08OPEN_BODO_Men.9a: 2004 US OPEN TEMPLATE 7/30/08 5:11 PM Page 17 Mark Ralston/Getty Images It takes more than a head-to-head tug-of-war to make a compelling rivalry. In the case of McEnroe and just about anybody (but Borg), clashing personalities featured prominently in the hype. Sampras and Agassi liked each other, albeit from a comfortable distance and with no illusions of commonality. Their rivalry was driven by the contrast in their personalities (Agassi was flashy, Sampras stoic) and styles of play (Sampras was the attacker, Agassi the superb, aggressive defender). The rivalry between Federer and Nadal contains echoes of McEnroe vs. Borg as well as Sampras vs. Agassi. In broad terms, this is a rivalry between the artist and the worker, or, if you prefer, the beautiful game and the efficient game. That Federer is a cosmopolitan lad and Nadal a pleasant and sunny youngster whose favorite pastimes run to pick-up soccer and fishing only sweetens the chemistry. After their Wimbledon classic, Nadal held a 12-6 edge in the head-to-head, which is responsible for the surreal fact that while Federer is already acclaimed by many (including Nadal) as the greatest player of all time, there s one man of his own generation whom he can t consistently beat. Federer and Nadal have yet to meet on American soil since that second match in Miami, way back in 2005. But they ve met in a substantial seven Grand Slam matches at Roland Garros and Wimbledon (Nadal leads, 5-2), and all but that first clay-court battle have taken place in finals. Isn t it about the time that the Federer-Nadal show opened at Flushing Meadows? P.B. 2 0 0 8 U S O P E N 91