Roger Federer said that Rafael Nadal was the toughest opponent of his career, because the Spaniard plays with his left hand and uses a lot of topspin balls.
“I had the hardest time playing against Nadal,” Federer said on August 4, during a visit to a tennis club in New York to film a series for sponsor Uniqlo. “Because he’s left-handed and he hits a high-spin ball. Nobody wants to play against a left-handed player.”
Federer (right) beat Nadal in their last meeting at the 2019 Wimbledon semi-finals. Photo: Reuters
Federer had a flashy one-handed backhand in his playing days, but it was ineffective against Nadal's topspin forehand. Federer played the King of Clay 40 times in his career, winning only 16 of them. The German won only two matches against Nadal on clay, in Hamburg in 2007 and Madrid in 2009. Federer's final match of his career was in September 2022 at the Laver Cup, when he played doubles with Nadal himself.
"We are quite close now," Federer added of his relationship with Nadal. "I have seen him grow up. Our families and teams are also in harmony. We now talk about many things in life, not just tennis. I hope he can come back strong again."
Nadal has been dealing with a hip injury since the start of the year and will miss the rest of the season. He previously announced his plans to retire in 2024, after a series of persistent injuries.
Ivan Ljubicic, Federer's coach towards the end of his career, confirmed the Swiss player's friendship with his Spanish rival. "Initially, Federer and Nadal had a lot of respect for each other," the Croatian strategist said. "Over time, they shared special moments together and felt on the same wavelength. They would call each other to ask about something when they needed it. It's great that they have such a good relationship."
Vy Anh
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