Roger Federer has penned an emotional tribute to long-time friend and adversary Rafael Nadal as the Spaniard prepares to bring the curtain down on his incredible career.
Nadal will walk away from professional tennis aged 38 after competing for Spain at the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga this week.
He won 22 grand slams and was a key component in a three-way tussle for global supremacy with Federer and Novak Djokovic that spanned the best part of 20 years.
Nadal won 24 of his 40 meetings with Federer, who retired two years ago after they teamed up in the doubles at the Laver Cup.
Vamos, @RafaelNadal!
As you get ready to graduate from tennis, I’ve got a few things to share before I maybe get emotional.
Let’s start with the obvious: you beat me—a lot. More than I managed to beat you. You challenged me in ways no one else could. On clay, it felt like I…
— Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) November 19, 2024
Federer wrote on X this morning: “As you get ready to graduate from tennis, I’ve got a few things to share before I maybe get emotional.
“Let’s start with the obvious: you beat me—a lot. More than I managed to beat you. You challenged me in ways no one else could. On clay, it felt like I was stepping into your backyard, and you made me work harder than I ever thought I could just to hold my ground. You made me reimagine my game—even going so far as to change the size of my racquet head, hoping for any edge.
“I’m not a very superstitious person, but you took it to the next level. Your whole process. All those rituals. Assembling your water bottles like toy soldiers in formation, fixing your hair, adjusting your underwear… All of it with the highest intensity. Secretly, I kind of loved the whole thing. Because it was so unique—it was so you.
“And you know what, Rafa, you made me enjoy the game even more.”
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Nadal wins first meeting in 2004
Their first clash came in Miami in 2004 with a 17-year-old Nadal winning in straight sets, a memory Federer recalled.
He added: “After the 2004 Australian Open, I achieved the #1 ranking for the first time. I thought I was on top of the world. And I was—until two months later, when you walked on the court in Miami in your red sleeveless shirt, showing off those biceps, and you beat me convincingly. All that buzz I’d been hearing about you—about this amazing young player from Mallorca, a generational talent, probably going to win a major someday—it wasn’t just hype.
“We were both at the start of our journey and it’s one we ended up taking together. Twenty years later, Rafa, I have to say: What an incredible run you’ve had. Including 14 French Opens—historic! You made Spain proud… you made the whole tennis world proud.”
Between them they spent a combined 519 weeks on top of the world rankings, travelling the world slugging it out week in, week out for supremacy.
“I keep thinking about the memories we’ve shared,” Federer continued. “Promoting the sport together. Playing that match on half-grass, half-clay. Breaking the all-time attendance record by playing in front of more than 50,000 fans in Cape Town, South Africa. Always cracking each other up. Wearing each other out on the court and then, sometimes, almost literally having to hold each other up during trophy ceremonies.
“And then there was London—the Laver Cup in 2022. My final match. 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.
“Rafa, I know you’re focused on the last stretch of your epic career. We will talk when it’s done. For now, I just want to congratulate your family and team, who all played a massive role in your success. And I want you to know that your old friend is always cheering for you, and will be cheering just as loud for everything you do next.”
