Tennis titans Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, yesterday (May 17) doing battle on the court in Madrid, will be the focus on a new crossover documentary by Jose Luiz Lopez-Linares.

The as-yet-untitled film, which will be sold by Latido, will explore the rivalry and the friendship between Spaniard Nadal, and Swiss star Federer, by common consensus the best players of their generation. Nadal and Federer have had many epic tussles in finals of major tournaments ranging from Wimbledon to the French Open.

The project is one of a host of recent sport feature docs from artists and auteur directors. Spike Lee is currently making Kobe Doin’ Work, a documentary of one game in the life of basketball star Kobe Bryant. It has been inspired by the 2006 football film Zidane: A 21st Century Portrait, which screened in Cannes.

At last year’s Cannes, Spike Lee also revealed plans to make a feature doc about another basketball star, Michael Jordan.

Meanwhile, French critics gave an enthusiastic reception to Substitute (sold by Wide Management), the film co- directed by French football star Vikash Dhorasoo and filmmaker Fred Poulet, which chronicles Dhorasoo’s experiences during the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

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