Roger Federer said goodbye to Rafa Nadal this Tuesday with a moving letter on social networks. The former Swiss tennis player thanks the Spaniard for all the moments shared on the courts, as rivals and friends. And the Davis Cup will be Nadal’s last dance as a tennis professional after becoming a legend of the sport.
“Now that you’re about to graduate from tennis, I have some things to tell you before I get sentimental“, the 20-time Grand Slam winner began to write in his letter about what Nadal meant to him, both on a personal level and in his sporting career.
Come on, @RafaelNadal!
As you prepare to graduate from tennis, I have a few things to share before you get emotional.
Let’s start with the obvious: you beat me big time. More than I managed to beat you. You challenged me like no one else could. On clay, I had the impression…
–Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) November 19, 2024
“Let’s start with the obvious: you’ve gained me a lot. More than I managed to beat you. You challenged me like no one else could.. On clay, I felt like I was walking into your backyard, and you made me work harder than I ever thought I could, just to keep going. “You made me reimagine my game, to the point of changing the size of my racket head, in the hope of gaining an advantage,” continued the Swiss about the tennis player from Manacor.
On the other hand, Federer spoke about the ritual that Nadal performs throughout a match, something very characteristic for him: “You’ve gone to the next level. Your entire process. All these rituals. Assembling your water bottles like toy soldiers in training, doing your hair, adjusting your underwear… All with maximum intensity. Secretly, I loved everything. Because it was so unique, and so were you.
“The day you entered Miami in your sleeveless red t-shirt…”
“And you know what, Rafa, you made me enjoy the game even more. Okay, maybe not at first. After the 2004 Australian Open, I reached first place for the first time. I thought I was on top of the world. And I was, until two months later, when you walked onto the field in Miami in your red tank top, showing off your biceps, and convincingly defeated me. All the rumors I heard about you (about this incredible young player from Mallorca, a generational talent, who would probably win a major one day) were not just exaggerations,” Federer continued about the first time Nadal beat him.
Federer took a look at all the successes achieved by the Spaniard, both on and off the court: “We were both at the start of our journeywhich we ended up doing together. Twenty years later, Rafa, I must say: you have had an incredible career. Including 14 Roland Garros, historic! “You have made Spain proud… You have made the entire tennis world proud.”
“I can’t stop thinking about the memories we shared. Promote sport together. Play this match on half grass, half clay. Break the absolute attendance record playing in front of over 50,000 fans in Cape Town, South Africa. Always makes us laugh. Exhausting each other on the court and sometimes having to support each other almost literally during trophy ceremonies,” Federer continues.
The Rafa Nadal Academy
He also talks about one of the Mallorcan’s projects, the Rafa Nadal Academy: “I continue to thank you for Will you invite me to Majorca to help launch the Rafa Nadal Academy in 2016. In fact, I invited myself. I knew you were too polite to insist that I be there, but I didn’t want to miss it. You have always been a role model for children around the world, and Mirka and I are very happy that all our children were trained in your academies. They had a great time and learned a lot, like thousands of other young players. Even though I was always afraid that my children would come home playing tennis left-handed,” added the Swiss.
“And then there was London, the Laver Cup 2022, my last match. It meant everything to me that you were there by my side, not as a rival, but as a doubles partner. Share the track with you that eveningand sharing those tears will forever be one of the most special moments of my career,” Federer said of the tournament that marked his final on the tennis courts.
Finally, the former tennis player did not forget those who have always been at Nadal’s side: “Rafa, I know that you are focused on the last part of your epic career. We’ll talk when it’s over. For now, I just want to congratulate your family and your team, who have greatly contributed to your success. And I want you to know that your old friend always cheers you upand it will encourage you just as strongly in everything you do next.
