World number nine Rafael Nadal says his rivalry with Roger Federer transcends tennis as they prepare to meet in Sunday’s Australian Open final.

排名世界第九的拉法雷爾·納達(dá)爾表示自己和費德勒之間的對抗已經(jīng)超越了網(wǎng)球所包含的意義。二人將在本周日的澳大利亞網(wǎng)球公開賽男單決賽中展開對決。

Nadal and Federer both endured five-set matches in their semi-finals.

兩人在半決賽皆是鏖戰(zhàn)五盤方才過關(guān)。

The Spaniard, 30, has won 23 of his 34 meetings with the 35-year-old Swiss, including an unforgettable victory in the 2008 Wimbledon final.

30歲的西班人在與35歲的瑞士人之間34次的交鋒中贏下了其中的23次，其中包括那場讓人難忘的2008年溫網(wǎng)決賽。

"People from outside our world talk about this, and that’s good for our sport," said Nadal.

“網(wǎng)球世界以外的人們都在談?wù)摯耸拢@對我們這項運動非常有好處”納達(dá)爾如是說。

"The combination of two styles makes the matches really special," he added.

他還說道：“兩種不同的比賽風(fēng)格賦予了這些比賽特殊的意義”。

The head-to-head history also favours Nadal by six wins to two in Grand Slam finals and three to zero at the Australian Open. But the 14-time Major winner says that Sunday’s final meeting will take their rivalry into new territory.

在兩人大滿貫決賽的交鋒史上，納達(dá)爾的戰(zhàn)績?yōu)?勝2負(fù)，在澳網(wǎng)更是三戰(zhàn)全勝。但是這位14座大滿貫獎杯的獲得者表示，周日的決賽會將兩人的對決推向新的高度。

"That was a long time ago. It is a different match, a different moment for both of us. This match is completely different than what happened before," Nadal added.

“那些都是很久以前的事了。對我們而言，這將是一場完全不同的比賽，完全不同的時刻。這場比賽與我們之前進(jìn)行過的比賽完全不同。”

"I really don’t think about what happened in the past. I think the player who plays better is going to be the winner."

“我沒有想過去發(fā)生的事，只有表現(xiàn)好的那個人才會成為最后的贏家。”

Comebacks to the future

歸來

Both Nadal and Federer ended their 2016 seasons early after suffering injuries.

納達(dá)爾和費德勒都因傷病早早結(jié)束了2016賽季。

A knee problem kept Federer out of action in the wake of his Wimbledon semi-final defeat by Milos Raonic, while Nadal was sidelined by a wrist injury that forced his withdrawal from the French Open.

在溫網(wǎng)半決賽中負(fù)于米洛斯·拉奧尼奇后，費德勒因膝傷結(jié)束了余下賽季。納達(dá)爾則因腕傷而退出了法國網(wǎng)球公開賽。

Federer travelled to Nadal’s home town of Manacor in Majorca for the opening of his rival’s tennis academy in October.

去年10月，費德勒來到納達(dá)爾家鄉(xiāng)馬略卡群島的馬洛卡島，參加了納達(dá)爾網(wǎng)球?qū)W校的開幕式。

"That was amazing. I have said hundreds of time, but I can’t stop saying thanks because it was very emotional for everybody," recalled Nadal.

納達(dá)爾回憶道：“太難以置信了，這話我說了上百遍，但還是忍不住要說感謝，因為每個人都會覺得非常激動。”

"In that moment, for sure, we never thought that we have the chance to be in a final again."

“我肯定當(dāng)時誰也想不到我們還會在決賽中相遇。”

Recovery plans

恢復(fù)計劃

On Friday the Spaniard beat Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov 6-3 5-7 7-6 (7-5) 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 in almost five hours to reach a first Grand Slam final since 2014.

本周五西班牙人擊敗了來自保加利亞的迪米特洛夫，五盤比分為6-3; 5-7; 7-6 (7-5); 6-7 (4-7); 6-4，比賽耗時近5個小時。自2014年以來，納達(dá)爾再次進(jìn)入大滿貫賽事的決賽。

While Federer was also extended over five sets in his semi-final, the Swiss will have had an extra day to recover from his win over countryman Stan Wawrinka.

費德勒雖然同樣經(jīng)歷了五盤大戰(zhàn)，但是卻多休息了一天。費德勒在半決賽中擊敗了同胞瓦林卡。

Nadal was in a similar situation in 2009 when he recovered from a gruelling five-hour win over Fernando Verdasco in the last four to beat Federer in the final in Melbourne.

納達(dá)爾在2009年的澳網(wǎng)有著相同的經(jīng)歷。當(dāng)時他在半決賽經(jīng)歷了與沃達(dá)斯科的五盤惡戰(zhàn)，在決賽中擊敗了費德勒。

"That is what I am going to try. I did it in 2009, but I am eight years older," Nadal said.

納達(dá)爾說“這正是我嘗試做到的事。2009年我成功了，但是現(xiàn)在我又老了八歲”。

"It is true that if you play a match like I had today, probably you are at a disadvantage. But that’s a special situation. I cannot complain about that. I think it is good.

“如果打了一場我今天所經(jīng)歷的比賽，你大概會處于劣勢，但這是一種特殊情況。我不能抱怨，這沒什么問題。”

"But now is not the time to talk about that. It is time to be happy, very happy."

“不過現(xiàn)在沒有時間討論這些了，這是歡樂的時刻，是非常歡樂的時刻。”

Dimitrov taking positives

充滿斗志的迪米特洛夫

Under the guidance of Andy Murray’s former coach Dani Vallverdu, Dimitrov has risen to number 15 in the world from 40th in July.

在穆雷前任教練達(dá)尼·瓦維度的指導(dǎo)之下，迪米特洛夫的排名從7月份的第四十位躍升至如今的第十五位。

Having pushed Nadal all the way, he believes his Australian Open campaign is a strong base to build his season on.

迪米特洛夫和納達(dá)爾纏斗到了最后，他相信本次澳網(wǎng)之旅將為接下來的賽季打下堅實的基礎(chǔ)。

"It’s never easy to lose a match like that. I’m happy, though, with a lot of things. I’m going to stay positive and keep my head up high.

“輸?shù)暨@樣的比賽總會讓人沮喪，然而我卻很開心，因為我學(xué)到了許多。我會繼續(xù)保持積極的態(tài)度，繼續(xù)昂揚前進(jìn)。”

"I’m competing great. Physically I’m getting there. Despite the disappointment, that’s going to feed me, I think, for the upcoming events."

“我打得很棒，從身體上說我已經(jīng)非常接近勝利了。盡管有一些不盡如人意之處，但我認(rèn)為這會為今后的比賽帶來幫助。”

While refusing to predict the result, the Bulgarian said that Sunday’s final would be a "freakin’ amazing" match.

迪米特洛夫拒絕預(yù)測決賽結(jié)果，但是這位保加利亞人認(rèn)為周日的決賽將是一場“非常令人難以置信”的比賽。