Roger Federer set to play ‘special’ final match of career on Friday with Rafael Nadal in the men’s singles final of the Australian Open
Roger Federer is playing his final match of the 2018 season as he and Rafael Nadal prepare to compete for a record-equalling men’s and women’s singles titles in a dramatic final on Friday.
The Swiss doubles champion and Nadal will both have a chance to leave an indelible mark among tennis fans for years to come, and a win by either man would give the other a chance to equal their own record.
Federer, who has won a record-equalling nine Grand Slam singles titles, is hoping his last singles match on Friday will live up to his previous two matches, which he won in 2014 and 2015.
Speaking ahead of the final, Federer said: “It doesn’t get any bigger.
“I feel like my record will never be broken because I’ve played as good as I’ve played in my whole career. It’s just a matter of winning and getting on the right side of the record.
Nadal is aiming for a record-equalling tenth singles title at the Australian Open (Getty)
“For the past three, four years I’ve been playing fantastic. This is the biggest event that I’ll ever play and I’m more than ready for it.
“Of all the finals I’ve played, this is probably the most mental. You have to be ready for those kinds of moments and be mentally ready. It does not matter with whom you play, you have to be mentally strong.
“I can’t be happy if I lose the match, but at the same time I have to be happy on a positive note and try to have fun with the crowd and the fans and be able to enjoy it and enjoy what’s going to happen for myself.
“I think it will be more of a special match for all of those reasons, but I don’t know what can happen. I certainly hope for [that].”
Meanwhile, Nadal said: “Of course I want to win. Of course I’m going to be happy
