It's only Day 1 of the US Open and neither No. 1 seed Rafael Nadal nor No. 2 seed Roger Federer have stepped on court, but they've already faced questions about their potential meeting on Day 14. It's seven matches away, but the chance of the friendly rivals meeting bears speculation. Federer's won five times at Flushing Meadows. Nadal is hungry to win his first crown here—and he leads their head-to-head record 14 to 7.

 

As exciting as the rivalry is, there won't be any trash-talk. This is a most genteel rivalry. Both men commented on their relationship in pre-tournament press conferences.

 

"We understand the game," Nadal said. "Roger and me understand exactly what happens outside the court and what happens inside the court."

 

Federer calls it a "respectful" and "healthy" rivalry. "We get along really well. We chat a lot in the locker rooms, just hang out sometimes, play XOs (Tic Tac Toe) against each other," explained Federer. "I will play an exhibition against him at the end of year for my foundation in Switzerland). He's been nice enough to come help me for free."

 

Federer is second to Nadal in the seeding, but Nadal is second to Federer in the ATP World Tour Player Council. The pair was re-elected to the Council on Saturday with the Swiss as President and the Spaniard as V.P.