As Nadal plays his last tourney, Federer sends an emotional note from 'your fan, Roger'

[ad_1] <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/2200x2108+0+0/resize/1100/quality/85/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fd8%2F0a%2Fab6c0c0d4fea93135e7cbe8b7044%2Fgettyimages-53016525.jpg" class="img" alt="At the 2005 French Open, Roger Federer congratulated Rafael Nadal after their semifinal." data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/2200x2108+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fd8%2F0a%2Fab6c0c0d4fea93135e7cbe8b7044%2Fgettyimages-53016525.jpg" data-format="jpeg"/> On the 2005 French Open, Roger Federer congratulated Rafael Nadal after their semifinal. Now Federer is congratulating Nadal on his looming retirement — and a stellar professional profession. Nadal is enjoying within the Davis Cup, his last match, on Tuesday. Jack Guez/AFP through Getty Photos conceal caption

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Jack Guez/AFP through Getty Photos Once we face massive Life Moments, it is typically the folks near us who put issues in perspective. So with tennis nice Rafael Nadal about to retire after one last Davis Cup match, who higher than Roger Federer to place an unimaginable profession — and a uncommon friendship — in perspective.

"You made me reimagine my sport," Federer, one of many biggest tennis gamers in historical past, advised Nadal, one other of the best tennis gamers in historical past, in a message shared on Instagram and different platforms.

"Let's begin with the plain: you beat me—loads," Federer mentioned. "Greater than I managed to beat you. You challenged me in methods nobody else may."

Nadal is ending his tennis profession with the Davis Cup, the place he and Spain face the Netherlands in a "Last 8" showdown. He is scheduled to play on Tuesday at 11 a.m. ET, in a match carried by the Tennis Channel. The match is being held in Málaga, Spain, from Nov. 19 to 24: the semifinals are set for Friday and Saturday, with the ultimate performed on Sunday.

Nadal, identified for his never-say-die pursuit of each level in a match, has contended with a sequence of accidents in his profession, from his ft and knees to hip surgical procedure in 2023.

As a result of that is the knockout part of the match, it is unsure which match could possibly be Nadal's final. But it surely's sure that for Nadal, the 38-year-old who has gained 22 Grand Slams, the week will convey a flood of tributes. None are more likely to be extra private than the be aware from Federer, his on-court Swiss nemesis and off-court pal.

"As you get able to graduate from tennis, I've obtained a number of issues to share earlier than I possibly get emotional," Federer mentioned.

Federer talked about how he modified to a brand new racquet head, looking for a method to fight Rafa's energy and ability. He talked about their exhausting and thrilling battles on the court docket, enjoying collectively for tens of 1000's of followers. He additionally talked about … Nadal's underwear.

"I am not a really superstitious individual, however you took it to the subsequent degree. Your complete course of. All these rituals," Federer mentioned of the notoriously specific and exact Nadal. "Assembling your water bottles like toy troopers in formation, fixing your hair, adjusting your underwear... All of it with the very best depth. Secretly, I sort of liked the entire thing. As a result of it was so distinctive—it was so that you."

Federer forged again to Nadal's brash arrival in 2004 carrying a sleeveless purple shirt, his well-known biceps powering him to a win over Federer, who was then a newly anointed No. 1. He spoke of how their rivalry turned a shared path, one which ended with the 2 growing old legends enjoying doubles collectively — and brazenly weeping collectively — in Federer's final massive match, on the Laver Cup in 2022.

"Twenty years later, Rafa, I've to say: What an unimaginable run you've got had," Federer wrote. "Together with 14 French Opens—historic! You made Spain proud... you made the entire tennis world proud."

"I would like you to know that your outdated pal is all the time cheering for you, and might be cheering simply as loud for the whole lot you do subsequent," Federer mentioned, signing his be aware, "Finest all the time, your fan, Roger."