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Roger Federer (left) and Rafael Nadal (right) shake hands after Federer defeated Nadal in the men's final match at the Miami Open at Crandon Park Tennis Center. Getty

The deepening rivalry between Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer has taken on a much different dynamic in recent years. While Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka have each had their own stretches of stellar play, Nadal, who at one time appeared invincible before suffering injuries, and Federer, a timeless superstar who struggled with fatigue and knee issues, languished to combine for just one Grand Slam title in 2015 and 2016.

But there has been a rebirth for Federer and Nadal in recent months. Both players have shown marked improvement, climbing the rankings with tournament wins and finals appearances. It's been a bit of a turn-back-the-clock situation for two tennis legends, who boast a combined total of 32 Grand Slams, with Federer winning 19 of 20 matches this year, and Nadal posting a 19-5 record.

Federer finished 2016 ranked No. 16, while Nadal came in at No. 9, making the turnaround particularly impressive. Federer is currently No. 4 (5,305 points) and Nadal is No. 5 (4,735 points).

Though the improved play has reinvigorated the rivalry, it has also been one-sided as Federer has clearly gotten the best of Nadal in 2017. The 35-year-old Swiss has defeated Nadal three times, including an epic five-set win in the Australian Open. Federer's backhand looks better than ever, and he should be well rested ahead of the French Open—a frightening prospect for his Roland Garros opponents.

Nadal, 30, hasn't won a tournament this year and it's been nearly a year since his last title—he won the Barcelona Open in April 2016— but the latest results have been encouraging. After showing a dip in form in 2016 with a 39–14 record, Nadal has reached the finals of three tournaments this year and has looked sharp even in defeat.

His progression in 2017 has to be encouraging as he enters next month's French Open, a tournament that the Spaniard has thoroughly dominated when at his peak.

The tennis world will no doubt be salivating at the prospect of Federer and Nadal meeting in Paris. While Federer is riding a wave of momentum, Nadal has defeated Federer in 13 of their 15 head-to-head matches on clay.

Before they met at the Miami Open final earlier this month, with Federer prevailing 6-3 6-4, it was clear that one of the greatest rivalries in sports was back and that the mutual respect had never gone away.

"My biggest rival. It feels like old times," Federer said of Nadal.

"I'm just excited to play against Roger, always. He's a big a challenge for me and I think for everybody," Nadal said.