Federer retired from professional tennis in September 2022 after struggling with fitness problems. In his last appearance during the Laver Cup, he and Nadal sat on the chair crying. These pictures went viral on social media.
“Let’s start with the obvious: You beat me – a lot. More than I managed to beat you. You challenged me in a way no one else could,” he wrote. “You made me rethink my game – I even went so far as to change the size of my club head in the hope of gaining an advantage. And you know what, Rafa, you made me change the game enjoy even more. It meant everything to me that you were by my side – not as my rival, but as my doubles partner. Sharing the court with you that evening and sharing your tears will forever be one of the most beautiful moments of my career And I want you to know That your old friend will always be cheering you on and will be just as loud in whatever you do next. That’s Rafa. All the best, your fan, Roger.”
These emotional words reignited debate in the tennis world about whether the two were actually friends during their playing days. Many would argue that they were, but Nadal confirmed in a famous quote in 2024 that he at least does not consider Federer his friend, but also admitted that both players respect the rivalry. “I wouldn’t consider him a friend,” Nadal admitted. “But as someone who is familiar to me and with whom I have a good relationship.”
