Roger Federer ‘practiced a lot’ to beat Rafael Nadal, claims Alexandre Muller after reuniting with Swiss maestro
World No.40 Alexandre Muller, who used to practice with Roger Federer, played golf with him in November last year.
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Roger Federer, Alexandre Muller, Rafael Nadal (Image via X/Advantage Tennis, ATP Tour, Instagram/Alexandre Muller)
Before the BMW Open, Alexandre Muller recalled playing golf with Roger Federer in Dubai last November. Muller joked that the way Federer was practicing, it seemed as if he was preparing for an 18-hole clash with Rafael Nadal.
Muller, who used to practice with Federer, never met him on the ATP tour. When he reunited with the Swiss maestro in Dubai, around that time, Nadal bade his farewell to tennis. He was part of Spain’s Davis Cup team against the Netherlands in the quarterfinals.
We practiced [on Tour] before, but I never played him in a match, unfortunately. He had a tee time 10 minutes before mine, so I was behind him for nine or 10 holes. For the last few holes, I was with him, because the guy in front of him was a bit slow, so every time at the beginning of the hole I was with him, and we were talking a little bit. It was cool.
Alexandre Muller told ATPTour.com
Federer bade his farewell to tennis at the 2022 Laver Cup and was seen playing golf on several occasions. He became the first member of the Big to hang up his racket followed by Nadal, against whom, Federer was 16-24 in the head-to-head record.
We were talking about golf. He was playing great. He is practicing a lot, I think he wants to beat Rafa!
Alexandre Muller added
Federer and Nadal last faced each other in the semifinal of the 2019 Wimbledon which Federer won before losing a thrilling final to Novak Djokovic (who is yet to call time on his career). The 43-year-old recently admitted that he is tired of playing golf and wants to make his comeback to tennis by participating in exhibition events.
Alexandre Muller loses his first-round match against Alexander Zverev at the Barcelona Open
Alexander Muller was chasing his second title of the season at the BMW Open following the Hong Kong Open where he came from a set down to beat Kei Nishikori. He arrived in Munich following a three-set defeat to Daniil Medvedev in the Monte Carlo Masters second round.
In the first match, the 28-year-old locked horns with World No.3 Alexander Zverev who knocked him out with a 6-4, 6-1 scoreline. With this win, the German has improved his head-to-head record over the Frenchman to 2-0, following his win in the second round of the 2024 US Open.
I’m very happy with the match. I want to play my best tennis again – and this was a very good step in the right direction.
Alexander Zverev told Sky Germany
Zverev is bidding to win his first tour-level title since last year’s Paris Masters. So far in the season, the 27-year-old has progressed to one final, at the Australian Open which he lost in straight sets to World No.1 Jannik Sinner.
Since the Australian Open heartbreak, the three-time Grand Slam finalist failed to win more than two matches in the next six tournaments he played. Before his home tournament, Zverev succumbed to a three-set defeat to Matteo Berrettini in his Monte Carlo Masters opening round.
In the BMW Open, Zverev is scheduled to lock horns with compatriot Daniel Altmaier on Wednesday (April 16). He has faced the 26-year-old thrice and holds a 2-1 head-to-head lead.
Zverev met Altmaier in the first round of the 2022 Australian Open and in the second round of the 2023 US Open. But in their last encounter, in Acapulco last year, Altmaier secured the win. Altmaier, prior to setting up the clash with Zverev, knocked out Tseng Chun-hsin. He is chasing his career’s first title in Munich.
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