Tennis: Roger Federer And Rafael Nadal Debunk An Old Urban Legend

The rivalry between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal is considered as the most heated matchup in tennis. During a recent Instagram stream, Federer was able to get to the bottom of an urban legend regarding Nadal’s playing style.

It’s iconic that Nadal plays with a left-handed forehand despite being right-handed. While he’s won 19 Grand Slams with a lefty groundstroke, a popular myth has been speculated that Nadal plays just as well with his right hand. This was debunked by Nadal himself when Federer brought up the question.

“One thing I want to ask you because it has been bothering me, it’s that you are a lefty,” Federer said. The left-handed play of Nadal has been an advantage over Federer for years as the majority of the players play with their right hand.

“No, I can not play righty,” Nadal said. “That’s just a legend,” he shared.

The combination of Nadal’s power and ability to generate topspin has been one of his key points in winning. But to add to these, he is also very cerebral on the court, as players have had a difficult time scouting the Spaniard legend. This can be attributed to how Nadal’s style of play is far from the traditional pace of the game.

“I started with two hands, backhand and forehand, and probably because I was hitting two backhands people didn’t know, but I have always been a lefty,” Nadal added.

The pair of Federer and Nadal have had multiple matches in the past that have resulted in instant classics. Their games have turned into such a phenomenon that it even resulted in their own nickname, FeDal. Every time Federer and Nadal step on the court the fans erupt with the anticipation of who will reign on top.

The rivalry of Nadal and Federer continue to entertain fans across the world. The two have faced off in 40 separate occasions with Nadal on top of the head to head matchup, 24-16.

With the urban legend of Nadal being capable of playing with his right hand out of the way, these top stars are patiently waiting for when tennis can return. For now, they are practicing social distancing and following the necessary quarantine protocols.