Roger Federer is not having any luck in his matches against Rafael Nadal this year - in any format! Nadal and doubles partner Carlos Moya scored a 6-4, 7-6 victory Monday over Federer and Stanislas Wawrinka at the Rome Masters tennis tournament at Rome's Foro Italico clay-court.
Last week, Nadal edged Federer 7-6 in the third in a hybrid court exhibition in Spain that was played on court that was half grass and half clay. In singles competition, Nadal beat Federer in straight sets in the final of the Monte Carlo Masters a few weeks ago. Nadal may be a distant number two to Federer, but he has won seven of their 10 matches and Federer has never beaten him on clay. If they meet in the Italian final, it could be a preview of what might happen at the French Open.