Roger Federer pens a beautiful letter to Rafael Nadal
- Thread starter weakera
- Start date
inflation_era
Professional
I wonder if Djokovic will get such a letter from anyone other than his parents.
Mainad
Bionic Poster
Probably not from Federer.
You have to earn the respect and recognition
And you have to rub it in
Pavyg, yolita, puneet and similar nut cases will do the honors as they will find something wrong with every compliment coming from Fedal
Tennfan123
Legend
Oh lord, not with the fan fiction.
Djokovic_is_the_best#1
Bionic Poster
Djokovic can keep you entertained in 2025. Don’t worry
Djokovic_is_the_best#1
Bionic Poster
He certainly will
zakopinjo
Professional
Maybe he will get a love letter from Mirka.
GodlessEndeavor
Professional
Probably not such a genuine one.
mike danny
Bionic Poster
Kind words from Fed.
But why did he say Rafa made him change his racquet size? If that were true, he would've switched to it earlier.
But why did he say Rafa made him change his racquet size? If that were true, he would've switched to it earlier.
jackson vile
G.O.A.T.
And then they kissed
messiahrobins
Legend
Pretty much ends the GOAT debate really given Federer actually played in it. He clearly says Rafa is the best player he played, which he actually has never said before. To be fair Federer is the best judge for obvious reasons. Obviously he may consider himself the greatest, but i think Rafa says Roger was the best player he faced so i guess the fact they both felt each other was their greatest rival does say it all.
Was W2008 final their greatest match though? Or was it that Rome match?
messiahrobins
Legend
No we wont. Its a once in a lifetime thing. Federer and Nadal was the Ali-Frazier of the 21st Century.
messiahrobins
Legend
Ken Norton perhaps?
Airspun
Hall of Fame
was looking for this thread.
Fedal United.
People forgot how Fed and Nadal fans absolutely HATED each other, the fanbase AND the player. It's impossible to believe that they became such close friends, on and off the court, and perhaps that is exactly what we need for the world today. peace. love.
Fedal United.
People forgot how Fed and Nadal fans absolutely HATED each other, the fanbase AND the player. It's impossible to believe that they became such close friends, on and off the court, and perhaps that is exactly what we need for the world today. peace. love.
messiahrobins
Legend
They werent that close until 2016, they respected each other and got on fine, but in 2016 they genuinely became friendly.
Airspun
Hall of Fame
i disagree, when they did that Laughing video it was obvious they were already becoming friends! whadyagonnagetme?
Incognito
Legend
Louis V?
Incognito
Legend
Even satan would say “wow! That’s just mean” at your comment
You should write him one
Mustard
Bionic Poster
The fans had a war going on, yes, which really intensified in March-July 2006 and stayed at that level of intensity up to the 2009 Australian Open final. In 2005, despite both having incredible years, they only met each other twice during the year, compared to 6 times in 2006.
There was an attitude from a lot of Federer fans in 2005-2009 that Federer would soon dominate everywhere, sweeping Nadal aside. Nadal was a pest to them. I believe Roger later said that Rafa beating him so many times in this period made him a better person, i.e. bringing him down to Earth a bit and forcing him to take a new approach.
Mustard
Bionic Poster
The rivalry cooled a little after Federer's 2009 Australian Open tears. That changed the dynamic a bit. Federer's persistent "I will dominate all" exterior collapsed, but then he rebuilt himself as Nadal surprisingly went through a tough time in the second half of 2009 and early 2010. Their legacies became more secure, they both overcame adversity, so more mutual respect grew, and they also had a new dangerous foe in Djokovic. 2017 was Nadal and Federer both overcoming more adversity again, being the top 2 again.
socallefty
G.O.A.T.
The enemy of your enemy becomes your friend. It seems like they got closer in the struggle to keep Djokovic from breaking the records for Slams, Masters 1000 titles, ATP Finals titles, YE1 titles and weeks at #1. The failure to do so maybe bonded them even closer against the common foe.
gamelovergold
Semi-Pro
You are going overboard on this but it is not roger or rafa who had to stop novak . Whole bunch of mug players had contributed in roger rafa and novak sucess. No clay court player challenged rafa and he won 14 FO . Fedrer in his time dominated like never before. 18/19 finals is no joke. Novak 24 slams 12 came after 30 years of age. Taking no credit away from big 3 but generation from 2000 to 2020 totally failed.
messiahrobins
Legend
I think the way Nadal and Federer dethroned Djokovic who was at his peak still in 2017 while they were below theirs in hindsight was hugely significant.
messiahrobins
Legend
Well thats fair enough to be fair to him. They did sort of define each other. The beit where he says no other player every pushed him like Nadal did is of course the ultimate compliment for Nadal, sort of a Royal Assent of Approval.
