Rafael Nadal was right beside Roger Federer when he retired from professional tennis two years ago. But the Spaniard has conceded that his former rival may not be there for his own farewell at the Davis Cup this week.
Federer and Nadal enjoyed a long and gripping rivalry both as the two dominant forces in men’s tennis, and after Novak Djokovic arrived on the scene to make it the ‘Big Three’. Despite the tense battles on court, the pair have a huge mutual respect, and they sobbed alongside each other after Federer’s final match at the 2022 Laver Cup.
The tennis world was touched by the sight of Federer bowing out while sitting beside his greatest rival. Nadal will follow the Swiss into retirement after this week’s Davis Cup, but Federer may not be in Malaga to pay tribute.
“It’s a different situation,” said Nadal in his pre-tournament press conference. “I was there to play. There, we were team-mates. Here, we are a Spanish team.
“I didn’t talk to Roger. I think Roger has a busy schedule. By the way, of course it’s going to be my last week on the professional tour, but I don’t think it’s going to be my last goodbye. So there is going to be other chances to do something.”
Federer was given a tearful send-off at the Laver Cup – the tournament he co-created – while surrounded by the world’s top stars. After a long period of injury-induced inactivity, Nadal has chosen the team environment of the Davis Cup as the perfect stage to hang up his racket in front of adoring home fans.
But it is still uncertain whether the 38-year-old will even hit a ball in anger at the tournament due to his physical condition. And he is under no illusion that not every player gets to say goodbye in ideal circumstances.
“There are no ideal endings,” he said. “Ideal endings usually happen in American movies. It’s not something that worries me in that sense. My farewell is going to be what it’s going to be. What I want is for the team to be competitive and to be able to win the Davis Cup.
“I am not worried about the next chapter in my life. I have had lots of time in my life not playing tennis because of injuries. I accept the challenge of an important change in my life.”
