They wept tears together at the historic Laver Cup 2022, when Roger Federer made his final appearance on the tennis circuit and bid farewell to his professional career.
Rafael Nadal was in tears. They’d spent their entire careers together. And now it was time to say farewell as the Spaniard started his adventure. However, this was the pinnacle of Federer’s career, when the arch-rivals turned out to be close friends. The story began with Nadal’s distinct playing style posing a challenge for Federer.
Federer made his professional tennis debut in 1998. There was no Nadal to test him back then as the young Swiss player sought to find his groove on the court. Fast forward to 2001, and a young Spaniard with a distinct flair enters the circuit. And they divided tennis enthusiasts into two groups: Federer and Nadal! Djokovic was a disruptor, making no room for anyone else. However, this is about Federer’s war with the King of Clay, who was unwilling to be subdued by anyone, thus keeping Federer on his toes.
Federer highlighted in an interview how Nadal’s style provided him an advantage over the others on the clay court. He went on: “Because of his unique playing style, being able to play on the baseline, being so good on clay with the bad bounces, with his topspin heavier than anybody I ever played against.” This was a major dilemma for the Swiss superstar as he attempted to break free from Nadal’s clutches.
Federer went on to discuss his strategy for tackling Nadal. However, it was not an easy journey, as the charismatic Federer was also plagued by self-doubt. He remarked, “He gave me far more trouble than other players could. He made me second-guess myself, go back to the drawing board, and devise a new master strategy — while also not overthinking it.”
Though things did work out at times, it did not help Federer avoid the Spaniard’s attack or limit his flow. He went on to say, “Maybe it was just practice on your high backhand off the lefty spin that nobody else liked him. “I just need to face that ball more frequently.”
At the end of the day, Nadal was Federer’s greatest competitor. He forced him to think, act, and sometimes doubt himself, but the two were ultimately the greatest tennis players in history. They surely helped each other reach to unprecedented heights as they became the well-known Big Three, including the Serbian sce. They have formed their own organization, a class of their own abilities! After retiring, the Swiss Maestro has maintained a close eye on Nadal until now.
From competing to supporting: Roger Federer shocked by Nadal’s defeat at Bastad
The Bastad event was an unforgettable experience for Nadal fans. After nearly two years of no-shows and early exits, the Spaniard made it to the event finals. Everyone regarded it as a comeback and hoped that it was the end. Nadal would win it. However, it was not supposed to happen that day, as Nadal lost to Nuno Borges in straight sets. The outcome devastated tennis lovers. Federer experienced similar sentiments when asked about Nadal’s game.
During a Vogue interview, he was asked if he followed Nadal. The Swiss legend responded affirmatively and revealed the loss. He replied, “Three and two. Oh, God—yes. I noticed he was down 1-0, love-40. That was the last time I looked, a few hours ago, but when I saw the score, I thought, Oh no—I hope his body is fine. So, yeah, I check in on the game virtually every day to see the scores and results.” He was stunned by his rival’s stunning defeat.
The two legends have certainly grown over each other during their time in the circuit. It’s a beautiful thing to watch them bond and keep track of each other!