Rafael Nadal first faced Roger Federer in the third round of the 2004 Miami Masters.
Their first meeting took place in March 2004, when Nadal was only 17 years old and ranked No. 34 in the world. Federer was the reigning world No. 1, but Nadal produced a major upset by winning 6–3, 6–3. In draw terminology, the third round was also the last-32 stage.
The match began one of tennis’s defining rivalries. Nadal’s left-handed, heavy topspin game troubled Federer on the outdoor hard court, even though Federer had already established himself as the sport’s leading player. The result gave Nadal an early victory over the player he would meet 39 more times in singles.
The final would become much more famous than the opening chapter: Federer and Nadal met in Grand Slam finals, including Wimbledon and the French Open, and contested many landmark matches. The 2004 Miami encounter was not a final or quarterfinal; it came before the tournament’s last 16.