him play matches where he makes it look really easy. Ultimately, it’s true: Nadal is the livelier, Federer the more classic double player.”
Bryan agrees with host Wertheim that Nadal is underestimated as a volley player:”It has incredibly fast hands, a great instinct. He likes to stay behind and beat his forehands over. But if he’s in front, he won’t hit a volley. It’s obvious in the individual:”If he gets ahead, he’s pretty damn effective.”
The fact that the top stars rarely play doubles, but then attract the crowd doesn’t bother Bryan,”It’s the best thing for entertainment. The fans want to see the stars on the pitch as often as possible. Having these guys outside helps the tournaments – and so does the doubles,”says the 16-times major champ.