“I want you to know that your old friend is always cheering for you, and will be cheering just as loud for everything you do next” – Federer pens heartfelt note to Nadal

The Swiss says Nadal challenged him in ways no one else did and credits the Spaniard for making him reimagine his game

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, Laver Cup 2022 Image Credit: Antoine Couvercelle / Panoramic

November 19, 2024

Find a rival that talks about you the way Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal talk about each other. As the Spaniard gets ready for the final tournament of his professional career, old rival and close friend Roger Federer paid a glowing tribute to the 22-time Grand Slam champion in a heartfelt note that the Swiss posted on social media today.

Federer and Nadal’s rivalry blossomed into a close friendship through the two decades they competed intensely against one another, playing 40 times with the Spaniard leading 24-16 in their head-to-head.

“You challenged me in ways no one else could. On clay, it felt like I was stepping into your backyard, and you made me work harder than I ever thought I could just to hold my ground. You made me reimagine my game—even going so far as to change the size of my racquet head, hoping for any edge,” Federer sais in his note.

“I’m not a very superstitious person, but you took it to the next level. Your whole process. All those rituals. Assembling your water bottles like toy soldiers in formation, fixing your hair, adjusting your underwear… All of it with the highest intensity. Secretly, I kind of loved the whole thing. Because it was so unique—it was so you. And you know what, Rafa, you made me enjoy the game even more.”

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

What an incredible run you’ve had. Including 14 French Opens—historic! You made Spain proud… you made the whole tennis world proud.

Federer recalled his earliest memories of the Spaniard in the note, adding that Nadal has made the whole tennis world proud.

“OK, maybe not at first. After the 2004 Australian Open, I achieved the #1 ranking for the first time. I thought I was on top of the world. And I was—until two months later, when you walked on the court in Miami in your red sleeveless shirt, showing off those biceps, and you beat me convincingly. All that buzz I’d been hearing about you—about this amazing young player from Mallorca, a generational talent, probably going to win a major someday—it wasn’t just hype. We were both at the start of our journey and it’s one we ended up taking together. Twenty years later, Rafa, I have to say: What an incredible run you’ve had. Including 14 French Opens—historic! You made Spain proud… you made the whole tennis world proud.”

The Swiss, who was the first male player to win 20 Grand Slam titles before being overtaken by Nadal and Novak Djokovic, also talked about the highlights of their journey, both on the court and off it.

“I keep thinking about the memories we’ve shared. Promoting the sport together. Playing that match on half-grass, half-clay. Breaking the all-time attendance record by playing in front of more than 50,000 fans in Cape Town, South Africa. Always cracking each other up. Wearing each other out on the court and then, sometimes, almost literally having to hold each other up during trophy ceremonies. I’m still grateful you invited me to Mallorca to help launch the Rafa Nadal Academy in 2016. Actually, I kind of invited myself. I knew you were too polite to insist on me being there, but I didn’t want to miss it. You have always been a role model for kids around the world, and Mirka and I are so glad that our children have all trained at your academies. They had a blast and learned so much—like thousands of other young players. Although I always worried my kids would come home playing tennis as lefties.”

The Swiss, who wept alongside Nadal during his own retirement from the sport at the Laver Cup in 2022, ended the note saying that he would always be cheering for Nadal in whatever he chooses to do next.

“And then there was London—the Laver Cup in 2022. My final match. It meant everything to me that you were there by my side—not as my rival but as my doubles partner. Sharing the court with you that night, and sharing those tears, will forever be one of the most special moments of my career. Rafa, I know you’re focused on the last stretch of your epic career. We will talk when it’s done. For now, I just want to congratulate your family and team, who all played a massive role in your success. And I want you to know that your old friend is always cheering for you, and will be cheering just as loud for everything you do next. Rafa that! Best always, your fan, Roger.”

Nadal is part of the Spanish team that plays Netherlands on Tuesday in the quarter-finals of the Davis Cup Finals, which will be the last tournament of his career.