A 37-year-old Federer triumphed within the pair’s last encounter, in 2019 at Wimbledon, however it was a 17-year-old Nadal who gained their first assembly, in 2004.
“I believed I used to be on high of the world. And I used to be – till two months later, while you walked on the courtroom in Miami in your crimson sleeveless shirt, displaying off these biceps, and also you beat me convincingly.
“All that buzz I might been listening to about you about this superb younger participant from Mallorca, a generational expertise, in all probability going to win a serious sometime – it wasn’t simply hype.
“We had been each firstly of our journey and it is one we ended up taking collectively. Twenty years later, Rafa, I’ve to say: What an unbelievable run you’ve got had. Together with 14 French Opens – historic!
“You made Spain proud… you made the entire tennis world proud.”
Federer teamed up with Nadal for the ultimate match of his profession when the pair – affectionately nicknamed ‘Fedal’ – performed collectively within the doubles for Europe towards the Remainder of the World on the Laver Cup.
Each gamers had been in tears as Federer bowed out of the sport.
“Sharing the courtroom with you that night time, and sharing these tears, will ceaselessly be some of the particular moments of my profession.”
He added: “Rafa, I do know you are targeted on the final stretch of your epic profession.
“We’ll speak when it is carried out. For now, I simply need to congratulate your loved ones and staff, who all performed a large position in your success.
“And I would like you to know that your outdated good friend is at all times cheering for you, and will likely be cheering simply as loud for every part you do subsequent.”