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GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – SEPTEMBER 18: Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal of Team Europe react as they are presented to the crowd at Palais Eynard during the official welcome ceremony prior to the Laver Cup 2019 at Palexpo, on September 18, 2019 in Geneva, Switzerland. The Laver Cup will see six players from the rest of the World competing against their counterparts from Europe. Team World is captained by John McEnroe and Team Europe is captained by Bjorn Borg. The tournament runs from September 20-22. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images for Laver Cup)
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GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – SEPTEMBER 18: Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal of Team Europe react as they are presented to the crowd at Palais Eynard during the official welcome ceremony prior to the Laver Cup 2019 at Palexpo, on September 18, 2019 in Geneva, Switzerland. The Laver Cup will see six players from the rest of the World competing against their counterparts from Europe. Team World is captained by John McEnroe and Team Europe is captained by Bjorn Borg. The tournament runs from September 20-22. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images for Laver Cup)
Both Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer didn’t take part in the ATP Rotterdam Open this year. Andrey Rublev emerged as the winner of the tournament, but fans must have missed both the 20-time Grand Slam winners this year at the tournament.
However, they will still remember Federer’s famous press conference in which he admitted that he was missing Rafa during the Rotterdam Open 2018 and was feeling lonely without him and his family.
Even though they are fierce rivals, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are really close to one another. Both the legends respect each other on and off the court and are great friends. It was because of this that Federer accepted that he had been missing playing against Rafa at the Rotterdam Open 2018.
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In the press conference before the finals, the Swiss maestro himself asked a journalist about Rafa’s whereabouts. When he got to know that the Spaniard was not in the Netherlands only but was busy with his Foundation’s work, he said that Nadal should come around.
“He should come around,” began Federer with a laugh. “To hang out maybe you know. I’m lonely here. My family’s not here.”
Federer ultimately emerged as the winner of that tournament. However, it was this heartwarming gesture that surely won the hearts of tennis fans.
Roger Federer was ready to go and meet Rafael Nadal himself
Interestingly, Federer was even ready to go to Rafa’s place himself to hang out with him. Since Rafa was the World No. 1 player at that time, Federer sarcastically said that he would have to approach him. “Or I have to go you know. He is world number one. That is how it goes you know,” added Federer.
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CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA – FEBRUARY 8: Roger Federer (R) of Switzerland and Rafael Nadal (L) of Spain play a tennis match at Cape Town Stadium as part of an exhibition game held to support the education of African children, on February 8, 2020, in Cape Town, South Africa. (Photo by Stringer/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Fans love watching the superstar duo competing against each other on the court. As of now, both Nadal and Federer aren’t playing at the Miami Open 2021 but fans will hope that they will soon get to see them play against each other in a Grand Slam final. Who will reach the 21st Grand Slam title sooner- Federer or Nadal?
Also Read: Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Dominic Thiem Headline the List of Absentees at Miami Open 2021
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