Roger Federer recently revealed he would wholeheartedly accept Rafael Nadal‘s request to play one more match in doubles at the Laver Cup.
Federer and Nadal have enjoyed a storied rivalry lasting almost two decades. They met for the first time at the 2004 Miami Open, where a 17-year-old Nadal, ranked World No. 34, upset the Swiss, who was World No. 1 at the time, in straight sets.
Since then, they have shared the stage 39 more times on the ATP Tour, and the Spaniard held the upper hand at the end with a 24-16 record. The start of their rivalry was intense and intriguing because they fought for the same prize almost every week of the year they were in tournaments.
But off the court, their relationship blossomed, and towards the end of Federer’s career, they became closer than ever. Not long ago, the pair were featured in a Louis Vuitton campaign and delved into an interesting dialogue about their careers in The Dolomites.
Federer speaks fondly of the Spaniard and the impact he’s had in his career, both professionally and privately. This explains why the 42-year-old personally called Nadal to inform him of his decision to retire two years ago at least ten days before he announced it publicly.
The 20-time Grand Slam champion played his final match at the 2022 Laver Cup, fittingly side by side with Nadal in doubles. In an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, Federer was asked about the prospect of reuniting with his longtime rival in the event he co-founded.
“I don’t think we’ll play doubles together at Laver. But if he asks me, I’ll be there.”
The Laver Cup is set for its annual return in September. Team Europe will look to reclaim the title they won on four occasions before their streak was snapped in the last two years. The three-day event will take place in Berlin, Germany, and Nadal will be among those competing.
