It was a showdown of low, just-over-the-net strokes passed back and forth on a purple tinted court. At Tuesday¡¯s bout between reigning tennis king Roger Federer of Switzerland and young gun Rafael Nadal of Spain, the audience was treated to an exhibition of the world¡¯s greatest speed and power. The crowd was sending cheers the athlete¡¯s way every time they fired off one of their blazing 200 km/h-plus serves or broke out with the hard shots. In their final match of the season, they were not afraid to pull out all the stops.
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The king beats the prince at the HyundaiCard Super Match III that played out at the Seoul Olympic Gymnastics Hall in Jamsil on Tuesday. Top-ranked Roger Federer (left) smiles after defeating Raphael Nadal in a singles match./Yonhap
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The king kept his crown in the end. Federer put out his forehand attacks and serves to beat Nadal 2-1 (6-3, 3-6, 6-3). Shots aimed just a little off the line were particularly effective at goading Nadal into foul-ups.
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At the HyundaiCard Super Match III Roger Federer of Switzerland sends a fierce serve in the direction of his opponent Raphael Nedal of Spain./Yonhap
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The players debuted a variety of tricks they had been more reluctant to try in formal matches where a championship might be on the line. Nadal flew into the air for a smash that looked like a spike, exhibiting a showmanship that included throwing his body around to provoke drops from his opponent. Federer drew applause when he was repeatedly able to deflect dangerous backhand attacks that fell right on the line. He himself had to laugh when he watched himself in replay on the stadium¡¯s massive screen.
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At Tuesday¡¯s match-up between tennis stars Roger Federer and Rapael Nadal,
Nedal tosses Federer¡¯s ball. /Yonhap
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Federer said he was satisfied to have shown the Korean fans an interesting match. Now he is to take two weeks rest and then start preparing for the Australian Open. Nadal said that the applause of the women fans gave him special strength and vowed to prepare for next season and reinforce his serve.
Ahead of the match, the two stars gave a one-hour long one master class to some 20 elementary and middle school students with dreams of becoming star tennis players. Federer let the kids in on the finer points of proper elbow position during serves. Nadal giggled when he failed to return some of the strong attacks the kids brought. After the match, the two stars donated US$50,000 for scholarships for kids.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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