Federer's Heartfelt Letter to Nadal: 'You Made Me Enjoy the Game Even More'

Swiss tennis great Roger Federer penned an emotional letter for his close friend Rafael Nadal as the Spaniard tennis ace is set to bid adieu to the sport.

The Spaniard tennis ace, known for his supremacy on the clay courts of Roland Garros, is all set to retire after the Davis Cup, drawing curtains to his remarkable career, which saw him win 22 Grand Slam titles.

The Spaniard will become the second of the three biggest tennis sensations to retire and be replaced, as Federer retired in 2022.

Federer and Nadal created the greatest history of rivalry in sports with a total of 42 Grand Slam titles. While Federer has eight Wimbledon titles on grass, Nadal boasts an astonishing 14 French Open titles on clay-a record likely to stand undefeated for a long time, earning him the tag of 'King of Clay'.

'As you prepare to graduate from tennis, I've got a few things to say before I might get emotional. Let's start with the obvious: you defeated me—a lot. More than I was able to defeat you. You challenged me in ways no one else could.". I remember it as if I was walking into your backyard on clay, and you worked me harder than I ever thought I had to just not lose a point. You made me remake my game-even change racquet head size in an attempt to get any edge, Federer wrote in an open letter, which he posted on social media.

I'm not a very superstitious person, but you took it to a whole other level. Your whole process. All those rituals. Line-up of your bottles like toy soldiers standing in formation, fixing your hair, ensuring that underpants are correctly adjusted… All of them with the utmost intensity. Privately, I sort of loved the entire thing. It was just too quirky—it was so you.".

"And you know what, Rafa, you made me enjoy the game even more.

"OK, maybe not at first. After the 2004 Australian Open, I achieved the #1 ranking for the first time. 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.

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.".

“I keep thinking about the memories we’ve shared. Promoting the sport together. Playing that match on half-grass, half-clay. Breaking the all-time attendance record by playing in front of more than 50,000 fans in Cape Town, South Africa. Always cracking each other up. Wearing each other out on the court and then, sometimes, almost literally having to hold each other up during trophy ceremonies.

I am still thankful that you asked me to Mallorca in 2016 for the launch of the Rafa Nadal Academy. Truthfully, I sort of invited myself. I knew you wouldn't insist, because you are too polite, but I didn't want to miss it.". You have always been a role model for kids all over the world, and Mirka and I are so glad that our children have all trained at your academies. They had a blast and learned so much—like thousands of other young players. Although I always worried my kids would come home playing tennis as lefties," the letter read.

The best of friends off the court, despite the rivalry on it, Nadal sat right next to Federer, both in tears, holding each other's hand as the latter bid adieu to professional tennis two years back at the Laver Cup in London.

"And then there was London—the Laver Cup in 2022. My final match. It meant everything 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," it concluded.