In 2022, almost at a similar time of the year, Roger Federer, the tennis royalty and one of the sporting legends bid adieu to the game and two years later, here we are at the heels of swansong of the second of the 'big three', Rafael Nadal. Nadal, who seemed to have had enough with the injuries, and after pulling out of the US Open and the Laver Cup due to another spate of injuries, decided to call it a day with the 2024 Davis Cup being his last international tournament.
As Nadal gets ready to take on Botic van de Zandschulp, the Dutch player whom he has had wood over in previous two meetings, Federer got a bit emotional about his old friend.
"As you get ready to graduate from tennis, I’ve got a few things to share before I maybe get emotional. Let’s start with the obvious: you beat me—a lot. More than I managed to beat you. You challenged me in ways no one else could. On clay, it felt like I was stepping into your backyard, and you made me work harder than I ever thought I could just to hold my ground. You made me reimagine my game—even going so far as to change the size of my racquet head, hoping for any edge," Federer said at the start of a three-pager as a tribute to Nadal while calling himself as Spaniard's fan.
"I’m not a very superstitious person, but you took it to the next level. Your whole process. All those rituals. Assembling your water bottles like toy soldiers in formation, fixing your hair, adjusting your underwear... All of it with the highest intensity. Secretly, I kind of loved the whole thing. Because it was so unique—it was so you. And you know what, Rafa, you made me enjoy the game even more. OK, maybe not at first. After the 2004 Australian Open, I achieved the #1 ranking for the first time. I thought I was on top of the world. And I was—until two months later, when you walked on the court in Miami in your red sleeveless shirt, showing off those biceps, and you beat me convincingly," Federer added.
"All that buzz I’d been hearing about you—about this amazing young player from Mallorca, a generational talent, probably going to win a major someday—it wasn’t just hype. We were both at the start of our journey and it’s one we ended up taking together. Twenty years later, Rafa, I have to say: What an incredible run you’ve had. Including 14 French Opens—historic! You made Spain proud... you made the whole tennis world proud. I keep thinking about the memories we’ve shared. Promoting the sport together. Playing that match on half-grass, half-clay. Breaking the all-time attendance record by playing in front of more than 50,000 fans in Cape Town, South Africa. Always cracking each other up. Wearing each other out on the court and then, sometimes, almost literally having to hold each other up during trophy ceremonies. I’m still grateful you invited me to Mallorca to help launch the Rafa Nadal Academy in 2016."
"Actually, I kind of invited myself. I knew you were too polite to insist on me being there, but I didn’t want to miss it. You have always been a role model for kids around the world, and Mirka and I are so glad that our children have all trained at your academies. They had a blast and learned so much—like thousands of other young players. Although I always worried my kids would come home playing tennis as lefties. And then there was London—the Laver Cup in 2022. My final match. It meant everything to me that you were there by my side—not as my rival but as my doubles partner. Sharing the court with you that night, and sharing those tears, will forever be one of the most special moments of my career. Rafa, I know you’re focused on the last stretch of your epic career. We will talk when it’s done. For now, I just want to congratulate your family and team, who all played a massive role in your success. And I want you to know that your old friend is always cheering for you, and will be cheering just as loud for everything you do next. Rafa that! Best always, your fan, Roger," Federer signed off.
Federer and Nadal were up against each other 40 times on tour with the latter winning on 24 occasions. On clay which ended up being Nadal's bread and butter, the Spaniard won 14 out of 16 times against Federer. Out of Of those 24 total wins, the first one came in the opening fixture in 2004 when a young Nadal breezed past the World No 1, Federer, in Miami on hard court in straight sets.
It has been a treacherous past year or so for the tennis great in terms of injuries with his last international appearance coming at the Paris Olympics. As he gets ready for his home farewell, Nadal doesn't have any point to prove but his competitive nature wouldn't let him treat it anything less than a proper encounter.
