Federer sent an emotional letter to Nadal

Rafael Nadal, the famous Spanish tennis player, will play the last match of his career during the meeting between Spain and the Netherlands in the Davis Cup, and Roger Federer, one of his biggest rivals, wrote him an emotional letter.

Throughout the year, Rafael Nadal tried to return to the court, but he was never able to resemble the old “Bull from Majorca”, so he made the expected decision to end his career.

He will symbolically say goodbye to tennis in Spain playing for his country, and Roger Federer addressed him with emotional words before saying goodbye.

“Let’s go, Rafa! As you prepare to graduate from tennis, I have a few things to share before I get emotional. Let’s start with the obvious: you beat me – a lot! More than I managed to beat you. You challenged me in a way no one else could. On clay, I felt like I was stepping into your backyard, and you made me work harder than I ever thought I could, just to hold my position. You made me reinvent my game – I even went so far as to change the size of my racket head, hoping for any advantage,” Federer began.

The Swiss pointed out that he has always admired Rafa’s rituals.

“I’m not very superstitious, but you took it to the next level. Your whole process. All those rituals. Positioning water bottles as if they were toy soldiers in formation, fixing hair, moving underwear… All this at the highest intensity. Secretly, I kind of liked the whole thing. Because it was so unique – it was you. And you know what, Rafa, you made me enjoy the game even more. Okay maybe not at first. After the Australian Open in 2004, I won the first place in the ATP list for the first time. I thought I was on top of the world. And I was, but two months later, when you took the court in Miami in your red tank top, showing off those biceps, you beat me to the punch. All the buzz I’ve been hearing about you – that incredible young player from Majorca, a generational talent, who will probably one day hit it big – was not without cover. We were both at the beginning of our journey and at the end we crossed it together. Twenty years later, Rafa, I have to say: What an amazing career! Including 14 Roland Garros trophies – historic! Because of you, Spain is proud… Because of you, the entire tennis world is proud,” the famous Swiss wrote in the letter.

“I keep thinking about the memories we shared. How we promoted sports together. How we played that match on a pitch that was half clay, half grass. How we broke the all-time attendance record playing to over 50,000 fans in Cape Town, South Africa. Always cheers me up. We did our best on the field and then, sometimes, we literally had to hold each other during the trophy ceremony.

I’m still grateful that you invited me to Mallorca to help launch the Rafa Nadal Academy in 2016. In fact, I kind of invited myself. I knew you were too nice to insist I be there, 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 glad that all our children trained at your academies. They had fun and learned so much—as did thousands of other young players. Although I always worried that my kids would come home playing tennis left-handed.

And then there was London – Laver Cup 2022. My last match. It meant a lot to me that you were by my side – not as my rival, but as my doubles partner. Sharing the field with you that night, and sharing those tears, will forever be one of the special moments of my career.

Rafa, I know you are focused on the last part of your epic career. We’ll talk when it’s over. For now, I just want to congratulate your family and team, who all played a big part in your success. And I want you to know that your old friend is always rooting for you, and will be rooting just as loudly for whatever you do next.

I always wish you the best, your fan,

Roger Federer”, says the Swiss tennis player’s letter.