Rafael Nadal (left) and Roger Federer prior to their charity game on December 21 in Zurich. [ Photo: AFP]

Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer dominated men's tennis again in 2010, their epic rivalry cranked up to new heights and making fools of those who had unwisely written off the two men as spent forces.

Nadal, 24, reeled off the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open to become the youngest and only the seventh man in history to complete the career Grand Slam.

He captured a clean sweep of the three spring-time claycourt Masters events on his way to a fifth Roland Garros title.

Nadal finished the year as world No.1, but the start of 2010 saw the popular Spaniard in the depths of despair.

He relinquished his Australian Open title when he was forced to retire injured against Andy Murray in the quarter-finals.

The Spaniard retreated to Mallorca for two months, returning for the back-to-back US hard court Masters events at Indian Wells and Miami where he made the semi-finals.

The ensuing European clay court season saw the Spanish whirlwind blow away his rivals, winning in Monte Carlo, Rome and Madrid before breezing through the French Open without dropping a set.

By the end of 2010, Nadal had a 71-10 winning record, with his Grand Slam count up to nine.

Federer, five years older than his great Spanish rival, took his career Grand Slam total to 16 with victory in Australia, but then saw Nadal inherit his Roland Garros and Wimbledon titles.

The Swiss endured a slump after Melbourne, going without a title until Cincinnati in August, suffering a shock quarter-final defeat to Tomas Berdych at Wimbledon.