20 years ago Key Biscane was the place of destiny, the tournament where the new tennis era was shaped. As in the greatest fairy tales or adventures, that place was the mother of the greatest rivalry in the history of sport. Two giants, aged 22 and 17 at the time, competed in Florida.
Roger Federer vs Rafael Nadal. Today, March 28, 2024, exactly 20 years have passed since their first match played in Miami. Or rather in Key Biscayne which was then the home of Florida’s ATP Masters 1000 tournament.
On this day in 2004, a young World No. 32 Rafael Nadal upset World No. 1 Roger Federer at the Miami Open 👀
This was the first ever match between the two! pic.twitter.com/82zxHkZNvU
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) March 28, 2024
That match became the first of a long series, the first of an extraordinary rivalry between the two champions. Probably among the most loved in the history of tennis. The venue for the game was Center Court at Crandon Park in Key Biscayne.
‘The world No.1 [Roger Federer], leading the way…
…behind, the man who very might well become the world No.1 one day; immense promise in this 17-year-old Spaniard, Rafael Nadal Parera…’
On March 28, 2004, Fedal was born 💫pic.twitter.com/x7bVxR58O6
— Bastien Fachan (@BastienFachan) March 28, 2024
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