THE 20-TIME GRAND SLAM WINNER ROGER FEDERER WILL TAKE THE COURT FOR THE LAST TIME ON FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 23 IN THE LAVER CUP
NADAL WILL TEAM UP WITH FEDERER FOR THE ONE FINAL TIME
THE PAIR ARE THE TWO MOST-SUCCESSFUL MALE TENNIS PLAYERS OF ALL TIME WITH A COMBINED 42 GRAND SLAM SINGLES TITLES
FOR A MAJOR PART OF THEIR CAREER, ROGER FEDERER AND RAFAEL NADAL SHARED ONE OF TENNIS' MOST CELEBRATED RIVALRIES.
THE DUO MET EACH OTHER ON 40 OCCASIONS, WITH NADAL FINISHING WITH A 24-16 LEAD OVER THE SWISS TENNIS GREAT.
DESPITE THEIR GRUELLING ENCOUNTERS ON THE COURT, THE DUO CONTINUED TO SHARE A HEALTHY FRIENDSHIP AND ENJOYED EACH OTHER'S SUCCESSES
FEDERER AND NADAL ARE THE ONLY PLAYERS IN MEN'S TENNIS HISTORY TO HAVE FINISHED AT NO.1 AND NO.2 IN ATP RANKINGS FOR SIX SUCCESSIVE YEARS.
THE TENNIS STARS TOOK PART IN AN EXHIBITION MATCH IN 2019 IN CAPE TOWN TO RAISE MONEY FOR THE ROGER FEDERER FOUNDATION, WHICH SUPPORTS EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION IN SIX SOUTHERN AFRICAN COUNTRIES, INCLUDING SOUTH AFRICA.
AS FEDERER ANNOUNCED HIS RETIREMENT FROM COMPETITIVE TENNIS ON THURSDAY, THE SPANISH TENNIS LEGEND POSTED A HEARTWARMING NOTE ON HIS OFFICIAL TWITTER PROFILE.
“DEAR ROGER,MY FRIEND AND RIVAL. I WISH THIS DAY WOULD HAVE NEVER COME. IT’S A SAD DAY FOR ME PERSONALLY AND FOR SPORTS AROUND THE WORLD. IT’S BEEN A PLEASURE BUT ALSO AN HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO SHARE ALL THESE YEARS WITH YOU, LIVING SO MANY AMAZING MOMENTS ON AND OFF THE COURT,”
WROTE NADAL
RAFAEL NADAL IS GOOD FRIENDS WITH ROGER FEDERER, DESPITE THEIR ONGOING ON-COURT RIVALRY.