Roger Federer has an amazing winning record but it’s his tally of losses to Nadal that is legacy defining

THERE is still something oddly haunting about Roger Federer’s much-debated place in tennis history — and Sunday night’s result notwithstanding — that something is Rafael Nadal.

(L-R) Rafael Nadal and Rodger Federer meet at the net after the epic Australian Open match. Picture: Julie Kiriacoudis

THERE is still something oddly haunting about Roger Federer’s much-debated place in tennis history.

Federer’s remarkable tally of 18 grand slam singles titles, his crowning glory, is now four clear of Spaniard Rafael Nadal and Pete Sampras as of last night’s Australian Open final.

The Swiss superstar hit the front from Sampras when he won the sixth of his seven Wimbledon crowns and 15th major overall almost eight years ago.

Federer, at 35, remains graceful, princely and majestic — and a versatile-enough personality to wear cardigans at Wimbledon and play imaginary Bongo drums at the Hopman Cup.

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Roger Federer of Switzerland (left) celebrates his win in the Mens Singles Final against Rafael Nadal of Spain (right).

This rare set of characteristics helps make him possibly the most popular sportsman ever.

Federer and his wife Mirka even have two sets of twins. That feat, if that’s the right word, is regarded as a one-in-70,000 chance.

It’s no wonder many refer to him as peRFect. But he’s not, and the reason is Nadal.

The Nadal quandary — namely a 23-12 head-to-head differential against him — is at the heart of Federer’s legacy, even with last night’s fifth-set fightback.

Federer removed one of the asterisks on his playing record when he won the 2009 French Open to complete his grand slam collection, something Sampras never did.

It helped that Robin Soderling inflicted Nadal’s first loss on the Roland Garros clay that year, after a 31-match streak, in the fourth round. Federer beat Soderling in the final a week later.

Federer’s unsightly head-to-head record with the other great player of his era is like the itch that can’t be scratched: how can he be the greatest if he isn’t the best of his generation?

Few who watched Nadal annihilate Federer 6-1 6-3 6-0 in the 2008 French Open decider will forget it.

What hurt just as much was Nadal’s five-set up-ending of Federer in the Wimbledon final only weeks later. If clay is Nadal’s domain, grass is supposed to be Federer’s.

For Nadal to beat him on his favourite surface, on its biggest stage, was every bit the indictment that Roland Garros thrashing was.

“Maybe I lost the Wimbledon final in 2008, because of too many clay court matches (against Nadal), because he crushed me at the French Open final,” Federer said pre-final.

Switzerland's Roger Federer addresses the spectators, holding his trophy, after defeating Spain's Rafael Nadal (background).

“I think it affected my first two sets at Wimbledon. Maybe that’s why I ended up losing … it was more mentally something at some moments.”

Court surface or, more accurately, court speed again came to the fore this past fortnight.

Melbourne Park’s centre court, Rod Laver Arena, as tournament director Craig Tiley explained in recent days, was resurfaced earlier than usual — leading to a slicker, more-to-Federer’s-liking court.

“I know this court allows me to play a certain game against Rafa that I cannot do on centre court at the French Open,” a buoyant Federer said.

The first grand slam final between them in six years somehow lived up to the unrivalled hype, and Federer the Fantastic pegged one back on Nadal and increased his grand slam title buffer.

But even Federer knows he and Nadal are unlikely to have the 11 more matches required for him to potentially level the ledger.

So it will always be the career blight that will be forgiven or not, depending on your viewpoint.