'I have the picture at home,' - Roger Federer reflects on his friendship with Rafael Nadal

Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer faced each other on 40 occasions on the tour, with the Spaniard winning 24 times.

Swiss tennis legend Roger Federer has revealed that he has placed a framed picture of him and Rafael Nadal from the 2022 Laver Cup in his house.

Federer played his last professional tennis match at the 2022 Laver Cup, where he teamed up with Nadal to face Jack Sock and Frances Tiafoe. The pair of Nadal and Federer lost the match; however, it turned out to be a perfect farewell for the 20-time Grand Slam champion.

The Swiss legend always wanted to play alongside his arch-rival, Rafael Nadal, in his farewell match, while the likes of Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray also joined the two on Team Europe. After the match, the two tennis stars embraced each other as they were not able to hold back their tears.

The hearts of every tennis fan became heavy as they knew they wouldn’t be seeing the Swiss maestro’s flair again. The first day of the 2022 Laver Cup was emotional; however, it was equally memorable. Thus, recalling the day, Roger Federer stated that he placed a picture with Nadal from the Laver Cup in his house.

Federer said, “I have the picture at home, framed, in a space where I have some other images of my career. I don’t want photos everywhere, so I have them in a specific area. And when I pass in front of this one, it always catches my attention because it reflects our camaraderie, our friendship and also the rivalry, all in a single image.”

He further added, “It is a moment in which we are both able to reflect on everything we had just experienced, remembering our career and how lucky we have been to be tennis players, to have been able to turn our hobby into a dream profession. That’s what that photo means to me.”

Also Read: Rafael Nadal hopes to end Olympic career with a third podium finish at Paris 2024

In his last three years as a professional tennis player, Roger Federer went through three knee surgeries. Due to the constant surgical procedures and delayed recoveries, Federer struggled to play on the tour, and he eventually retired in 2022.

Meanwhile, Rafael Nadal might also be playing in the last few tournaments of his professional career. He was eliminated in the first round of the 2024 French Open. Consequently, he’s currently preparing for the 2024 Paris Olympics, where he’ll be in singles and doubles action.

For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram