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Although their contrasts are stark, the pair shares more than the spotlight and a sponsor (Nike). Neither has let success swell his head or his entourage. In 2003 Federer, who grew up in the northern Swiss city of Basel, broke free from sports agency IMG and dumped his coach. He started winning every tournament in sight. His girlfriend, former women's pro Mirka Vavrinec, managed most of Federer's affairs. "We had a great time just going it alone," says Federer. "I learned a lot about myself and my team because I only had people working with me whom I 100% trusted." He did hire a part-time coach in early 2005, and re-signed with IMG that summer, in part to ease Vavrinec's workload. "She would have to get tough with the media [and] say no," Federer says. "People would say she is a bad person. She is my girlfriend, after all, so it was a conflict at times." The move also boosted his earnings. IMG helped Federer sign a $15 million deal with Rolex.
At least Federer moved out of the house. Nadal still lives with his parents in Majorca and hasn't even changed his cell-phone number since notching the past two French Open titles. "What changed?" he asks. "Just one more trophy." Nadal's tough-love uncle Toni Nadal has coached Rafa since he was a child and lectured him on overspending and keeping his cool. (Another uncle, Miguel Angel Nadal, is a former Spanish soccer star nicknamed "the Beast of Barcelona.") Nadal has never tossed a racquet in his life.
Perhaps Roger and Rafa are a bit too civil. Uncle Toni has provided the matchup its only whiff of controversy. In May, during an epic 5-hr., five-set tournament final, which Nadal won, Federer accused Toni of coaching Rafa from the stands, which is illegal. "Is that all right, Toni?" Federer sarcastically barked at Nadal's uncle during the match in Rome. "It's stupid to have a coach for nothing," Rafa says. "That rule is going to change, I promise you." Federer doesn't think it should. "It's just the way it's always been," he says, becoming a bit curt. More Toni, please.
Is this the bulletin-board material we've been looking for? "I don't feel like he's better than me," Nadal says of Federer. RAFA TALKS TRASH TO ROGER! Sadly, no, just a little nuance lost in translation, as Nadal is still working on his English (a book, 2001 Spanish and English Idioms, sits on his hotel bed). Emotions aren't results, he quickly adds. "That's the truth: he's better than me. It's not my feeling. You can see the numbers, you can see the details," referring to Federer's top ranking and eight Grand Slams, compared with two for Nadal. But Roger turned pro in 1998, three years before Nadal, and won his first Grand Slam at 21. Nadal won last year's French at 19.