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What happened the last time Rafael Nadal ever played Roger Federer in an ATP final

Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer’s legendary rivalry reached its 24th and final ATP final at the 2017 Shanghai Masters, where Federer ended their head-to-head dominance in a commanding display. Entering the match, Nadal was riding a 17-game winning streak and top seeding, while Federer had already defeated him in the Miami Open final earlier that year.

Federer’s path to the final included straight-sets wins over Diego Schwartzman, Alexandr Dolgopolov, and Richard Gasquet, followed by a three-set victory over Juan Martín del Potro. Nadal, meanwhile, swept through his first three rounds before overcoming Grigor Dimitrov in a tight quarterfinal and Marin Čilić in a hard-fought semifinal.

Despite Nadal’s strong form, Federer dominated the final from the start, winning 6–4, 6–3 without facing a single break point. The Swiss star attributed his success to improved serve consistency and backhand power, thanks to his switch to the larger RF97 racquet, which allowed him to attack more aggressively.

With the victory, Federer claimed his 27th Masters 1000 title and his fifth consecutive win over Nadal, capping off a rivalry that had spanned nearly a decade and 24 finals.

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