‘This love is like fire and ice, this love is like rain and blue skies…Your heart got a story with mine, your heart got me hurting at times.‘ These lines from Ellie Goulding truly describe the friendship of two tennis greats – Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. Both the GOATs were spotted crying inconsolably during her performance at Federer’s farewell match at the 2022 Laver Cup. The moment is etched into the hearts of millions of tennis fans and Federer.  The Swiss Maestro has the perfect memorabilia of the moment at his $7 million dream house.

Federer’s home in Wollerau is closely situated near Lake Zurich. He paid a whopping $7.3 million for its acquisition and moved in with his family in 2014. The luxurious 1.5-acre property has the amenities and embellishments that make it the talk of the town. The Swiss Maestro also decorated the walls of his house with achievements and priceless moments from his illustrious career. One among them is his picture with Nadal.

Reflecting on his bonding with the Spaniard and the memories he had with him, Federer revealed, “I have the picture at home, framed, in a space where I have some other images of my career.” He added, “I don’t want photos everywhere, so I have them in a specific area. And when I pass in front of this one, it always catches my attention. Because it reflects our camaraderie, our friendship, and also the rivalry. All in a single image.” The duo have countless memories of sharing the biggest stages of the game throughout their careers.

Speaking more of the picture hung on the walls of his dream house, Federer said, “It is a moment in which we are both able to reflect on everything we had just experienced, remembering our career and how lucky we have been to be tennis players, to have been able to turn our hobby into a dream profession. That’s what that photo means to me.”

Roger Federer felt holding the hands of his long-time rival for a second was a way of showing gratitude for helping him become who he is today. Both players exhibit mutual respect towards each other and have made enormous contributions in pushing each other to become the best.

Fedal have climbed several mountains during their careers. Nadal believes their rivalry has definitely “raised the bar in sports in terms of healthy rivalry”. For Federer, it’s soothing to watch the transition from “fierce competitors to a lifelong friendship” driven by their genuine personalities and shared values. But what made Rafa so much emotional during Federer’s farewell match?

“It got a little out of hand” – Rafael Nadal on getting emotional during Roger Federer’s farewell match at the 2022 Laver Cup

Roger Federer had called Rafael Nadal ten days prior to let him know about his final decision to retire. He shared his wish to play doubles with the Spaniard in his final match. For Rafa, it was a “great honor,” but at the same time, it was very emotional due to their special bond. Reflecting more on those moments, the Spaniard said, “I’m a sensitive person. When you see someone you appreciate saying goodbye it’s hard not to get emotional.”

LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 23: Roger Federer of Team Europe shows emotion alongside Rafael Nadal following his final match during Day One of the Laver Cup at The O2 Arena on September 23, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images for Laver Cup)He further added, “It got a little out of hand, and the worst thing is that when I went to the dressing room it happened again. It was difficult for it not to happen because of everything that was experienced that night.” Even after spending so many years sharing the top two spots in men’s tennis, winning a staggering 42 grand slams, Nadal was truly like, ‘Don’t let me lose you…Still falling for you,‘ for his long-time rival. Share your thoughts on this ‘special friendship‘ in the comment box.