Rafael Nadal should've beaten me here 6 years ago, but I snuck that out"

Roger Federer fell in his quest for the 2011 Miami Open against Rafael Nadal in the semifinals, a rather straightforward 6-3, 6-2 loss for the Swiss maestro. Federer believed afterwards that Nadal had what it took to produce a victory in the final as well, where he was set to lock horns with then World No. 2 Novak Djokovic.At his press conference after the loss, Federer recalled the 2005 Miami Open final between him and Nadal, where the 20-time Grand Slam champion overturned a two-set deficit to win 2–6, 6–7(4), 7–6(5), 6–3, 6–1. It marked the first final between the two icons, and the Swiss ended up completing his first Sunshine Double with the win.

At the press conference, Roger Federer also spoke about his poor record against Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal until then in the year, where he was 0-4 against the duo (three losses against Djokovic, one to Nadal).The Swiss wished he could play better against the pair but did not think his Miami loss was a particularly big setback for him regardless. The 20-time Grand Slam champion hoped to do better in the clay season, starting with the Monte-Carlo Masters.
“For me those are not big setbacks. I wish I could play better right now against those guys, but it is what it is. I’m the last guy who gets pulled all the way down and then can’t get up for the next tournament,” the Swiss said.
“I’m excited going Monaco now. I’m going to fly there directly and prepare as well as I can for the clay court season. It’s a big swing coming up now in Europe, so that’s the mindset. Yeah, I want to do well and I want to do better. I got the opportunity in a couple weeks already,” he added.
Federer ended 2011 with a 1-3 record against Nadal (lone win coming at the ATP Finals) and a 1-4 record against Djokovic (lone win coming at the French Open).

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