By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Tuesday 19 November 2024
Roger Federer is among the millions of tennis fans who follow closely Rafael Nadalthe last professional event of this week. The Swiss took to the X to pay tribute to the King of Clay, recalling the 20-year journey they made together and how relentlessly Nadal pushed Federer to a level he never thought he could reach.
“He beat me a lot,” Federer wrote. “More than I managed to beat you. You challenged me in ways no one else could. In the mud, it felt like I was walking into your backyard and you made me work harder than I ever thought my leg could handle. You made me reimagine my game – I even went so far as to change the head size of my racquet, hoping for some advantage.”
come on @RafaelNadal!As you get ready to graduate from tennis, I have a few things to share before I get excited.
Let’s start with the obvious: you beat me – by a lot. More than I managed to beat you. You challenged me in ways no one else could. In the mud, it felt like…
— Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) November 19, 2024
Federer, who won 16 and lost 24 against Nadal during their illustrious rivalry, told Nadl that it increased his appreciation for the sport.
“Rafa, you made me enjoy the game even more”, he wrote. “Okay, maybe not at first. After the 2004 Australian Open, I reached the No. 1 ranking for the first time. I thought I was on top of the world. And I was—until two months later, when you walk onto the field in Miami in your red tank top, showing off your biceps, and you beat me soundly. All the hype I’d heard about you – this amazing young player from Mallorca, a generational talent, who might just win the big day – wasn’t just hype.
“We were both at the beginning of our journey and ended up doing it 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.”
Finally, Federer wished Nadal the best for the end of his career and what lies ahead.
“Rafa, I know you are focused on the last part of your epic career,” he said. “We’ll talk when it’s over. For now, I just want to congratulate your family and team, who 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 loudly for everything you do next.”
