Getting excited in the early hours of the morning. This is the effect that the letter che causes
Roger Federer he published on his social profiles to pay homage to his all-time opponent,
Rafael Nadal in the days of his farewell to tennis. And it’s difficult to remain impassive right from the beginning: “You beat me… many times. More than I managed to beat you.
You challenged me in ways no one else could“. A sincere debut with which the former Swiss tennis player exalts the abilities of his rival-friend, also recognizing how the red clay was “the internal courtyard” of Rafa’s house, a place where the Spaniard became unbeatable and where all the other players felt like guests.
Roger’s farewell words to Rafa show all the admiration of a champion for another champion. The native of Manacor, moreover, had the merit of making his opponents grow, forcing them to train ever harder and study new strategies. “You made me work harder than I ever thought I could“, confesses Federer. And again: “You made me reinvent my game.”
Federer also wanted to highlight the 14 Roland Garros won by Rafa Nadal throughout his career: “It was historic! You made Spain proud… You made the entire tennis world proud.” Finally, the Swiss then wanted to renew his gratitude for his presence at the 2022 Laver Cup, the Swiss’ last match on a tennis court: “It meant everything to me that you were there by my side, not as my rival , but like my doubles partner.” And the ending is one to be moved by: “You made me love the game even more“.