Rafael Nadal ends his glorious career after the Davis Cup this week. Roger Federer sang a hymn of praise in an emotional letter.
With 22 Grand Slam titles under his belt, Rafael Nadal ends his career on Sunday. Finally, he will face Germany, Australia, Canada, Italy, Argentina, the USA and Holland at the Davis Cup in Malaga.
Nadal is receiving good news from all over the sports world about this big step. Roger Federer writes an emotional letter to his long-time rival and friend, which he shares on Instagram.
“I even enlarged the club head”
“Let’s start with the obvious,” writes the maestro. «You have defeated me – many times. More times than I could beat you. You challenged me in a way no one else could.”
Federer had to work harder against him, especially on clay, “than I ever thought possible. You made me rethink my game.” Because of him, he even changed the size of his racket head, says Federer.
He is not a very superstitious person, the Basel native continues. “But you took it to the next level. Your whole process, all your rituals. (…) Secretly I kind of loved the whole thing because it was so unique – it was just like you.”
Roger Federer comes out as a Nadal fan
Federer looks back on their time together in the letter. He also highly praises the founding of the Rafa Nadal Academy and writes: “Mirka and I are so happy that our children trained in your academies. They had a lot of fun and learned so much.”
The only concern Roger had: “That my children would come home left-handed.”
Finally, Federer writes: “At the moment I just want to congratulate your family and your team, who have all played a big part in your success. And I want you to know that your old friend is always cheering you on and will cheer you just as loudly in whatever you do next.”
Federer signed the emotional letter with the words: “All the best, your fan”.
