By Kamakshi Tandon

The capital ‘R’ Rivalry in men’s tennis is up for grabs at the Australian Open.

For months now, there's been no question about it – the Rivalry is Roger Federer vs. Rafael Nadal. But while Federer’s spot will be secure for as long as his dominance in the men’s game continues, does Nadal still make up the second half of the game’s most compelling match-up?

After four meetings in quick succession during the early part of the season, the two have met only once since their back-to-back Grand Slam finals at Roland Garros and Wimbledon. The shortfall has been on Nadal’s side: Federer has lost only one match since and won six titles, including the U.S. Open and the Tennis Masters Cup in Shanghai.

Nadal, meanwhile, has not reached a final since Wimbledon, and ended 2006 with a loss to Federer in the semifinals of Shanghai. After winning five matches in a row against the Swiss, he’s now lost their last two meetings (three if you count a post-season exhibition in Korea). And any possibility of the Rivalry being renewed at this event was put on ice by Fernando Gonzalez's defeat of Nadal in the quarterfinals on Wednesday.

So if Andy Roddick can defeat or even seriously push Federer in the semifinals, he could find himself being anointed the Rival once again. True, a 1-12 match record doesn’t exactly spell competitiveness, but the American has definitely made Federer’s brow furrow in their two meetings last year.

After falling behind early in the US Open final, Roddick played level with Federer for two sets before losing in the fourth. He came even closer in Shanghai, holding three match points in the second set before going down. Also mildly interesting: Roddick defeated Federer in an exhibition tournament at Kooyong the week before the Australian Open.

Roddick has quipped that the match-up can’t be considered a rivalry until he starts winning some of the matches, but Federer is happy to grant him rival status.

“Rival, absolutely, he said. “I think we've played on so many big occasions against each other... We're about the same age. He’s been No. 1. I don't think the record really plays much of a role now that we've played over 10 times, I think it gets always very interesting. I think the record is good for me, but I think it's still a great match with Andy.”

Roddick should come into the semifinal with more confidence against the Swiss than at any point since mid-2004, and playing better too. Already, he’s withstood tough challenges from Marat Safin and Mario Ancic by going after his returns, selectively approaching the net and hitting his backhand with unusual confidence, particularly down the line.

Roddick’s famed service is again being eyed warily by Federer. “I think he's really found his serve again. His serve kind of got lost all of a sudden, he didn't get the same free points any more,” Federer said. “He's definitely picked that up again. Ever since, he's been a great player again.”

Mardy Fish, a close friend of Roddick’s and his victim in the quarterfinals, also pointed to the serve as a key factor. He thinks Roddick can indeed have confidence going in. “I think now more so than ever he will,” Fish said. “Knowing that you can take sets off a guy, knowing that you can play with a guy. With his serve, if he serves well, I think in my opinion he's got a real good shot.”

Players have been offering mixed opinions on speed of the tournament’s Rebound Ace surface, with some saying the courts are playing faster this year while others – including Federer and Roddick – saying they haven’t noticed much difference. Fish, however, thinks the courts are fast enough to make a difference. “These courts, they're playing pretty quick this year,” he said. "I was able to serve and volley pretty much my way to the quarters. This surface is going to help his serve a lot against him. I think that's big.”

A factor frequently cited in Roddick's resurgence is the influence of Jimmy Connors, who knows all about chasing an opponent to the ends of the earth. The two began working together last summer and Roddick said the eight-time Grand Slam champion deserves the credit. “In Jimmy's case, I don't know if it's been exaggerated,” Roddick said. “I'll be the first to say it was a welcomed change, almost a new life. Just the way he puts things, it just clicked. I don't know if you can minimize the effect that he's had on me.”
 
If all that gives Roddick hope, Federer’s play so far at this event must give him pause. Unlike last year, when he looked decidedly vulnerable in several matches at Melbourne, he has yet to drop a set at this event.

“You get into the court knowing that you have to do your game pretty good to beat him because obviously he's better than you, better than everyone, no?,” said Tommy Robredo, Federer’s last opponent, sounding just a little discouraged. “[He’s] a guy that he always put the ball whenever he needs to. Every time he goes to the net he wins the volley if you didn't pass him. So difficult to pass him. I don't know. Playing on these courts, he's so good. Then if you have a small chance, you should get it. If not, then you're out.”

And as if he needed any more help, Federer’s part-time coach Tony Roche is also present in Melbourne. The two spent some time training in Dubai during the December off-season . “We've been working very hard in practice,” Federer said. “I was fortunate enough that he always came over to Europe in the summer and I've had now the last three years with Tony in December, which is crucial. We work very well together. I don't see an end to it any time soon.”

Roche was known for his backhand volley during his days on the circuit, and has given the impression that going to net more is one improvement he’d like to see in Federer’s otherwise-sublime play.

Federer was moving forward noticeably more frequently in his last match against Robredo and also during his exhibition loss to Roddick at Kooyong, but wouldn’t say it was practice for their next meeting. “It depends how I play. In Kooyong I came in a lot. I doubt it will be that much,” said Federer. “I don't think it's going to come down to volleys, but we'll see what happens.”

For his part, Roddick is openly planning to be aggressive. “But there is a fine line. You can't go out there and just rush everything,” he said. “But I think it's just a matter of, if you’re going to come to the net, getting a little bit more on your approach shots. Little things like that, making every second serve return count. Just kind of little adjustments.

“I think the most important thing is you can have a game plan, but just executing it – there’s not a lot of room for error in the execution of it.”

It's a formidable task. The worst part? Even pulling off an improbable best-of-five win in Rod Laver Arena on Thursday night won’t bring Roddick close to being the best player in the world. It’ll just make him: the Rival.