Nadal, known for his dominance on the clay courts of Roland Garros, is set to retire after the Davis Cup drawing curtains to his remarkable career, which saw him win 22 Grand Slam titles.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The Spaniard will be the second of the 'Big three' of tennis to hang up his racket next to fellow legend Federer, who retired in 2022.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Federer and Nadal forged the most celebrated rivalry in sports history, amassing a staggering 42 Grand Slam titles between them. While Federer has a record eight Wimbledon titles on grass, Nadal has an incredible 14 French Open titles on clay, which has also earned him the nickname \u2018King of Clay\u2019, a record that may never be broken.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"As you get ready to graduate from tennis, I\u2019ve got a few things to share before I maybe get emotional. Let\u2019s start with the obvious: you beat me\u2014a lot. More than I managed to beat you. You challenged me in ways no one else could. On clay, it felt like I was stepping into your backyard, and you made me work harder than I ever thought I could just to hold my ground. You made me reimagine my game\u2014even going so far as to change the size of my racquet head, hoping for any edge,\" Federer wrote in a letter, he shared on social media.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"I\u2019m not a very superstitious person, but you took it to the next level. Your whole process. All those rituals. Assembling your water bottles like toy soldiers in formation, fixing your hair, adjusting your underwear\u2026 All of it with the highest intensity. Secretly, I kind of loved the whole thing. Because it was so unique\u2014it was so you.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"And you know what, Rafa, you made me enjoy the game even more.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"OK, maybe not at first. After the 2004 Australian Open, I achieved the #1 ranking for the first time. I thought I was on top of the world. And I was\u2014until two months later, when you walked on the court in Miami in your red sleeveless shirt, showing off those biceps, and you beat me convincingly. All that buzz I\u2019d been hearing about you\u2014about this amazing young player from Mallorca, a generational talent, probably going to win a major someday\u2014it wasn\u2019t just hype.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"We were both at the start of our journey and it\u2019s one we ended up taking together. Twenty years later, Rafa, I have to say: What an incredible run you\u2019ve had. Including 14 French Opens\u2014historic! You made Spain proud\u2026 you made the whole tennis world proud.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"I keep thinking about the memories we\u2019ve shared. Promoting the sport together. Playing that match on half-grass, half-clay. Breaking the all-time attendance record by playing in front of more than 50,000 fans in Cape Town, South Africa. Always cracking each other up. Wearing each other out on the court and then, sometimes, almost literally having to hold each other up during trophy ceremonies.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"I\u2019m still grateful you invited me to Mallorca to help launch the Rafa Nadal Academy in 2016. Actually, I kind of invited myself. I knew you were too polite to insist on me being there, but I didn\u2019t want to miss it. You have always been a role model for kids around the world, and Mirka and I are so glad that our children have all trained at your academies. They had a blast and learned so much\u2014like thousands of other young players. Although I always worried my kids would come home playing tennis as lefties,\" the letter read.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Despite their rivalry on court, the duo are close friends off it. Nadal sat right beside Federer, both in tears, holding each other's hand as the latter bid farewell to professional tennis two years back at the Laver Cup in London.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"I\u2019m still grateful you invited me to Mallorca to help launch the Rafa Nadal Academy in 2016. Actually, I kind of invited myself. I knew you were too polite to insist on me being there, but I didn\u2019t want to miss it. You have always been a role model for kids around the world, and Mirka and I are so glad that our children have all trained at your academies. They had a blast and learned so much\u2014like thousands of other young players. Although I always worried my kids would come home playing tennis as lefties,\" the letter read.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
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