RIVALS WHO BECAME BEST FRIENDS!
The tennis icons shared an adorable final moment on court
There wasn’t a dry eye at London’s O2 arena when Roger Federer played the last match of his illustrious career – and that included plenty of tears from his close friend and rival Rafael Nadal!
The two tennis greats lost their Laver Cup doubles match for Team Europe against Team World’s Frances Tiafoe and Jack Sock, but it was a touching moment when Swiss ace Roger reached out to comfort a crying Rafa by holding his hand that made headlines.
Roger later called it a “secret thank you” to the Spaniard. “I think at one point, I was sobbing so hard, and I don’t know, everything was going through my mind about how happy I am to actually experience this moment right there with everybody,” he said. “I guess at one point, just because obviously I couldn’t speak and the music was there, I guess I just touched him, and I guess it’s maybe a secret thank you... I hope to get those [pictures] because they mean a lot to me.”
The close friends have enjoyed a fierce rivalry since first meeting courtside in March 2004. They played against each other 40 times, including nine grand slam finals, with the 36-year-old Spaniard holding a 24-16 winning record.
Widely regarded as one of the nicest tennis stars, Roger, 41, announced his retirement last month due to a series of injuries, ending a hugely successful career that saw him win 20 grand slams and a record eight Wimbledon wins.
His farewell wouldn’t have been complete without a night out in London with tennis buddies Rafa, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray. Rafael summed it up best, saying, “When Roger leaves the tour, an important part of my life is leaving, too.”
‘At one point I couldn’t speak... and I touched him, as a thank you’
A fitting finish for a sporting hero!