Roger-Rafa rivalry intensifies

French and Wimbledon champions are raising the bar in men8217;s tennis

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal will dust themselves down, take a little air, and head to the United States to resume their rivalry next month after another intriguing Grand Slam duel at Wimbledon.

The US Open, which starts on August 28, awaits the top two players in the men8217;s game whose exploits this year have enthralled tennis.

On Sunday world number one Federer gained some revenge for his defeat by Nadal in the final of the French Open, beating the Mallorcan by the same margin in the Wimbledon final.

Federer8217;s fourth consecutive Wimbledon crown was only his second win in eight meetings with Nadal, the 20-year-old claycourter who is rapidly acquiring the all-court skills to threaten the Swiss.

In the past Federer looked embarrassed when asked about the rivalry because of his five consecutive defeats by Nadal before Sunday, including four finals this year.

Now the 24-year-old is ready to recognise the benefits of the world8217;s top two players going head to head on a regular basis.

8220;When we play so often in finals, I think it adds something to the game,8221; Federer said. 8220;Now it8217;s great. He8217;s up and coming. I used to be the youngster. Now I8217;m sort of getting older. But he8217;s so young and it8217;s a great rivalry we8217;re having at the moment. 8220;Sometimes that really can help tennis.8221;

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John McEnroe, whose duels with Swede Bjorn Borg at Wimbledon and the US Open in 1980 and 1981 are the stuff of legend, believes the emergence of Nadal will help Federer.

8220;He Nadal is making Federer a better player. That8217;s all you can ask for in a rival,8221; said the American, commentating on Sunday8217;s final at Wimbledon for NBC. 8220;This is the best thing that could happen to this rivalry, Federer winning here.8221;

As defending champion Federer will again be a firm favourite at Flushing Meadows but Nadal can take heart from the fact that he has won two of their three meetings on hardcourt. Nadal lost to American James Blake in the third round of the US Open last year and has never been beyond that stage of the tournament before.

The same was true of Wimbledon before this year, however, and the Spaniard is determined to do better this time.

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8220;I want to play good in the US Open, it8217;s one of my special goals this year because I8217;ve never play well there,8221; he said. 8220;I8217;m always talking to my team about that. So I need have good preparation because last year I arrived there without my 100 percent mentality.8221; Bill Barclay