World number nine Rafael Nadal says his rivalry with Roger Federer transcends tennis as they prepare to meet in Sunday’s Australian Open final.
排名世界第九的拉法雷尔·纳达尔表示自己和费德勒之间的对抗已经超越了网球所包含的意义。二人将在本周日的澳大利亚网球公开赛男单决赛中展开对决。
Nadal and Federer both endured five-set matches in their semi-finals.
两人在半决赛皆是鏖战五盘方才过关。
The Spaniard, 30, has won 23 of his 34 meetings with the 35-year-old Swiss, including an unforgettable victory in the 2008 Wimbledon final.
30岁的西班人在与35岁的瑞士人之间34次的交锋中赢下了其中的23次,其中包括那场让人难忘的2008年温网决赛。
"People from outside our world talk about this, and that’s good for our sport," said Nadal.
“网球世界以外的人们都在谈论此事,这对我们这项运动非常有好处”纳达尔如是说。
"The combination of two styles makes the matches really special," he added.
他还说道:“两种不同的比赛风格赋予了这些比赛特殊的意义”。
The head-to-head history also favours Nadal by six wins to two in Grand Slam finals and three to zero at the Australian Open. But the 14-time Major winner says that Sunday’s final meeting will take their rivalry into new territory.
在两人大满贯决赛的交锋史上,纳达尔的战绩为6胜2负,在澳网更是三战全胜。但是这位14座大满贯奖杯的获得者表示,周日的决赛会将两人的对决推向新的高度。
"That was a long time ago. It is a different match, a different moment for both of us. This match is completely different than what happened before," Nadal added.
“那些都是很久以前的事了。对我们而言,这将是一场完全不同的比赛,完全不同的时刻。这场比赛与我们之前进行过的比赛完全不同。”
"I really don’t think about what happened in the past. I think the player who plays better is going to be the winner."
“我没有想过去发生的事,只有表现好的那个人才会成为最后的赢家。”
Comebacks to the future
归来
Both Nadal and Federer ended their 2016 seasons early after suffering injuries.
纳达尔和费德勒都因伤病早早结束了2016赛季。
A knee problem kept Federer out of action in the wake of his Wimbledon semi-final defeat by Milos Raonic, while Nadal was sidelined by a wrist injury that forced his withdrawal from the French Open.
在温网半决赛中负于米洛斯·拉奥尼奇后,费德勒因膝伤结束了余下赛季。纳达尔则因腕伤而退出了法国网球公开赛。
Federer travelled to Nadal’s home town of Manacor in Majorca for the opening of his rival’s tennis academy in October.
去年10月,费德勒来到纳达尔家乡马略卡群岛的马洛卡岛,参加了纳达尔网球学校的开幕式。
"That was amazing. I have said hundreds of time, but I can’t stop saying thanks because it was very emotional for everybody," recalled Nadal.
纳达尔回忆道:“太难以置信了,这话我说了上百遍,但还是忍不住要说感谢,因为每个人都会觉得非常激动。”
"In that moment, for sure, we never thought that we have the chance to be in a final again."
“我肯定当时谁也想不到我们还会在决赛中相遇。”
Recovery plans
恢复计划
On Friday the Spaniard beat Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov 6-3 5-7 7-6 (7-5) 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 in almost five hours to reach a first Grand Slam final since 2014.
本周五西班牙人击败了来自保加利亚的迪米特洛夫,五盘比分为6-3; 5-7; 7-6 (7-5); 6-7 (4-7); 6-4,比赛耗时近5个小时。自2014年以来,纳达尔再次进入大满贯赛事的决赛。
While Federer was also extended over five sets in his semi-final, the Swiss will have had an extra day to recover from his win over countryman Stan Wawrinka.
费德勒虽然同样经历了五盘大战,但是却多休息了一天。费德勒在半决赛中击败了同胞瓦林卡。
Nadal was in a similar situation in 2009 when he recovered from a gruelling five-hour win over Fernando Verdasco in the last four to beat Federer in the final in Melbourne.
纳达尔在2009年的澳网有着相同的经历。当时他在半决赛经历了与沃达斯科的五盘恶战,在决赛中击败了费德勒。
"That is what I am going to try. I did it in 2009, but I am eight years older," Nadal said.
纳达尔说“这正是我尝试做到的事。2009年我成功了,但是现在我又老了八岁”。
"It is true that if you play a match like I had today, probably you are at a disadvantage. But that’s a special situation. I cannot complain about that. I think it is good.
“如果打了一场我今天所经历的比赛,你大概会处于劣势,但这是一种特殊情况。我不能抱怨,这没什么问题。”
"But now is not the time to talk about that. It is time to be happy, very happy."
“不过现在没有时间讨论这些了,这是欢乐的时刻,是非常欢乐的时刻。”
Dimitrov taking positives
充满斗志的迪米特洛夫
Under the guidance of Andy Murray’s former coach Dani Vallverdu, Dimitrov has risen to number 15 in the world from 40th in July.
在穆雷前任教练达尼·瓦维度的指导之下,迪米特洛夫的排名从7月份的第四十位跃升至如今的第十五位。
Having pushed Nadal all the way, he believes his Australian Open campaign is a strong base to build his season on.
迪米特洛夫和纳达尔缠斗到了最后,他相信本次澳网之旅将为接下来的赛季打下坚实的基础。
"It’s never easy to lose a match like that. I’m happy, though, with a lot of things. I’m going to stay positive and keep my head up high.
“输掉这样的比赛总会让人沮丧,然而我却很开心,因为我学到了许多。我会继续保持积极的态度,继续昂扬前进。”
"I’m competing great. Physically I’m getting there. Despite the disappointment, that’s going to feed me, I think, for the upcoming events."
“我打得很棒,从身体上说我已经非常接近胜利了。尽管有一些不尽如人意之处,但我认为这会为今后的比赛带来帮助。”
While refusing to predict the result, the Bulgarian said that Sunday’s final would be a "freakin’ amazing" match.
迪米特洛夫拒绝预测决赛结果,但是这位保加利亚人认为周日的决赛将是一场“非常令人难以置信”的比赛。