The current generation of tennis fans had the privilege of watching three of the all-time great tennis players at the same time. Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic are the names we can argue for the title of GOAT. While we might notice their fans clashing among themselves regarding their greatness, they are great friends. Especially, the camaraderie between Nadal and Federer is much like a bromance.

Recently, when Federer retired, Nadal stood by his side. The legends cried their hearts out, and so did the fans. Later in an interview, Nadal said something which made fans even more emotional.

The emotional statement of Rafael Nadal about Roger Federer has fans in tears

The Swiss Maestro Roger Federer was out of action for a long time. The 41-year-old went through multiple knee surgeries and took a long time to return to court. When he finally made his comeback, it was his last tournament. The 20-time Grand Slam champion played doubles alongside Nadal in the Laver Cup for the last time as a professional player.

Unfortunately, the duo lost their match. A farewell followed, and we saw two of the greatest tennis players crying their eyes out. Both Nadal and Federer were in tears. Later, in an interview, Nadal made a big statement regarding the retirement of his arch-rival and great friend. Here’s what he said:

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“A part of my life left with him (when he retired). It was also the emotion of saying goodbye to someone who has been so important to our sport.”

Here’s how the fans reacted to the statement.

With emotional emoticons, a fan tweeted, and others reacted in a similarly emotional manner.

With a sarcastic take on Federer and Nadal’s relationship, another fan wrote,

Former tennis star Martina Navratilova understands what it means to lose an arch-rival, as she also dealt with the retirement of Chris Evert. The Navratilova-Evert rivalry is something people cherish to date. Here’s what Navratilova said about Nadal’s statement.

Read more: Video: Brutal Scenes as a Fan Gets Tackled by Security Guard While Attempting to Grab a Photo With Rafael Nadal

Popular American lawyer Sherrilyn Ifill also echoed similar feelings.

While a good few months have passed since Federer’s retirement, we aren’t ready for a world where Federer doesn’t play tennis anymore. It certainly was the end of an era and will take a little more time to sink in for fans.

How did you react when Federer retired? Let us know in the comments.

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