Roger Federer 'couldn't stand' Rafael Nadal - and tennis legends still aren't friends

Although the narration betwixt Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer appears to beryllium peachy connected the outside, the brace are acold from being pen pals contempt ditching their differences

The rivalry betwixt Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal whitethorn not beryllium what it erstwhile was - but that doesn't mean the brace tin beryllium considered friends.

Or astatine slightest the precocious retired Nadal doesn't look to deliberation so, adjacent contempt the gladsome tidings exchanged betwixt the 2 of late. Federer was among the archetypal to congratulate Nadal connected his mode retired of tennis' exit doorway erstwhile helium hung up his racket astatine the Davis Cup this week, calling it a time aft Spain were knocked retired by the Netherlands.

It's admittedly a agelong mode from the duo's roots arsenic bitter nemeses, having played against 1 different for the archetypal clip astatine the 2004 Miami Masters. It soon became evident conscionable however peculiar their head-to-head was, and 43-year-old Federer revealed immoderate atrocious humor was 100% authentic.

"We started respecting the rivalry," helium said successful August 2023. "We astir miss it, playing each different each weekend. Back successful the time we couldn’t basal each different astir apt for that. He’s a large man. I privation helium tin travel backmost 1 much time, but helium has shown the tennis world and the fans however bully helium is."

Nadal, 38, got an aboriginal caput commencement successful their back-and-forth, and by the clip Federer retired, the Spaniard had won 24 of their 40 encounters overall. The competitory borderline of those showdowns softened implicit time, but Nadal inactive doesn't judge their courtship has entered the person zone.

Speaking connected El Objetivo de La Sexta successful aboriginal 2024, 22-time Grand Slam-winner Nadal explained however helium inactive wouldn't picture their narration arsenic "friendship." But he's inactive a batch person to the Swiss icon than was erstwhile the case.

"I wouldn't see him a friend," helium said. "But idiosyncratic familiar, with whom I person a large relationship."

If thing else, the respect was evident erstwhile Federer posted a heartfelt tribute to his aged rival successful airy of his last competitory outing. The 20-time large champion spoke of their origins arsenic young upstarts jostling for superiority connected the ATP circuit, each the mode up until Federer's last lucifer astatine the 2022 Laver Cup.

The duo could each beryllium seen welling up astatine Federer's eventual departure from the sport, indicating immoderate signifier of communal affection. But perhaps, astatine slightest successful Nadal's case, that was much indicative of the nonaccomplishment helium would consciousness knowing their iconic contention was officially astatine an end.

Novak Djokovic is the past remaining subordinate of the 'Big Three' inactive plying his trade, having overtaken some stars with his haul of 24 large triumphs. The Serb precocious confirmed himself that helium does not see either of his erstwhile rivals "friends," per se, showing conscionable however heavy the tendency for contention runs among the trio.

Join our caller WhatsApp community and person your regular dose of Mirror Football content. We besides dainty our assemblage members to peculiar offers, promotions, and adverts from america and our partners. If you don't similar our community, you tin cheque retired immoderate clip you like. If you're curious, you tin work our Privacy Notice.