Tennis Fascinating letter from Roger Federer to Rafael Nadal before the Spaniard’s farewell

Rafael Nadal is preparing to play his last tournament as a professional. This Tuesday, as part of the Davis Cup, Spain faces the Netherlands . This is the tournament that the Hispanic chose for his retirement at the beginning of October.

“The reality is that the last two years have been difficult and I haven’t been able to play without limits. It’s a difficult decision, and it took me a while, but in this life, everything has a beginning and an end. “I think this is the right time to end what has been a long and more successful career than I could ever have imagined,” he said on the occasion.

“I am very happy that my last tournament will be the Davis Cup final and that I will represent my country. . I think it comes full circle because one of my first great joys as a professional tennis player was the final in Seville in 2004,” he recalls.

And that moment has arrived. In this context, the man who was one of his main sporting rivals dedicated a moving letter to him.:Roger Fédéré r.

Through his X account, the Swiss highlighted the great human bond that united them beyond sport. “Come on, Rafael Nadal! As you prepare to move on to tennis, I have a few things to share before I start getting excited. “, begins by emphasizing the one who was born in Basel.

“Let’s start with the obvious: you have defeated me – repeatedly. More than me, I managed to defeat you. You challenged me in a way that no one else could have. On clay, I felt like I was entering your territory, and you made me work harder than I ever imagined just to keep my place. You made me reimagine my game, even to the point of changing the size of my racket, looking for the slightest advantage “, he admits.

“I’m not a very superstitious person, but you took this to the next level. Your whole process, all these rituals. Arrange your bottles like toy soldiers in training, fix your hair, adjust your underwear… All this with maximum intensity. ANDI secretly loved everything you did. Because it was something so unique, it was so yours “, he continued.

“And you know what, Rafa? You made me enjoy the sport even more. Okay, maybe it wasn’t like that from the start. After the 2004 Australian Open, I managed to reach world number 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 field in Miami in your sleeveless red shirt, showing off your biceps, and clearly defeated me. . All those voices talking about you – an incredible young Mallorcan, a generational talent, probably a Grand Slam winner one day – were not in vain,” he adds.

Then, Federer takes the time to praise the Spaniard’s years, emphasizing that “we were both at the beginning of our journey, an adventure that we completed together. Twenty years later, Rafa, I must say: what an incredible career you have achieved! Including 14 titles at Roland Garros, something historic! You have made all of Spain proud and you have made the entire tennis world proud. “.

“I continue to think of all the memories we shared, promoting the sport together. Play this match on a grass and clay court. Break the attendance record by bringing together more than 50,000 spectators in Cape Town (South Africa). Always have good times together. “They get exhausted on the field and sometimes have to almost stick together during award ceremonies,” he added.

He also appreciated some of Nadal’s gestures. “I remain very grateful for your invitation to Mallorca to help launch the Rafa Nadal Academy in 2016. In fact, I practically invited myself. I know you’re too polite to insist that I go, but I didn’t want to miss this. You have always been a role model for children around the world. . Mirka and I are delighted that all our children have trained in your academies. They had a great time and learned a lot, as thousands of young players have done. Although I was always afraid that one of my children would come home playing like a lefty “, he joked.

“And I couldn’t forget London, with the Laver Cup 2022, my last match. It meant everything to have you by my side, not as a rival but as a doubles partner. Sharing the field with you that night, sharing those tears, will always be one of the most special moments of my career. “, he admitted.

“Rafa, I know you are focused on the final chapter of your immense career. We’ll talk about it when this is all over. For now, I just want to congratulate your family and your team, everyone who played an important role in your success. I want you to know that your old friend will always encourage you and wish you the best in whatever you do next. Your eternal disciple, Roger “, closed the Swiss.