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Roger Federer backhand

‘I will fight Rafael Nadal for Grand Slam record,’ vows Roger Federer


Roger Federer has vowed to keep fighting Rafael Nadal to the end as they vie for the record for Grand Slam wins.

Federer currently leads the race with 20, but Nadal has had a fine season and is now just one behind. Nadal is also five years younger than Federer, so looks well-positioned to usurp him at some point.

However, Federer has responded to the challenge, insisting that he does not consider his Grand Slam-winning days to be behind him.

“For me it’s a deep satisfaction to play at such an age,” Federer told the press in Switzerland ahead of the Laver Cup.

“I am just trying to keep winning and playing for Grand Slam wins. We will see how the race will go at the end.

“It’s an amazing time for tennis with three players who were able to win so much. I try to have my best career, Rafa too.”

Federer looked to have had a strong lead over Nadal, wth Novak Djokovic emerging as the biggets threat to his record.

However, Nadal has won three Grand Slams, two French Opens and one US Open, since Federer won his most recent.

Rafael Nadal celebrates US Open win

Federer though, insists he is not surprised by Nadal’s recent resurgence.

“Winning two Slams over one year is unbelievable,” he said. “With him I am never surprised because I know what he is a capable of.

“He had to change something after dealing with issues on hard courts and he did it. After Monte Carlo he started dominating.”

Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer will team up together for the first time in two years at this weekend’s Laver Cup in Geneva.

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Michael Graham, Tennishead.net Editor, has been a professional sports journalist for his whole career and is especially passionate about tennis. He's been the Editor of Tennishead.net for over 5 years and loves watching live tennis by visiting as many tournaments as possible. Michael specialises in writing in-depth features about the ATP & WTA tours.