Roger Federer has paid tribute to Rafael Nadal, who is retiring this week, saying the Spaniard has challenged him the most on court of any of his rivals over the years and made the tennis world proud during a career that spanned more than two decades.
Nadal is part of Spain's Davis Cup team for the Finals. The Spaniards face the Netherlands in their quarter-final tonight, with the 22-time Grand Slam champion having already announced that the team event will be the last of his remarkable career.
Federer, who was part of tennis' "Big Three" alongside Nadal and Novak Djokovic, who is still playing, posted a letter on social media looking back at his rivalry with the 38-year-old Spaniard.
"Let's start with the obvious - you beat me - and many times. More than I ever imagined I would beat you. You challenged me like no one else did. On clay, it felt like I was stepping into your backyard and you made me work harder than I ever imagined just to be on par. You made me change my game – to the point where I had to change the size of the head of my racket, hoping for some advantage. I’m not a superstitious person, but you raised the bar. All those rituals. The water bottles being lined up like little soldiers in formation, the hair being straightened… all that with the greatest possible intensity. Secretly, in a way, I loved it all. Because it was so unique – so you. And you know what, Rafa, you made me enjoy the game even more", the Swiss wrote on social media.
Nadal, who won the rivalry 24-16, was in Federer's corner during the Maestro's farewell tournament at the 2022 Laver Cup, with footage of the two crying next to each other emerging on social media. "It meant so much to me to have you there - not as my opponent, but as my doubles partner. Sharing the court with you that night, sharing those tears, will forever be one of the most special moments of my career", Federer added. | BGNES
