Andy Roddick believes a retro Roger Federer-Rafael Nadal Australian Open final would be more than a real-life fairytale.
“It might be, as far as history goes, the biggest match ever in Australian Open history – and maybe grand slam history,” the former world No.1 said as the two tennis titans continued their march through the Melbourne Park draw.
“What’s at stake there is beyond what pretty much what any player can comprehend.
“You could walk off that court with (numbers) one and two all-time on the grand slams list.
“I’d like to see it.”
Barely a week ago, the prospect of Federer and Nadal – with 17 and 14 grand slam singles titles respectively to their credit – stoushing at Rod Laver Arena on January 29 for another major was but a pipe dream.
Federer was ranked 17th in the world and entering his first official tournament in six months, and Nadal seeded a lowly ninth after his own injury-ravaged 2016 season.
Now Federer stands one win over countryman Stan Wawrinka away from making the final, while Nadal will take on Milos Raonic on Wednesday night bidding to join his great rival in the last four.
“I learnt a long time ago not to be surprised by anything Roger does,” said Roddick, the last man to hold the world No.1 ranking before the golden era of Federer, Nadal and later Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray – who both crashed out in the first week this year.
“I mean, you knew if he came back healthy, just his pure tennis ability would keep him in the top six, seven for as long as he could play enough tournaments in the year.
“But to see him bounce back the way he is in his first tournament in six months, just walk out on that stage and not blink.
“(To) go through a top-10 guy like Berdych, go through a top-five guy like Nishikori in different ways – one’s straight through, one he had to work a little bit harder and go through a five-setter – at 35 years old on a surgically repaired knee, I’m continually impressed by him but not really surprised anymore.”
Like most, Roddick would love to see a retro Roger-Rafa final, which would be their ninth on one of the sport’s first four biggest stages – but first since the 2011 French Open.
“It’s a big if. The what-if game never ends,” Roddick said.
“But on top of what an achievement it would be for Roger, since we’re playing in hypothetical dream world, if Rafa somehow gets there and the historical context of that match, if it becomes 17-15.
“With the French Open next as far as total grand slams (won) or 18-14, that’s such a big difference in their historical march for both those guys.”
