Federer on Nadal: “I felt a bit sorry for him”

Roger Federer was in New York at the beginning of the week, even managing to find time to watch the action on Arthur Ashe stadium on Tuesday night at the US Open. The 20-time Grand Slam champion was in the ‘big apple’ to promote a visual biography – ‘Federer‘ – created via a collaboration with ‘Assouline’ and which seeks to celebrate the legend’s career.

In addition to the promotion and sight-seeing, Federer also divulged that he spoke to his greatest rival Rafael Nadal last week after the Spaniard said he needed to speak about ‘something’.

The Swiss elaborated on some of what was spoken about during his call with Nadal, with it being clear that the Spaniard was disappointed with his summer results:

“I actually just spoke to him this last week. He wanted to ask me something, and we had a chat, and, I felt a little bit sorry for him. That his summer didn’t go as well as planned because, at the French Open he had a tough draw. Olympics, he had a tough draw as well. He was hoping, I think, to get a medal.”

We had a chat, and, I felt a little bit sorry for him

The 14-time Roland Garros champion hoped for a clay season which allowed him to find his highest possible level in time for Roland Garros and the Paris Olympics. However, it was not to be, with second round losses in Barcelona and Rome, with his best result coming in a fourth round showing in Madrid. Ultimately, the lack of matches against the best players in the world cost Nadal dearly, with a low-ranking leading him to a defeat (6-3, 7-6(4), 6-3) to Alexander Zverev in the first round of his beloved Roland Garros.

After skipping Wimbledon, the former gold medalist struggled his way to the Nordea Open final, losing to then-world No 51 Nuno Borges (6-3, 6-2), and bowing out in the second round of the Olympics to Novak Djokovic (6-1, 7-6) in the singles, before being defeated in the quarter-final of the men’s doubles alongside Carlos Alcaraz.

Nadal’s has made clear that his future as a tennis professional is uncertain and does not know if he will retire later this season or continue to play in 2025, which would mark his 25th year on the tour. The greatest clay court player of all-time will participate in the Laver Cup later this month, with the event – Federer’s ‘brainchild’ – being held in Berlin.

However, the Swiss made clear that his great rival has nothing to prove, and can retire whenever he wants:

“But you know, overall he can do whatever he wants. He’s been one of the most iconic tennis players we have ever had in our sport and that’s what I told him. So I just hope he can go out on his terms and the way he wants to, but he’s a great guy, great career.”

he can do whatever he wants

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