Wimbledon 2018: Nadal has the edge over Federer if they meet in the final, says former Indian player Jaidip Mukerjea

Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer stepped into Wimbledon as the hot-favourites for this year’s title and so far has shown no signs to prove why they wouldn’t be so.

Nadal and Federer as the World No. 1 and 2 are also the two highest seeded player in the competition and are considered by many to meet in the final at the SW19.

Both are seeded at the opposite ends of the draw and can only meet if both reach the final and given the empathetic manner in which they raced to the third-round without losing a set, that possibility may well seem possible.

Former Indian tennis player Jaidip Mukerjea certainly thinks that both the legends can meet in the final, if they carry on their current form.

TLM caught-up with the former Indian Davis Cup captain at Wimbledon and asked him about the possible meeting of both Federer and Nadal in the final.

“They are the top two seeds in the tournament and that says a lot. Both of them are in good form and haven’t lost a set as yet,” said the four-time runner-up at the Grass court.

He was however skeptical of thinking too far ahead, given the unpredictability of Wimbledon in the recent years.

He said, “But it is only the third round and if all goes well I think they will meet in the final.”

If it indeed happens, it will be the first time that both Federer and Nadal meet in the final at Wimbledon, since the epic five-set game in 2008 which lasted for over five hours.

The Spaniard went on to win his first ever title at the Grass Court that year and then repeated the feat in 2010.

Meanwhile, Federer since then has won three more Wimbledon trophies and is currently chasing a record ninth title at the All England Club.

Both of them have been in terrific form in the last two seasons and between themselves have won all the six Grand Slam titles, but Mukerjea asserted that Nadal will have the edge in the final.

“I feel Rafa has a lot of more matches under the belt and this will help him in crucial moments. So to me if they both meet in final, Rafa will have the edge,” said the 76-year-old.

Federer, 36, has kept himself away from the clay court tournaments to focus more on the Wimbledon and as a matter has certainly played lesser number of matches than Nadal, who after returning from a serious knee-injury has raced to the No. 1 ranking.

He has won successive French Open titles in 2017 and 2018 and has also added a US Open trophy to his name, earlier this year.