23 September 2023 , 14:01
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Roger Federer received a surprise from his great friend and long-time rival Rafael Nadal.
The Swiss Maestro is at the Laver Cup watching Team Europe battle Team World in the Canadian city of Vancouver. It comes a year after the 41-year-old retired from the sport after playing the final match of his career alongside the Spaniard at the 2022 edition of the event in London.
As part of the tournament, the 20-time Grand Slam winner was interviewed on the court, when a familiar face appeared on the big screen in the arena. The crowd roared with delight when Nadal popped up with his recorded question, and he had an amusing question for his fellow tennis icon.
“Hello Roger, how are you? I hope you are doing well. I just have a question for you - who has been your favourite doubles partner?”, before adding a cheeky wink for the camera.
Federer chuckled before replying: “I mean… I mean, I thought it was my wife until this guy (Nadal) showed up! So yeah, Rafa can have it.” Federer gave a wink of his own before adding that “last year was on another level, special.”
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Despite Nadal not being 100% fully fit last September, he went to the Laver Cup to partner Federer in a doubles match against Jack Sock and Francis Tiafoe - the last match of the eight-time Wimbledon champion’s illustrious career. The iconic pair won the first set, but the American duo went on to win 4-6, 7-6, 11-9 - denying Federer the fairytale ending.
The occasion was all too much for the pair of former World No. 1s who sat next to one another on Team Europe’s bench bawling their eyes out during Federer’s farewell ceremony. It was an image forever cemented in the hearts and minds of fans and has become one of sport's most iconic images in the history of tennis and possibly all of sport.
“I mean, I don't know how we got to this place over all these years, you know,” Federer said a year ago. “We have been very connected, especially, I feel, especially last 10 years, I'd say. I'm very happy it is where it is today, that I can call up Rafa and talk about anything. I hope he feels the same way. It's not like we do that on a frequent basis.”
The Spaniard asked his great friend and rival who his favorite doubles partner is (Twitter/@lavercup)Nadal’s incredible tennis career also seems to be drawing to a close. He has not played since January due to a hip injury which was later followed by surgery. He plans to return to the court in 2024 and it may prove to be his last year before hanging up his rackets.
"I'm not sure what I'm going to do in 2024, Nadal told Movistar+. "My hope is in two months to know how and where I am. Yes, I can play, but I am not in a position to win at Roland-Garros.
"Maybe I would like a farewell tour. I live every day with the hope of giving myself the opportunity to have the option of deciding. My physique and my head will tell me."