Tournament Feature

20 years ago in Miami: Federer claims maiden title as Nadal rivalry ignites

Roger Federer always had a knack for achieving greatness in fitting fashion, and his first Miami Open presented by Itau title was no exception.

In just the second chapter of what would become one of tennis’ most iconic rivalries, the Swiss maestro battled past Rafael Nadal in a five-set classic to cap a stunning week in Florida in 2005. The victory marked the first of Federer’s three Sunshine Doubles (also 2006, 2017), and formed part of his record 237-week reign at No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings.

Ahead of the 2025 edition of the ATP Masters 1000 event in Florida, ATPTour.com marks the 20th anniversary of Federer's maiden Miami triumph.

Roger’s Road To The Title Tilt
Federer arrived in Miami in 2005 riding a wave of confidence. He had held the No. 1 spot for 59 consecutive weeks and had won 26 of his previous 27 matches, securing titles in Doha, Dubai and Indian Wells in the process. After a comfortable opener against Olivier Rochus, the top seed was then tested in two tight battles. He dropped sets to Mariano Zabaleta and Mario Ancic but ultimately showed his spirit to advance to the last eight.

In the quarter-finals, Federer eased past Tim Henman, conceding just six games against the Briton. The then-24-year-old then dispatched eight-time major champion Andre Agassi in the semi-finals, extending his winning streak against the American to seven matches.

With that year's Indian Wells trophy already in his possession, Federer stood on the verge of a first Sunshine Double. The man standing in the way? A tenacious 18-year-old Nadal.

_{^{Roger Federer defeated Andre Agassi to reach the 2005 Miami final. Photo: AI Bello/Getty Images}}

A Fitting Five-Set Classic In 'Fedal's' First Final
While Federer was making headlines for his dominant run as World No. 1, Nadal had been forging his own path, claiming consecutive titles in Costa do Sauipe and Acapulco in early 2005 before reaching his maiden ATP Masters 1000 final in Miami. The pair's championship-match clash was a rematch of their third-round Miami meeting from 2004, when a 17-year-old Nadal had stunned Federer in the third round.

Sporting his iconic three-quarter length shorts and an orange sleeveless shirt, Nadal took the game to five-time Masters 1000 champion Federer. He stood firm to the Swiss player’s aggressive, net-charging style and picked him off with a barrage of pinpoint passing shots to seal a one-sided opener. Federer began to find his range in the second set, but he squandered a 5-2 lead — and a set point — to leave himself with a mighty task.

_{^{Rafael Nadal played his first two matches against Federer in Miami, in 2004 and 2005, respectively. Photo: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images}}

Nadal carried his momentum into the third, racing to a 4-1 lead to move within two games of a maiden Masters 1000 title. But with a historic victory in sight, the 18-year-old began to crack, and Federer punished a nervy backhand in the tie-break to stay alive. From there, the World No. 1 shifted into another gear completely, showcasing the champion’s mentality that defined his rise to the top.

Surrendering just four more games over the final two sets, Federer surged to an epic three-hour, 43-minute victory to claim his first win over Nadal and level their Lexus ATP Head2Head series at 1-1. By extending his remarkable streak to 18 consecutive wins in finals, the Swiss player secured his sixth-career Masters trophy and fifth ATP Tour title of the 2005 season.

“I was very worried today, I don’t lose 6-2 sets very often, so this really shows that I was struggling,” Federer said after his 2-6, 6-7(4), 7-6(5), 6-3, 6-1 win. “That I could actually beat Henman and Agassi the way I did, and coming back from two sets to love [today], this is one of the tournaments I’ll probably remember most throughout my career.”

_{^{Roger Federer won the first of three Sunshine Doubles in 2005 (also, 2006, 2017). Photo: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images}}

Federer Continues Reign As Nadal Rivalry Soars
After their five-set epic in the Miami final, it became clear that Federer and Nadal were destined for one of tennis’ greatest rivalries. The duo would meet in 23 more finals, including in Miami once again in 2017, when Federer sunk the Spaniard to claim his third Sunshine Double.

After his 2005 Miami win, Federer’s dominance at No. 1 continued for another three years, extending his reign to a record-breaking 237 consecutive weeks. Over the course of their legendary careers, Federer and Nadal met a total of 40 times before they retired in 2022 and 2024, respectively, with the Spaniard earning a 24-16 margin in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series.