They were longtime rivals, but always remained friends as they both chased tennis immortality.
On Tuesday, with Rafael Nadal preparing to play in his final tournament before retiring, Swiss star Roger Federer paid tribute with a heartfelt post on social media to the man who won 22 Grand Slam singles titles – two more than Federer himself.
“As you get ready to graduate from tennis, I’ve got a few things to share before I maybe get emotional,” Federer said on X. “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.”
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
To be fair, their head-to-head record was close – with Nadal winning 24 times to Federer’s 20 dating back to their first meeting at the 2004 Miami Open.
But their rivalry was also with history.
Nadal and Federer, along with Novak Djokovic (24 Grand Slam titles), had a stranglehold on major championships in men’s tennis for over two decades.
“You made me reimagine my game – even going so far as to change the size of my racquet head, hoping for any edge,” Federer continued. “I’m not a very superstitious person, but you took it to the next level. Your whole process. All those rituals.”
Federer went on to praise Nadal’s unrivaled dominance on clay: “What an incredible run you’ve had. Including 14 French Opens – historic! You made Spain proud … you made the whole tennis world proud.”
When Federer played his final match before retiring in 2022, Nadal was there on the court as they joined forces for Team Europe at the Laver Cup.
“It meant everything to me that you were there by my side – not as my rival but as my doubles partner,” Federer said. “Sharing the court with you that night, and sharing those tears, will forever be one of the most special moments of my career.”
Nadal will also conclude his career in a team event, as Spain takes on the Netherlands in the Davis Cup semifinals.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Roger Federer pays heartfelt tribute to retiring rival Rafael Nadal
