November 19, (THEWILL) – Former tennis champion, Roger Federer, has written a heartfelt tribute to Rafael Nadal, who plans to retire after the Davis Cup competition in Malaga. The Swiss legend acknowledged Nadal’s dominance in their historic rivalry, which ended with the Spaniard leading 24-16 in head-to-head matches.
In his message posted on X, Federer highlighted how Nadal pushed him to adapt his game, including changing his racket head size to gain any possible advantage. He also fondly remembered Nadal’s distinctive pre-match routines, from arranging water bottles to adjusting his appearance, noting that these quirks made him appreciate tennis even more.
The 22-time Grand Slam winner Nadal, now 38, will represent Spain against the Netherlands in the Davis Cup. This competition marks the end of his remarkable 20-year professional career, during which he established himself as one of tennis’s most formidable players, particularly on clay courts.
The relationship between these tennis giants culminated in an emotional farewell at the 2022 Laver Cup, where they played doubles together during Federer’s final professional match. The images of both champions crying together afterwards became widely shared across social media platforms.
Federer, now 43, emphasised the significance of having Nadal by his side during his retirement match, not as an opponent but as a partner. He described their shared emotional moment as one of the most meaningful experiences of his career.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
