Tennis legend Rafa Nadal retires this week. A few hours before the start of the final phase of the Davis Cup in Malaga, another of the great stars of the sport, Roger Federer, has published a letter on social networks in which he expresses his admiration for the Manacorí and in which he highlights the great moments shared. They both share a great friendship.
The Swiss goes back to 2004 to remember the first time the two faced each other in a match. After the Australian Open, Roger Federer became number one in the ATP rankings: “I thought I was on top of the world, and I was, until two months later, when you entered the court in Miami with your red sleeveless shirt , showing off those biceps, and you beat me convincingly. All those rumors I had heard about you, about that incredible young player from Mallorca, a generational talent who would probably win a Grand Slam one day, were not exaggerations.
Through that first duel, Roger Federer admits that Rafa Nadal “beat him a lot”: “You challenged me in ways that no one could. On clay, I felt like I was walking into your backyard, and you made me work harder than I ever thought I could just to hold on.” It is at this point that the Swiss highlights that the Spaniard’s dominance forced him to “reimagine” his game, even “going as far as changing the size of my racket head, in the hope of gaining some advantage.”
“I thought I was on top of the world in 2004 after being number one, until you walked onto the court in Miami two months later.”
The former tennis player also praises Rafa’s superstitions: “I’m not one, but you took it to the next level. Your whole process, all those rituals. Gather your water bottles like toy soldiers in training, fix your hair, adjust your underwear… All with maximum intensity. Secretly, I loved it, because it was so unique, so you.”
Twenty years after that legendary duel in Miami, Federer praises the Manacorí’s journey: “What an incredible career you have had! Including 14 Roland Garros, it is something historic. “You made Spain proud, the entire tennis world proud.”
“You made Spain and the entire tennis world proud.”
In the extensive letter, the Swiss continues with the moments he has shared with Rafa Nadal and that excite him so much: “We have promoted the sport together. Playing that match half grass, half clay. Breaking the all-time attendance record playing in front of over 50,000 fans in Cape Town. Always making us laugh. We would get tired on the floor and then sometimes we would literally have to hold ourselves up during the awards ceremony.”
Federer also mentions the 2022 Laver Cup, at which time he retired from professional tennis. One of the most remembered images of that tournament is that of two myths like him and Nadal crying uncontrollably for the Swiss’s goodbye. This is how the man from Basel describes it in the letter: “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.”
Sharing the London track at the 2022 Laver Cup and sharing those tears will forever be one of the most special moments of my career.”
On a more personal level, the 20-time Grand Slam winner is still “very grateful” for being able to be at the inauguration of the Rafa Nadal Academy in 2016 and jokes about it: “Actually, I invited myself. “I knew you were too polite to insist I be there, and I didn’t want to miss it.” “You have always been a role model for children around the world, and Mirka (his wife) and I are very happy that our children have trained at your academy. They had a great time and learned a lot, although I was always worried that my children would come home playing tennis left-handed,” the Swiss ironically says, since Nadal is left-handed.
Finally, Roger Federer closes the text with a congratulations to the family and team of the Spanish tennis player for playing a “fundamental role” in his success: “I want you to know that your old friend is always encouraging you and that he will continue to encourage you with the same strength in everything you do from now on. I wish you the best, your fan Roger.”
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