Roger Federer sends out a retirement message to Rafael Nadal days after admitting of growing distant with the Spaniard

Roger Federer has expressed his heartfelt desire for Rafael Nadal to conclude his career on "his own terms."

Roger Federer sends out a retirement message to Rafael Nadal days after admitting of growing distant with the Spaniard

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal (Credits: CNN and CBS sports)

In a recent interview with CNN, Swiss tennis legend Roger Federer expressed his support for his long-time rival and close friend Rafael Nadal, wishing him a swift recovery from his ongoing hip injury. Federer further expressed his hopes for Nadal to make a strong comeback next year, as it is widely speculated to be Rafa’s final season on the tour.

Rafael Nadal suffered a hip muscle tear during his second-round match at the Australian Open, where he was defeated by Mackenzie McDonald. As a result, Nadal has taken a break from competitive tennis to recover and rehabilitate. Surprisingly, in May, he announced that 2024 is likely to be his final year on the tour, shocking fans and fellow players alike.

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Drawing from his personal experiences with knee injuries that have troubled him since 2016, Roger Federer expressed empathy towards Rafael Nadal’s current injury struggles. Despite his challenges, Federer managed to overcome his injuries and secure three major titles before ultimately retiring in 2022. Federer sincerely hopes for Nadal to make a similar triumphant comeback on tour and eventually retire on his own terms.

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Roger Federer recalls his retirement

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Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal (AP Photo)

Reflecting on his retirement, Roger Federer humorously remarked, “I mean, all of us, Murray, Djokovic, Nadal and me, I think the four of us, I think when I retired, we were all sitting there crying about me retiring or because of the music, who knows. Everybody had their own reasons why they were crying.”

Federer playfully alluded to the emotional connections shared among the Big Four, suggesting that their camaraderie and the significant impact each player had on the sport led to heartfelt moments during his retirement.

Roger Federer expressed his belief that a similar emotional response would occur when Rafael Nadal ultimately decides to conclude his remarkable tennis career. Federer shared his desire for Nadal to have the opportunity to retire on his own terms, contrasting his own situation where he wasn’t physically fit enough to conclude his career with a singles match at the Laver Cup.

“Seeing him go through this more difficult period, obviously I know, I’ve been there. I just hope he can go out on his terms; he can still play a little bit. Still hope we’ll see not just a doubles like I did but more than that. I still believe that’s going to happen,” he said.

While Roger Federer has maintained a busy schedule post-retirement, he revealed that his friendship with Rafael Nadal has grown distant as their paths have taken separate directions. However, there is a strong possibility of collaboration between the two tennis legends in the future, particularly once Nadal has retired from professional tennis.

It remains to be seen when the Spaniard will finally call it a day on what has been a wonderful career.

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