WATCH: “I thought it was my wife until this guy showed up,” Roger Federer ditches wife Mirka to name Rafael Nadal as his best doubles partner

Roger Federer sides with Rafael Nadal over wife Mirka in naming his best doubles partner.

WATCH: “I thought it was my wife until this guy showed up,” Roger Federer ditches wife Mirka to name Rafael Nadal as his best doubles partner

Mirka Federer, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal (Credits: Yahoo Sports)

The rivalry and now the bromance between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal is one of the greatest ever in the history of tennis. The two champions were throat-cut rivals in the mid-2000s for more than a decade. However, as the two went from the young blood to veterans of the Tour, they became best of friends.

The friendship extended to the point that Rafa played at the 2022 Laver Cup only because Federer had decided to hang up his racket. The duo played their only match as doubles partner before crying their hearts out in one of the sport’s most emotional farewell ceremonies. A year on, at the 2023 Laver Cup, the Swiss maestro was asked a tricky question by Jim Courier where he had to pick his best doubles partner.

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A video clip of Nadal was displayed where the Spaniard asked, “Who’s been your favorite doubles partner?” before giving a cheeky wink leaving everyone laughing. Usually a man of words, Federer found himself speechless before saying, “I mean, I thought it was my wife until this guy showed up. So yeah, Rafa can have it.” Federer then went on to send a wink back on the suggestion of Courier as he ditched his wife Mirka.

Nadal and Federer played doubles twice at the Laver Cup. The first time was during the inaugural edition in 2017 against the pair of Sam Querrey and Jack Sock defeating the all-American pair. The second and last time was against another American pair of Frances Tiafoe and Jack Sock but lost the match this time around in what was Federer’s farewell match.

Related: WATCH: Andrey Rublev mistakenly walks to the Team World bench during the introduction for the Laver Cup 2023

Roger Federer met his wife Mirka during national duty

Miroslava Vavrinec better known as Mirka Federer was Roger Federer’s senior at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. The duo was selected to represent Switzerland at the Olympics where they first met. The two struck up soon after and began dating. They also represented Switzerland at the 2002 Hopman Cup.

Roger Federer and wife Mirka
Roger Federer and wife Mirka (Credits: WivoRN Productions/Youtube)

But unlike her husband, Mirka could not continue much. Having turned Pro in 1998, she had to retire in 2002 due to a persistent injury in her foot. She however became a constant source of support to Roger who went on to have a glorious career from 1998 to 2022 winning 20 Grand Slam singles titles.

Mirka was present at the farewell ceremony at the Laver Cup last year where Federer paid her an emotional tribute. He thanked her for not asking him to retire when she could have done so easily. He credited her for putting up with all his tantrums while playing on the Tour and supporting him in all his ups and downs as he toured the entire world during the season often leaving her alone with their four kids.

While Federer might have made a joking choice of picking Nadal over his wife, it would be interesting to see if Mirka actually replies to this answer by Roger.

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