Nadal – Federer: “You challenged me like no one else”, an emotional letter from the Swiss to the Spaniard in farewell to tennis

Rafael Nadal said goodbye to professional tennis competitions.

The Spaniard, who won 22 Grand Slam titles and two Olympic medals over two decades, said goodbye to tournaments this Tuesday by playing in the Davis Cup quarter-finals in Malaga, Spain.

Anticipation ahead of the champion’s final bout was raised by messages and good wishes sent to him by rivals and colleagues such as Serbian Novak Djokovic, Scotsman Andy Murray and American Serena Williams.

However, one gesture in particular resonated on social media and made headlines around the world: a heartfelt letter from the Swiss Roger Federer to Mallorca.

Federer and Nadal face a tough race to become the world’s best tennis player since 2004.

Over these two decades both met each other 40 times and they ended up developing a strong friendship that was immortalized in a game they played as teammates rather than opponents at the 2022 Laver Cup in London to mark the Swiss farewell.

“Come on, Rafael Nadal!” This is how Federer begins his lines, in which he recalls that the Spaniard beat him many times, “more than I managed to beat you.”

Reports from the Professional Tennis Association (ATP) confirm the Swiss’s words. Nadal beat Federer 24 times.and Federer beat Mallorca 16 times.

However, without reproach or a hint of bitterness, Federer insists that these defeats have helped him improve.

“You have challenged me in a way that no one else could have met. On the ground I felt like I was entering your territory, and you made me work harder than I ever imagined just to keep my job“, writes.

And then he adds: “You made me rethink my game, even changing the size of my racquet, looking for every little advantage.”

The Spanish press recalled a duel between both athletes in Melbourne (Australia) in 2009, where Federer was told: “God, this is killing me.”

Although he calls himself Nadal’s “eternal follower” in the letter, Federer admits that wasn’t always the case.

“After the 2004 Australian Open, I managed to become world No. 1 for the first time. I thought I was on top of the world. And he was. Until two months later, when you walked onto the court in Miami in your red sleeveless shirt, showing off your biceps and you clearly defeated me“, he recalls.

The Swiss champion praises Nadal’s achievements and calls his career “incredible.”

“14 Roland Garros titles, something historic! “You made all of Spain proud and you made the whole tennis world proud,” he tells his friend.

In the letter, Federer also recalled episodes such as a duel they had in South Africa in front of 50,000 spectators, in which he admitted they were so physically exhausted that “we almost had to hold on to each other during the medal ceremony.”

Nadal’s farewell to professional competition was bittersweet.

The champion was unable to defeat the Dutchman Boteach van de Zandschulp in the fight for a place in the semi-finals of the Davis Cup, held in the Spanish city of Malaga.

However, the tennis player played it down.

“I lost my first match in Davis and I’m losing my last. The circle is closed”– said the 38-year-old athlete at a subsequent press conference.

“I tried to do my best, be as positive as I could and with the right energy. But that wasn’t enough, he was better than me,” he admitted.

The Spaniard announced his retirement a year ago after a series of physical problems prevented him from playing regularly.

Those present in the Martin Karpen pavilion, where the duel took place, chanted: “Thank you, Rafa!”.

“I have to thank… so many people that it’s difficult to start,” replied the athlete from the center of the track.

During his career, the tennis player not only won 22 Grand Slam titles and two Olympic medals, but also won 92 ATP Tour titles, played in four Davis Cup finals and remained world number one for 209 weeks. in addition to being in the top 10 for 912 consecutive weeks.

“Honestly, it was 20 years of professional career during which they always supported me, in good moments they helped me win the next point, and in bad moments they pushed me to continue fighting,” he added.

And he concluded: “In Spain and in the world in general, I have been very lucky to receive so much, so much love.”

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