“Showing off his biceps…”: Roger Federer’s touching note to Rafael Nadal as he retires

Rafael Nadal, one of the greatest sportsmen of all time, intends to say “memory” to the match that made him a legend. The man who won the French Open as if it were his own backyard will end his glittering career with the 2024 Davis Cup final. The entire sports world is thrilled to see Nadal pick up a tennis racket one last time as a professional. The sports world will inevitably miss his departure from the game, but no rival will be happy to see him go. Roger Federer, perhaps Nadal’s biggest rival on the tennis court, penned an emotional note as the 38-year-old prepares for his final on-court showdown.

In a nearly 600-word post, Federer recalled the first time he faced Nadal on a tennis court, when the Mallorcan boy stepped onto the clay court and made it his own. Here is his post:

Come,

@Rafael Nadal!

Before you get emotional, there are a few things I would like to share with you as you prepare to graduate from tennis.

Let’s start with the obvious. You won me a lot. More than I could beat you. You challenged me in a way no one else could. On clay, it feels like I’m stepping into your backyard, and you make me work harder than I thought possible to keep my position. You made me rethink my game and even change the size of my racket head in hopes of gaining some slight advantage.

I’m not a very superstitious person, but you took it to the next level. your entire process. All those rituals. Assemble your water bottle, style your hair, adjust your underwear like a toy soldier…all done with maximum intensity. Secretly, I loved every minute of it. Because it was so unique, because it was who you are.

Come, @RafaelNadal!

Before you get emotional, there are a few things I would like to share with you as you prepare to graduate from tennis.

Let’s start with the obvious. You won me a lot. More than I could beat you. You challenged me in a way no one else could. On clay, it’s like…

— Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) November 19, 2024

And you know, Rafa, you’ve made me enjoy the game even more.

Well, maybe not at first. It was his first time reaching number one in the rankings since the 2004 Australian Open. I thought I was on top of the world. And so I was, until two months later, when you walked on the court in Miami wearing a red sleeveless shirt and showing off your biceps, and you beat me convincingly. All that buzz I was hearing about you was about this amazing young player from Mallorca, a generational talent, probably going to win a major one day, but it’s not just hype. It was.

We were both at the beginning of the journey, but we ended up doing it together. Now, 20 years later, Rafa, I have to say: What a great run you’ve had. Including 14 French Opens – historic! You made Spain proud… You made the entire tennis world proud.

I keep thinking about the memories we shared. Let’s promote sports together. The match was played half on grass and half on clay. They played in front of more than 50,000 fans in Cape Town, South Africa, breaking attendance records. We’re always fighting with each other. They drained each other on the court, and at times had to almost literally support each other during trophy ceremonies.

I remain grateful to him for inviting me to Mallorca in 2016 to help launch the Rafa Nadal Academy. In fact, I kind of invited myself. I knew it was too polite of you to insist on me being there, but I didn’t want to miss it. You have always been a role model for children around the world and Mirka and I are very happy that all of our children were able to train at your academy. They, like thousands of other young players, had a lot of fun and learned a lot. Although I was always worried that my kids would come home playing tennis left-handed.

And then there was London vs Laver Cup in 2022. It was my last match. Having you by my side, not just as a rival, but as a doubles partner, meant everything to me. Sharing the court with you that night and sharing those tears will forever be one of the most special moments of my career.

Rafa, I know you are focused on the final part of your epic career. Let’s talk when that’s done. For now, I just want to congratulate your family and team, who have played a huge role in your success. And know that your old friends are always rooting for you and will cheer just as loudly for whatever you do next.

Rafa that!

Your fans are always the best.

roger