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Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer have maintained a healthy relationship over the years. Although fierce rivals on the court, they have been good friends off the court. The matches between them are what every tennis fan in the world looks up to. Further, in the 40 matches played between them, Nadal has triumphed on 24 occasions.

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This year, Nadal raced ahead of Federer in the list of players with most Grand Slam men’s singles titles. With his French Open 2022 victory, the Spaniard took his tally to 22 major titles, two more than Federer. Recently, he talked about his relationship with the Swiss maestro.

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Rafael Nadal on receiving a special message from Roger Federer

During an interview after his victory over Casper Ruud in the Roland Garros final, the 36-year-old opened up about his relationship with Federer. He said, “With Roger we have a good relationship and a special feeling. After the victory he wrote me a message to compliment.” (Translated using Google Translate)

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Earlier this year too, Federer had congratulated Nadal on becoming the first man to lift 21 Grand Slam singles titles after his victory at the Australian Open. Federer said, “To my friend and great rival Rafael Nadal, heartfelt congratulations on becoming the first man to win 21 Grand Slam singles titles. A few months ago we were joking about both being on crutches. Amazing. Never underestimate a great champion.”

Federer and Nadal to team up at the Laver Cup

Later this year, the two tennis greats will team up to represent Team Europe at the Laver Cup. Both of them have confirmed their participation in the tournament that is scheduled to take place from September 23-25.

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It will be interesting to see Federer back in action after his lengthy injury layoff. Additionally, there is a possibility that the two might pair up to play doubles together at the tournament.

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Vatsal Shah

3,705 Articles

Vatsal Shah is a tennis journalist at EssentiallySports, covering ATP and WTA storylines from the ES Trends Desk since 2023. He delivers breaking insights on major tournaments and player arcs, decoding tactical shifts and viral moments into accessible takeaways for fans worldwide. His coverage of Taylor Townsend’s Dubai title win stood out for capturing both the emotional significance of her victory and the context of her comeback. Drawing on his background as a recreational player, Vatsal adds a courtside perspective to his reporting, bringing depth and authenticity to Grand Slam coverage for the ES News Center. By combining sharp observation with a clear, engaging writing style, he ensures that key tennis moments are not only reported but truly understood. Fluent in English, French, and German, as well as three Indian languages, Gujarati, Hindi, and Marathi, Vatsal connects with a diverse global readership. With his mix of linguistic reach, analytical insight, and passion for the sport, he is carving a niche as a fresh, incisive voice in tennis journalism.

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Tony Thomas

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