Málaga – Roger Federer he said goodbye to him Rafael Nadal with an emotional letter in which he expressed that his friend and opponent made him enjoy tennis “even more” during the rivalry who covered 40 games over 15 years.
In the message distributed on social networks on Tuesday, a few hours before the start of the final stage of the Davis Cup, Nadal’s last tournament before his retirement, Federer began his message with the word “Let’s go” and he added: “As you prepare to graduate from tennis, I have a few things to share before I get excited.”
“Let’s start with the obvious: you beat me… a lot. More than I have gained from you. “You challenged me in ways no one else could,” Federer said. “On clay, it felt like I was walking into your backyard, and you made me work harder than I ever thought I could just to hold my own .”
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“You made me rework my game – even going as far as changing the size of my racket, hoping for some benefit,” he said.
Federer, now 43, had established himself at No. 1 in the rankings when Nadal, now 38, broke through. The Swiss star began his career with a 7-0 record in Grand Slam finals before suffering his first loss in that position against Nadal in the 2006 French Open final, the first of his three finals in Paris – all with the same result.
Nadal also defeated Federer in the 2008 Wimbledon final, ending his bid for a sixth consecutive championship at the All England Club.
Overall, Nadal dominated 26-14 in straight history, including 10-4 in Grand Slam tournaments and 6-3 in Grand Slam finals.
However, Federer maintained Nadal’s position, referring to him by his nickname Rafa: “You made me enjoy the game even more.”
Together they created the “Big Three” (The Big Three) of men’s tennis with Djokovicwho is still active at 37 years old and holds the men’s record with his 24 major event titles. Nadal is second on the list with 22, followed by Federer with 20.
“What a wonderful career you had!” Federer posted. “Includes 14 French openings – historic!” “You made Spain proud… you made the whole tennis world proud.”
When Federer left the sport to play a doubles match at the Laver Cup in September 2022, Nadal was his partner. The two sat next to each other, crying.
“It meant everything to me that you were there by my side – not as my opponent but as my doubles partner,” Federer wrote on Tuesday. “Sharing the court with you that night, and sharing those tears, will forever be one of the most special moments of my career.”
2024-11-20 09:06:00
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Question 1: World-Today News would like to welcome our esteemed guests, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, for an interview about your professional tennis career and the impact it has had on each other. Let’s start with Roger Federer. Can you describe how Rafa’s style and success on the court challenged you as a player?
Question 2: Roger, you mention in your letter that Nadal’s dominance on clay made it feel like walking into his “backyard.” What adjustments did you have to make to improve your game against him on this surface?
Question 3: Coming from Switzerland, Roger, how significant was playing against Nadal early in your career and his impact on the international tennis stage?
Question 4: Nadal, how did Federer’s success prompt you to adapt your own game? Did you see him as a rival or an inspiration?
Question 5: Looking back on your careers, both of you competed during a time when men’s tennis experienced a massive boom. Can you discuss the dynamic between your “Big Three” rivalry and its influence on the sport as a whole?
Question 6: Athletes often struggle with retirement, especially when it comes to transitioning from an active career to life after sports. What advice would you give each other about this process?
Question 7: Federer, you mention in your letter that your retirement match at the Laver Cup was particularly meaningful because Nadal was by your side. Can you expand on why this was so significant to you and what it meant to share that moment with him?
Question 8: The “Big Three” rivalry has been talked about extensively in the media. How did the media attention impact your personal relationship with each other?
Question 9: As champions of the game, what advice would you give to young players aspiring to reach the heights you both have?
Question 10: With both of you retiring from active play, what role do you see yourselves taking in the tennis world moving forward? Are there any future projects or endeavors you’re looking forward to pursuing?
