“It’s like a thank you to Rafa,” Roger Federer describes his iconic picture with Rafael Nadal from 2022 Laver Cup

Federer said he was thankful to Nadal for coming to the tournament despite all the problems he was facing.

“It’s like a thank you to Rafa,” Roger Federer describes his iconic picture with Rafael Nadal from 2022 Laver Cup

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal (Via Imago)

Swiss tennis maestro Roger Federer retired from professional tennis in 2022 as he played his last match at the Laver Cup. The 20-time Grand Slam champion had an emotional farewell as almost everyone at the scene cried. However, the most iconic moment was the one where Federer sat beside Rafael Nadal with his eyes filled with tears and the Spaniard also crying.

Federer also had his left hand on Nadal’s right leg which indicated that the Swiss ace was embracing his biggest rival’s presence. Now, even after two years of that moment, the picture resonates with every tennis fan as well as with Federer.

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The 43-year-old fondly remembers that moment and when asked what were the emotions from his side, Federer says that his keeping a hand on Nadal’s thighs was a gesture of thanking the Spaniard and telling him how much his presence meant to him. Federer further stated that he was thankful to Nadal that he came to play in the tournament despite all the hardships he was facing.

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This moment is very telling. For me personally, it's like a thank you to Rafa. Completely without talking. To show him how much it meant to me that he was there. Because I knew: His wife was pregnant. He had physical problems after the US Open. That's why I told him earlier than anyone else that I would stop.
Roger Federer said about his iconic picture with Rafael Nadal.

Roger Federer calls his last moments at Wimbledon a horror

Apart from remembering his last moments on the men’s tour, Roger Federer was also asked about his last moments at the Wimbledon Championships. As Federer played his last match on 7th July 2021, the Swiss maestro called it a horror.

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Roger Federer thanks crowd at 2021 Wimbledon Championships (Image via Imago)

Federer said that while paying against Hubert Hurkacz, he realized that he did not have it in him anymore. The 43-year-old said that the realization hit him like an “avalanche” and then attending the press conference after that was nothing less than a horror for him.

The last half hour against Hurkacz was the absolute hardness! (third sentence 0:6; d. Red.). I knew there was nothing left. I wasn't the same anymore. I realized that the end is coming! It hit me like an avalanche. Then it was over, and I had to go to the press conference. What a horror!
Roger Federer said about his last moments at Wimbledon. (H/T: WeLT)

Notably, Federer played his last match at the Championships against Hurkacz in the quarterfinals. The 20-time Grand Slam champion who still holds the record for most Wimbledon titles, lost to Hurkacz 3-6, 6-7(4), 0-6.

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