Rafael Nadal of Spain hits a return to Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria during their men's singles quarter-final tennis match at the Australian Open 2014 tennis tournament in Melbourne
Rafael Nadal of Spain hits a return to Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria during their men's singles quarter-final tennis match at the Australian Open 2014 tennis tournament in Melbourne Reuters

When Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer meet on the hard court (or grass or clay), all of the tennis sports world rejoice. For the fans, it is another opportunity for all the fans to watch two all-time greats put in work against each other.

Yet, again, the tennis gods have spoken: Have another bite of a Nadal-Federer because it could be one of the last, if not the last, battle between the two rivals in a Grand Slam tournament. Much is at stake obviously, a finals slot in the 2014 Australian Open, but probably, more important for both: pride and having the last word against a rival.

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At the end of the day and at the end of this era, a few vital legacy-centric questions will be asked. Who had the better career, Nadal or Federer? Who was the better player, Nadal or Federer?

No one match-- particularly the semis in the first Grand Slam of the year— will give answer to those pressing questions but sports fans have the What-Have-You-Done-For-Me-Lately mentality; get the win and be remembered as the last winner of a rivalry. Suffer the loss and those fans might forget that you had won multiple Grand Slams before.

So the stage is set for the NTH meeting between the energetic and fiery Spaniard versus the composed and boring Swiss. Whatever their way—either a flurry of powerful baseline shots or a calculated forehand nipping the corner—the most important thing for both is get the victory.

Nadal leads the all-time head-to-head meeting between the two with 22 wins against Federer’s 10. But the Swiss is the more decorated player: Federer has a total of 17 Grand Slam titles—including four in Melbourne-- to the Spaniard’s 13 total.

The 27-year-old Nadal is younger by five years, so he has a legit chance to pass the 32-year-old Fedefer in the majors titles count. Still, Federer has been playing like the old Federer and not the old Federer in a big win over Andy Murray in the quarterfinals.

Who’s the better player between the two? Friday’s match won’t answer it, but it sure gives the winner some more bullets in winning that sports debate.