MALAGA, Spain — In a heartfelt tribute, Roger Federer reflects on his enduring rivalry with Rafael Nadal, stating that their fierce competition made him appreciate tennis “even more” throughout their 40-match journey spanning 15 years.
Taking to social media on Tuesday, just hours before the Davis Cup Final 8—Nadal’s final tournament before retirement—Federer kicked off his thoughts with “Vamos,” and reminisced: “As you prepare to wrap up your tennis career, I’d like to share a few words before the emotions set in.”
“Let’s get straight to the point: you often bested me—far more than I managed to take you down. You challenged me in ways that no one else ever could,” Federer expressed. “When on clay, it felt like I was stepping into your domain, and your prowess pushed me to dig deeper than I ever thought necessary just to hold my ground. You inspired me to rethink my approach, even leading me to alter the size of my racquet head in hopes of gaining an advantage.”
At 43, Federer had already claimed the No. 1 spot in rankings when 38-year-old Nadal first emerged. Federer began his Grand Slam finals journey with a perfect 7-0 record until his first defeat came against Nadal in the 2006 French Open final, the start of an intense trilogy of finals in Paris—all ending with Nadal’s victory.
Nadal also triumphed in the gripping 2008 Wimbledon final, disrupting Federer’s quest for a sixth consecutive title at the prestigious tournament.
Overall, Nadal leads their fierce rivalry with a record of 26-14, including a Grand Slam tally of 10-4 and a finals record of 6-3.
Yet, in his emotional post, Federer addressed Nadal affectionately as “Rafa”: “You made me enjoy the game even more.”
Together, they were pivotal in forming the Big Three of men’s tennis, alongside Novak Djokovic, who continues to compete at 37 and holds an impressive record of 24 major titles. Nadal follows closely with 22, while Federer has 20.
“What an extraordinary journey you’ve embarked on,” Federer posted. “Including a record 14 French Open titles—truly historic! You’ve made Spain proud… and the entire tennis world proud.”
When Federer bid farewell to competitive tennis at the Laver Cup in September 2022, his partner was none other than Nadal. They shared a poignant moment afterward, tears flowing side by side.
“It meant everything to have you by my side—not just as a rival but as my teammate,” Federer shared. “Playing alongside you that night and sharing those heartfelt tears will always remain one of the most cherished moments of my career.”
Nadal’s Spanish team was set to face the Netherlands in the Davis Cup quarterfinals on Tuesday. Both Nadal and Spain’s captain, David Ferrer, remained tight-lipped about whether Nadal would participate in singles, doubles, or both.
“Rafa, I know you’re focused on the final chapter of your remarkable career. We’ll connect once it’s all done,” Federer noted. “Just know that your old friend is always rooting for you and will continue to cheer loudly for everything you pursue next.”
