Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal engaged in several thrilling matches, but one stood out above the rest.
Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal‘s playing styles strengthen their long-standing rivalry, resulting in some of the most thrilling and unforgettable moments in sports history.
However, in 2007, the pair competed in one of the sport’s most unusual matches, a half-grass, half-clay exhibition match.
Palma de Mallorca, the capital of Nadal’s native island, hosted the Battle of Surfaces competitive rivalry.
The construction of the court cost $1.63 million (£1.4 million) and took 19 days to finish.
Federer had gone undefeated on grass for five years, while Nadal had gone undefeated on clay for three years.
While Nadal had won 72 successive games on clay, Federer had won 48 consecutive matches on grass courts.
Roger Federer on Nadal
Federer stated before the game:
“We are both looking forward to this new event. The idea appeals to me as we both dominate one of the surfaces. Rafa holds the record of 72 victories in series on clay and I have not been defeated on grass since 48 matches.”
“It’ll be fun to find out what it’s like to play on a court with mixed surfaces! And it ought to be interesting to see who chooses the better tactic”.
“People have been talking about this event for quite a while. Now it’s coming up pretty soon already and I like the fact that the stadium – which is very nice, by the way – is located in Majorca, Rafa’s home. He has been to Basel, after all, and now I’ve got the opportunity to play at his place for once.”
The Spaniard defeated 7-5, 4-6, 7-6(10) in a thrilling contest between the top two players in the world at the moment.
Golden Words By Nadal Post-Match
After the game, Nadal said: “It has been a nice experience, although before the match I thought it would be a disaster because I felt it would be very difficult for me to adapt to the court.”
After announcing his retirement from the sport, the 36-year-old gave his longtime teammate some sentiments of support.
“Dear Roger, my friend, and rival,”
He shared his thoughts on social media.
“I wish this day would have never come. It’s a sad day for me personally and for sports around the world. It’s been a pleasure but also an honor and privilege to share all these years with you, living so many amazing moments on and off the court.”
True Friendship Speaks- Don’t Miss
The Spaniard also indicated that their relationship would extend far beyond their on-court careers.
“We will have many more moments to share in the future,”
he continued.
“There are still lots of things to do together, we know that. For now, I truly wish you all the happiness with your wife, Mirka, your kids, and your family, and enjoy what’s ahead of you. I’ll see you in London at the Laver Cup.”
The two players will clash at this coming weekend’s Laver Cup, which will be Federer’s final match of his legendary career.
Nevertheless, the Swiss Maestro may retire from the game without a last on-court swan song because of a lingering knee injury.
As he continues to rehab his knee, Federer’s trainer Pierre Paganini speculated that the legendary Swiss athlete would sadly miss the competition.
“He will decide at the last moment,”
Paganini told Switzerland’s Blick.
“He’s trained to have as much information as possible about whether it is a good idea or not.”
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