MELBOURNE, Australia — Though it has an undeniable ring to it, Roger Federer versus Rafael Nadal is not the best rivalry in men’s tennis. The numbers prove it, with Nadal dominating the series and the major finals within it to a large degree.
But Federer versus Nadal for the Australian Open title on Sunday certainly feels like the match that the sport wanted, maybe even needed, and the wider world might agree that a revival performance of a classic is rather reassuring in these uncertain times.