The race of Fernando Gonzalez She is one of the most successful among all Chilean tennis players. She got titles, Olympic medals and the recognition of great sports legends with whom she had to face on the circuit in her professional stage. In this sense, one with whom he met the most times on the ATP circuit was Rafael Nadal, where they delivered great matches, but at one point the Chilean got tired.
To do this we have to go back in time and situate ourselves at the 2009 Australia Open, where ‘Feña’ had just beaten Richard Gasquet in five sets in a marathon match, while ‘Rafa’ did not suffer major inconveniences against Tommy Haas. However, Another important point is that the Spaniard fully reached the commitment and as leader of the ranking, a situation that did not go down well at all in Fernando Gonzalez.
In this sense, during the press conference after the triumph of the ‘Bombardero de La Reina’ against the Frenchman, he was consulted by journalists about the preparation for the round of 16 where Nadal was waiting for him. “I am excited to play against Rafa, it is an ideal opportunity to face the number one in the world. The way he was playing was too high. I think that at that level he dedicates himself to something else because I think that tennis is going to be boring for him ”started the Chilean who praised the Manacorí.
Finally, Rafael Nadal surpassed in three sets by 6-3, 6-2 and 6-4 to Fernando Gonzalez to continue advancing rounds at the 2009 Australia Open that would end up beating Roger Federer in the final. That definition will remain in the memory of all tennis lovers, not only because it took place between one of the greatest rivalries in the sport, but also because it was the first major in oceanic lands for the Spaniard.
Federer was inspired by Feña to beat Nadal
Another of the great definitions of the title that Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer disputed occurred at the 2017 Australia Open, where the Swiss was left with the victory 6-4, 3-4, 6-1, 3-6 and 6- 3. A month after the consecration of the Basel player, his coach, Ivan Ljubicic, commented that he showed him various videos of ‘Feña’ so that he could win.
“I showed him a game of Fernando Gonzalez against Rafa, I don’t remember the year, but it was at the Australian Open (2007). There, Fernando destroyed Rafa and I got some ideas from that party and others. I collected information from various parties in the event that it was Rafa and what Roger should do, ”he explained in dialogue with ‘Punto de Break’.
