Roger Federer has printed an extended letter paying tribute to nice rival Rafael Nadal forward of the Spaniard’s retirement, saying: “Your outdated good friend is at all times cheering for you.”
Nadal is bidding goodbye to tennis on the Davis Cup finals in Malaga this week, with Spain starting their marketing campaign towards the Netherlands afterward Tuesday. Federer and Nadal’s rivalry outlined one of many biggest eras within the sport, with the pair locking horns 40 occasions between 2004 and 2019.
Within the letter posted on social media, Federer wrote: “Vamos, Rafael Nadal! As you get able to graduate from tennis, I’ve obtained a number of issues to share earlier than I perhaps get emotional.
“Let’s begin with the plain: you beat me – rather a lot. Greater than I managed to beat you. You challenged me in methods nobody else may. On clay, it felt like I used to be entering into your yard, and also you made me work tougher than I ever thought I may simply to carry my floor.
“You made me reimagine my recreation – even going as far as to vary the dimensions of my racket head, hoping for any edge. And you already know what, Rafa, you made me benefit from the recreation much more. OK, perhaps not at first. After the 2004 Australian Open, I achieved the number-one rating for the primary time. I assumed I used to be on prime of the world.
“And I used to be – till two months later, while you walked on the court docket in Miami in your crimson sleeveless shirt, displaying off these biceps, and also you beat me convincingly.
“We had been each at first of our journey and it’s one we ended up taking collectively. Twenty years later, Rafa, I’ve to say: What an unbelievable run you’ve had. Together with 14 French Opens – historic! You made Spain proud … you made the entire tennis world proud.”
Federer referenced Nadal’s well-known rituals and the time his 4 youngsters have spent on the 38-year-old’s tennis academies, including: “I at all times apprehensive my children would come house enjoying tennis as lefties.”
They competed in 9 grand slam finals, with Nadal successful six of them, however one in all their most well-known moments collectively got here at Federer’s emotional farewell on the Laver Cup in London two years in the past, when the pair had been pictured crying and holding fingers.
“It meant all the things to me that you just had been there by my aspect – not as my rival however as my doubles accomplice,” stated the Swiss. “Sharing the court docket with you that night time, and sharing these tears, will perpetually be some of the particular moments of my profession.
“Rafa, I do know you’re targeted on the final stretch of your epic profession. We’ll speak when it’s achieved. For now, I simply need to congratulate your loved ones and workforce, who all performed an enormous function in your success.
“And I need you to know that your outdated good friend is at all times cheering for you, and will likely be cheering simply as loud for all the things you do subsequent. Rafa that! Greatest at all times, your fan, Roger.”
Nadal was requested at a press convention on Monday about the potential for Federer travelling to Malaga, with Novak Djokovic having already stated he would come.
“I didn’t speak to Roger,” stated Nadal. “I believe Roger has a busy schedule. By the best way, in fact that’s going to be my final week on the skilled tour, however I don’t assume it’s going to be my final goodbye. So there’s going be different possibilities to do one thing.”
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