View source for Battle of Surfaces

{{short description|2007 men's tennis exhibition match}}
{{infobox tennis match
| match desc = The Battle of Surfaces
| match date = 2 May 2007
| tournament = 
| location   = [[Palma Arena]]<br>[[Palma de Mallorca]], [[Spain]]
| player1    = '''{{flagicon|ESP}} [[Rafael Nadal]]'''
| p1 rank    = 2
| player2    = {{flagicon|SUI}} [[Roger Federer]]
| p2 rank    = 1
| p1 s1 = '''7'''
| p2 s1 = 5
| p1 s2 = 4
| p2 s2 = '''6'''
| p1 s3 = '''7<sup>12</sup>'''
| p2 s3 = 6<sup>10</sup>
| image = BattleSurfacesMinibanner.jpg
}}

The '''Battle of Surfaces''' was a men's [[tennis]] exhibition match that was held on May 2, 2007,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2007/may/03/tennis.sport|title=Nadal claims Federer scalp in battle of the surfaces |author=Marcus Christenson |date=May 3, 2007 |work= [[The Guardian]]|access-date=March 24, 2016}}</ref> between [[Roger Federer]], the then top-ranked men's singles player, and [[Rafael Nadal]], the then world No. 2 in men's singles.<ref name=Reuters>{{Cite news|date=2007-05-02|title=Nadal beats Federer to win battle of surfaces|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tennis-men-surfaces-idUSL028701620070502|access-date=2021-02-17}}</ref> The match was played in the capital city of Nadal's home island, [[Palma de Mallorca]], in front of a home crowd at [[Palma Arena]]. Nadal won a competitive match 7–5, 4–6, 7–6<sup>(12–10)</sup>.<ref name=Reuters/><ref>{{Cite web |date=12 April 2020 |title=The Day Federer & Nadal Battled on GRASS and CLAY ► Full Match |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1oivnfpfII |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221002122524/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1oivnfpfII&gl=US&hl=en |archive-date=2 October 2022 |via=[[YouTube]] |access-date=2 October 2022 }}</ref> The event was almost cancelled the night before when the grass surface had to be replaced after being infested with worms.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-05-02 |title=The story when Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal played on a hybrid court for the Battle of Surfaces |url=https://www.tennisclubhouse.ca/en/post/the-story-when-roger-federer-and-rafael-nadal-played-on-a-hybrid-court-for-the-battle-of-surfaces |access-date=2024-05-02 |website=Tennis Clubhouse |language=en}}</ref>

==The match==
The match was played on a unique court with a [[clay court|clay]] surface on one side of the net and [[grass court|grass]] on the other. The court cost $1.63 million to create and took 19 days to prepare.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/sports/tennis/news/story?id=2855114|title=Federer to face off with Nadal on customized court |author= |date=May 1, 2007 |publisher=[[Associated Press]] |access-date=September 24, 2021}}</ref> At the time, Federer had won 48 straight matches on grass courts, going five straight years undefeated on grass, while Nadal had 72 straight wins on clay, going three straight years undefeated on clay.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://english.donga.com/srv/service.php3?bicode=070000&biid=2007050416588 |title=Nadal Wins the "Battle of Surfaces"  |date=May 4, 2007 |work= [[The Dong-a Ilbo]]|access-date=November 26, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/tennis/6613181.stm |title=Nadal wins 'clay-grass' thriller |date=May 2, 2007 |publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=March 24, 2016}}</ref> Rafael Nadal was also leading the head-to-head between the two players 7–3, with a 5–0 record on clay while Roger Federer had won their only meeting on grass.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-05-02 |title=The story when Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal played on a hybrid court for the Battle of Surfaces |url=https://www.tennisclubhouse.ca/en/post/the-story-when-roger-federer-and-rafael-nadal-played-on-a-hybrid-court-for-the-battle-of-surfaces |access-date=2024-05-02 |website=Tennis Clubhouse |language=en}}</ref>

Before the match, Federer said, <blockquote>We are both looking forward to this absolutely new event. The idea really appeals to me as we both dominate one of the surfaces. Rafa holds the record of 72 victories in series on clay and I have not been defeated on grass since 48 matches. It'll be fun to find out what it's like to play on a court with mixed surfaces! And it ought to be interesting to see who chooses the better tactic. People have been talking about this event for quite a while. Now it's coming up pretty soon already and I like the fact that the stadium - which is very nice, by the way - is located on Majorca, Rafa's home. He has been to Basel, after all, and now I've got the opportunity to play at his place for once.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rogerfederer.com/en/en-speziell/news-detail/news/478-kampf-der-oberflaechen.html|title=The Battle of Surfaces|date=April 14, 2007|work=Roger Federer official website|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303192330/http://www.rogerfederer.com/en/en-speziell/news-detail/news/478-kampf-der-oberflaechen.html|archive-date=March 3, 2016|access-date=November 26, 2010}}</ref></blockquote>After the match, Nadal said,

<blockquote>It has been a nice experience, although before the match I thought it would be a disaster because I felt it would be very difficult for me to adapt to the court.</blockquote>

==See also==
*[[Bailey–Johnson 150-metre race]]
*[[Battle of the Sexes (tennis)]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.rogerfederer.com/ Roger Federer, Official Website]
*[http://www.rafaelnadal.com Rafael Nadal, Official Website]

{{Tennis exhibition tournaments}}
{{Rafael Nadal}}
{{Roger Federer}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Battle Of Surfaces}}
[[Category:Tennis tournaments in Spain]]
[[Category:Exhibition tennis tournaments]]
[[Category:2007 in tennis]]
[[Category:Sport in Mallorca]]
[[Category:Tennis matches]]
[[Category:2007 in Spanish tennis]]
[[Category:Rafael Nadal tennis matches]]
[[Category:Roger Federer tennis matches]]