“Before I get emotional, I want to share this with you”: Roger Federer writes a moving letter to retiring Nadal
Now that Rafael Nadal has entered his last week as a professional tennis player, his old rival and friend Roger Federer (43) took to his pen. “You challenged me in a way no one else could. I will always cheer for you.”
For 15 years, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer crossed paths in tennis land.
They stood face to face with each other no fewer than 40 times. Nadal won 24 times, Federer 16 times.
2 years ago Federer ended his career. This week it is the turn of his eternal rival and friend, who waves off in front of his own people in Malaga during the Davis Cup.
The perfect moment to honor the 38-year-old Nadal with a personal letter, Roger Federer thought.
“Before I get emotional, I want to share a few things with you,” he opens his essay.
“You beat me more than you beat me and you challenged me in ways no one else could.”
“On clay I felt like I was walking into your backyard and you made me work harder than I ever imagined. You made me reinvent my game, even going so far as to change the size of my racket hoping for an advantage.”
Secretly, I quite liked your rituals.
Roger Federer
“I'm not that superstitious, but you took superstition to the next level. All those rituals: setting up your water bottles as if they were toy soldiers, doing your hair, adjusting your underwear… Secretly, I quite liked it all. Because it was so was unique.”
“And you know what, Rafa, you made me enjoy the game even more. Okay, maybe not at first. After the 2004 Australian Open, I was ranked number one for the first time. I thought I was at the top of the world. And that was true, until two months later in Miami you showed up on the court in your red sleeveless shirt with your biceps and defeated me convincingly.”
“All that stuff I had heard about you – about that great young player from Mallorca, an exceptional talent who would probably win a Grand Slam tournament one day – was not just hype.”
Epic career
“We were both at the beginning of our journey and we ultimately made that journey together. 20 years later, Rafa, I have to say: What an incredible series you have achieved. Including 14 final victories at Roland Garros – historic! You have made Spain proud … you have made the entire tennis world proud.”
“I keep thinking about the memories we shared. Promoting the sport together. Breaking the all-time record playing in front of over 50,000 fans in Cape Town, South Africa. Always driving each other crazy. Wearing each other out on the field and each other then sometimes almost literally hold it up during the award ceremonies.”
“I am still grateful to you for inviting me to Mallorca to help launch the Rafa Nadal Academy in 2016. Actually, I invited myself. I knew you were too polite to insist that I attend but I didn't want to miss it.”
“You have always been a role model for children all over the world and Mirka and I are so happy that our children all trained at your academies. They enjoyed it and learned so much, just like thousands of other young players.”
“Although I always worried that my children would come home as lefties.”
“And then there was London, the Laver Cup in 2022. My last match. It meant the world 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 part of your epic career. We'll talk when it's over.”
“Now I just want to congratulate your family and team, who have all played a huge 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 hard for whatever you do next.
I wish you the best!
Your fan,
Roger
