ROGER FEDERER paid a heartfelt tribute to close pal and greatest rival Rafael Nadal.
The tennis legends first met in Miami in 2004 and overall faced each other 40 times on court – Nadal leads 24-16 in the head-to-head stakes – including in NINE major finals.
Away from the court, they formed a close bond and in February 2020, their charity ‘Match for Africa’ was watched by a world-record crowd of 50,000 in Cape Town, South Africa.
Federer, 43, held hands briefly with Spanish superstar Nadal, 38, and sobbed uncontrollably when he retired from professional tennis two years ago at the Laver Cup in London following a doubles defeat together.
It is now Nadal’s turn to say goodbye to the sport that has made him a very rich man – with the Davis Cup Finals in his homeland representing Spain his swansong appearance.
In a long message posted on his social media channel, Federer said: “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.
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“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.
“After the 2004 Australian Open, I achieved the number one 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.
“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.
“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.”
Federer signed off the 585-word tribute from “your fan Roger” – and it left many tennis fans welling up ahead of Nadal’s final professional appearance.
One replied: “‘Your fan’ got me emotional.”
Another wrote: “This is the tennis we love.”
A third added: “Woah! What a classy tribute by Roger! Wonderful to see this friendship.”
A fourth typed: “What a beautiful letter.”
And a final user commented: “You are such a class act, Roger.”
VAMOS, Rafael Nadal!
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.
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. 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
