Roger Federer – “When I Will Look Back at My Career, I Will Think a Lot About Rafa”

The 20-time Grand Slam champion, Roger Federer gave a deep insight about the friendship with his rival, Rafael Nadal. “I think, yes, Rafa and I really show that the biggest rivals can be also friends. I think it’s going to lead to something also down the road. I think I would like to add, that the matches are always not going to be too friendly,” Federer said.

The Swiss elaborated about their state of mind during their battles and how both of them manage their friendship while playing against each other. “I think, it’s important to forget the friendship for a second, play hard but always fair. But, I think it is important to forget that friendship for a little bit,” he added.

“When the match is over the handshake is warm, you are friends again. But, during the match itself, you have to forget that a little bit. Rafa and I, do it very well. When the match is over, we are casual we relax, we spend a lot of time in restaurants, player lounges, locker rooms.”

Besides, their professional tennis, they are also engaged in other activities on the tour. “We do a lot of promotions for tournaments around the world. And Rafa is a great guy. Honestly, when I will look back at my career, I will think a lot about Rafa, that I had a lot of moments with him. Maybe we can do some great things in the future, we can play exhibition matches when we are older or create something fun in the business,” said Federer.

World Number three, Roger Federer spoke about the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca, Spain.  “I think this great for both of us to be good friends and has a big venture now, the Rafa Nadal Academy. He told me all about it at IPTL, we played each other there in India. I was on the plane with him and I asked him, tell me something about the academy that you are building in Mallorca. He told me all about it,” he continued.

The Swiss maestro was present during the inauguration of Rafa’s academy back in the year 2016 and Rafael Nadal was delighted to have Federer for the launch of his academy.

“If it was me building an academy I would wish Rafa to call me and say ‘do you need any help?’ And as I don’t have an academy, I said, I will call him up and tell me, Rafa, if you need my help, any exhibition match, if you want me to promote your academy, if you want me to come and open it with you, let me know and he invited me over. We had it, big celebrations for his academy and he was very happy and I think, it made our friendship even deeper and which is great,” Roger Federer concluded.