Roger Federer’s retirement letter to Rafael Nadal goes viral

Roger Federer has left the tennis world in tears after penning a heartfelt letter to longtime friend and on court rival Rafael Nadal.

Roger Federer has left the tennis world in tears after penning a heartfelt letter to longtime friend and on-court rival Rafael Nadal.

Nadal’s career officially came to an end when Spain was defeated 2-1 by the Netherlands in the Davis Cup quarter-final in Malaga on Wednesday morning.

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The 38-year-old was in tears before his final ever match when he went down 6-4 6-4 to Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp.

Teammate Carlos Alcaraz kept Spain in the tie with a 7-6 6-3 win over Tallon Griekspor. But the 21-year-old couldn’t get Spain over the line when he and doubles partner Marcel Granollers were beaten 7-6 (4) 7-6 (3).

As tributes came flooding in, none came close to that of what Federer offered up as he bid farewell to the warrior.

“As you get ready to graduate from tennis, I’ve got a few things to share before I maybe get emotional,” Federer said.

“Let’s start with the obvious: you beat me - a lot. More than I managed to beat you. You challenged me in ways no one else could.

Federer melted hearts with his letter to Nadal. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images for Laver Cup)

“On clay, it felt like I was stepping into your backyard, and you made me work harder than I ever thought I could just to hold my ground.

“You made me reimagine my game - even going so far as to change the size of my racquet head, hoping for any edge. I’m not a very superstitious person, but you took it to the next level. Your whole process. All those rituals.

“Assembling your water bottles like toy soldiers in formation, fixing your hair, adjusting your underwear … All of it with the highest intensity. Secretly, I kind of loved the whole thing. Because it was so unique - it was so you.

“And you know what, Rafa, you made me enjoy the game even more. OK, maybe not at first. After the 2004 Australian Open, I achieved the No. 1 ranking for the first time. I thought I was on top of the world. And I was - until two months later, when you walked on the court in Miami in your red sleeveless shirt, showing off those biceps, and you beat me convincingly. All that buzz I’d been hearing about you - about this amazing young player from Mallorca, a generational talent, probably going to win a major someday - it wasn’t just hype.

The two had a long rivalry on all surfaces. (Photo by RYAN PIERSE / POOL / AFP)

“We were both at the start of our journey and it’s one we ended up taking together. Twenty years later, Rafa, I have to say: What an incredible run you’ve had. Including 14 French Opens - historic! You made Spain proud … you made the whole tennis world proud.

“And then there was London – the Laver Cup in 2022. My final match.

“It meant everything to me that you were there by my side – not as my rival but as my doubles partner.

“Sharing the court with you that night, and sharing those tears, will forever be one of the most special moments of my career.”

Federer signed off the 585-word tribute from “your fan Roger”.

Nadal’s final on-court interview had his Spanish teammates and those in attendance struggling to contain their emotion.

Nadal waves goodbye. (Photo by Matt McNulty/Getty Images for ITF)

“The important legacy is that all the people I have met during these 20 years have a good human memory of me,” he said.

“At the end of the day, the personal issue, education, respect and the affection you can treat people with comes before the professional issue, because that is what remains.”

He went on to say: “The titles, numbers, they’re there. People probably know that.

“The way I’d like to be remembered more is like a good person from a small village in Mallorca.”

Nadal puts down the racquet with a legacy that will be forever etched into the memories of sporting fans across the globe.

An icon. A legend. A 22-time grand slam champion. The “King of Clay”. Maybe the greatest of all time.

Originally published as Roger Federer’s retirement letter to Rafael Nadal goes viral