Speaking to the New York Times, the recently retired Roger Federer opened up about one of the most emotional sports moments of 2022, when he and his friendly rival Rafael Nadal momentarily held hands as tears streamed down their cheeks at his final match of the Laver Cup.
The 41-year-old legend played doubles with Grand Slam winner Nadal for Team Europe, losing a close match to Team World’s Frances Tiafoe and Jack Sock with a score of 4-6, 7-6(2), 11-9.
The Swiss player announced that the Laver Cup, a three-day team event, would be his final event before retiring. His surgically repaired right knee renders him unable to continue playing professional tennis.
“Well, I mean, it was a short moment,” Federer said. “I think at one point, I was sobbing so hard, and I don’t know, everything was going through my mind about how happy I am to actually experience this moment right there with everybody”.
My favorite photo of all time pic.twitter.com/KzsStZlglH
— Genie Bouchard (@geniebouchard) September 24, 2022
In their 40 matches, Federer and Nadal have demonstrated individual excellence and compelling contrasts, 14 at Grand Slam tournaments and nine in major finals. The Swiss is right-handed, an attacker, and plays with apparent ease. The Spaniard is left-handed, a grinder, and plays with relentless intensity.
The two veteran players, who have a combined 42 Grand Slams, first met in singles in March 2004 in the third round of the Miami Open, with the 17-year-old Nadal defeating the top-ranked Federer in less than an hour with a final score of 6-3, 6-3. Their rivalry lasted throughout their careers, with Nadal winning 24 matches and Federer winning 16.
“I guess at one point, just because obviously I couldn’t speak and the music was there, I guess I just touched him, and I guess it’s maybe a secret thank you,” Federer said.
Laver Cup loss
For the final match of Day 1 at the O2 Arena in Laver Cup doubles, Federer and Nadal each wore a white bandanna, blue shirt, and white shorts. Despite losing, Federer hugged Nadal, then Tiafoe and Sock after the match. The father of four children described his feelings now that it was all over.
“I think I feel complete,” he said. “I lost my last singles match. I lost my last doubles match. I lost my voice from screaming and supporting the team. I lost the last time as a team”.
“I lost my job, but I’m very happy. I’m good. I’m really good. That’s the ironic part, is everybody thinks about happy fairy-tale endings, you know? And for me, actually it ended up being that but in a way that I never thought was going to happen”.
How are we getting over this? @rogerfederer | @RafaelNadal | #RForever pic.twitter.com/cpOfSznp4X
— ATP Tour (@atptour) September 24, 2022
Nadal’s museum, relationship with Federer
Nadal established the Rafa Nadal Academy in 2016 in his hometown Manacor. Since then, the complex has grown to include a museum displaying memorabilia from Nadal’s illustrious career. It also includes memorabilia from other tennis legends.
Rafa Nadal Museum Xperience recently added a personally signed racquet used by Federer at the 2019 Laver Cup. In addition to the racquet, the museum has a Team Europe sweatshirt and a Nike T-shirt signed by every member of Team Europe.
A new historical piece has been added to Rafael Nadal's museum.
This place is the Louvre of tennis! 🖼️
(📸 rafanadalmuseum) pic.twitter.com/sgcUjfDbDY
— We Are Tennis (@WeAreTennis) September 27, 2022
In an interview with Tennis World USA, the Spaniard discussed his rivalry and friendship with the Swiss player. According to Nadal, they grew closer as they shared experiences and moments of sadness or disappointment while competing, and they’ve come to appreciate the matches.
The 36-year-old player also revealed that Federer informed him of his retirement 10 days before the rest of the world, saying, “He told me ten days before announcing it but I didn’t even know if he could play the doubles, because of the knee”.