Roger Federer, a renowned BBC Sport journalist, recently paid a heartfelt tribute to his former rival Rafael Nadal. Nadal, a 22-time Grand Slam champion, is set to retire at the age of 38 after representing Spain in the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga. Federer, who retired in 2022 with 20 Grand Slams, faced Nadal 40 times during their careers, with Nadal emerging victorious on numerous occasions.

Epic Encounters on the Tennis Court

In his Instagram post, Federer shared his thoughts on their intense battles. He mentioned, "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, Nadal seemed to have an advantage, making Federer work harder than he ever thought possible just to hold his ground. Federer added that Nadal made him "reimagine" his game, even leading to a change in the size of his racquet head.A 37-year-old Federer achieved victory in their final encounter in 2019 at Wimbledon, but it was a 17-year-old Nadal who won their first meeting in 2004. Federer recalled, "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."

Spanish Pride and Tennis History

Federer emphasized Nadal's remarkable achievements, stating, "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." Their partnership also extended to the Laver Cup, where they played together in the doubles for Europe against the Rest of the World. Both players were in tears as Federer bowed out of the game, with Federer saying, "Sharing the court with you that night, and sharing those tears, will forever be one of the most special moments of my career."He added, "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."