IN the debate about who is the best male player of all time, Roger Federer generally gets the nod, thanks to his record haul of 17 Grand Slams. But if Rafael Nadal denies the Swiss in this morning’s Australian Open final, the gap between the two in the all-time list of major winners will be just two – and as Andy Roddick said this week, it will be “game on”.

For all their joy at reaching another Grand Slam final after serious injury problems – knee for Federer and wrist for Nadal – the importance of the match to both men cannot be underestimated.

It is the first time since the US Open of 2015 that Federer has been in a Slam final. The knee injury which he suffered here last year when drawing a bath for his children eventually caused him to miss the Olympics and US Open. Nadal is into his first Slam final since the 2014 French Open.

Ahead of their 35th meeting – and their ninth in Grand Slam finals – both men acknowledged the hype around the first Grand Slam final clash between the two since 2011.

“I think this match-up is intriguing for sports fans,” Federer said. “It’s just a tennis match but I understand the importance of it. I think for either one of us, the win is going to taste extra special, different, because of the people we are facing.”

The pair’s history has been intertwined ever since they first met on the court in 2004, when then world No 1 Federer, right, trounced Nadal in Miami. It quickly grew into a rivalry that many feel is a match for, if not even better than, any that has gone before.

Their 2008 Wimbledon final is regarded as one of the best matches of all time and from 2005 to 2015, at least one of them appeared in the final in 35 of the 44 Grand Slams.

“Roger is one of the toughest opponents you’ll ever meet,” Nadal said. “He’s a complete player, he has all the shots. I know I’ll have to be quick.”

Nadal has won each of their three meetings at Melbourne Park, including in the final in 2009 when he bounced back after an epic semi-final win over Fernando Versdasco.

A lot has happened to both players in the intervening years and Nadal said the three previous Melbourne matches would have no bearing on today’s outcome.

“This is a different match, different moment for both of us,” Nadal said. “I think this match is completely different from what happened before.

“It is special. We have not been there in that situation for a while, so that makes the match different. I really don’t think about what happened in the past.”

Physically, Federer may have a slight edge, which might sound bizarre when he has been out for six months, but which makes sense when you take into account Nadal’s four hour and 54 minute semi-final win over Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria. With a day less to recover, it is asking a lot of someone who has been bruised and battered over the past couple of years but with the mental edge from their head-to-head record, the Spaniard, left, will go into the match with confidence.

“I just think he’s an incredible tennis player,” the 35-year-old Federer said of the 30-year-old Nadal. “He has shots no-one else has. When you have that, you are unique and special.

“Plus, he has the grit. He has the mental and physical ability to sustain a super high level of play for years and for hours and for weeks. He’s proven that time and time again. He’s come back from injuries, you know, time and time again. He made it seem easy, and it’s not.

“I think he’s been tremendous for the game. I have a lot of respect for him on many levels.”

But – and it’s a big but – Federer still believes he has at least one more Grand Slam title in him.

“He’s playing as good as he ever has,” the Swiss said. “And I know he’s leading in Grand Slam finals but I can push that aside.”

Darren Cahill, one of the leading coaches in the game, said he felt “destiny is playing a part” in the tournament. He said: “I don’t know who’s going to win, but I just want to sit back, relax, hope it goes five sets, and enjoy it like a fan.”

Simon Cambers