“Enjoy them while you can.”

It’s a phrase that’s been spoken with urgency, and written with an underline and in bold type, ever since Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal established themselves as two of the game’s all-time greats. It was heard as a sign of appreciation when they unequivocally ruled the sport, and read as a sign of respect when they bore scant resemblance to the mega powers they once were. More than anything, it’s a testament to their unique talents. I expect that we’ll see other players who change the way we appreciate tennis in the future, but there will never be a “Federer II” or “next Nadal.”

Over the past two days, and 10 sets of men’s semifinal play at the Australian Open, it became obvious why that phrase has been on the tip of our tongues for years. We saw what made Federer and Nadal the icons they are in two classic victories, and it was fitting that each man went through a similar crucible at the same stage of the tournament. They showed grit and grace—both men did; the qualities were not mutually exclusive. They showed us glimpses of the past, in the present, to set up quite a future.

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Federer and Nadal will meet for the first time in a Grand Slam final since the 2011 French Open, and for the first time in a hard-court Grand Slam final since the 2009 Australian Open. They have defied the odds and their critics, their ages and their seedings, and, of course, their inspired opponents throughout this unforgettable fortnight. ​(See: Federer’s win over Stan Wawrinka; Nadal’s win over Grigor Dimitrov.)

Fans of both men should appreciate it all. This is for the Federer fans who winced when their man couldn’t convert match points against Novak Djokovic at the 2011 U.S. Open, which would have set up a final against Nadal. This is for the Nadal fans who did the same two years earlier at Flushing Meadows, when Juan Martin del Potro spoiled what would have been some R&R.

Which semifinal was better? Which comeback from season-ending injury is more impressive? Whose legacy does the final impact more? They are questions with no definitive answers. In the hotly contested debate of Roger vs. Rafa, it’s my hope that fans of both living legends—and all fans of sport, for that matter—can agree with the sentiment of that phrase, which unites a pair of athletes whose fans are often so divided.

Enjoy it.

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