Rafael Nadal has opened up on old rival Roger Federer and his expected comeback from injury. Speaking in an interview for the clients of Santander Private Banking, Nadal said if Federer’s recovery goes well and he regains full fitness, he will return better and stronger than ever.

“I think that if he recovers properly and feels ready to prepare himself, I think he is going to come back in full force,” Nadal said.

The Spaniard said Federer, with all his accomplishments in tennis, doesn’t have anything left to prove to anyone. “He doesn’t have anything left to prove, he has proven that whenever he is doing fine, he can play at the highest of levels,” Nadal said.

Read More: Roger Federer Reveals How He Kept the ‘Fire Burning’ for 20 Years

Roger Federer has kept his shape, says Nadal

The Spanish tennis champion, who is currently level with Federer at twenty Grand Slam apiece, said the Swiss player has kept his fitness levels up despite reaching the twilight of his career.

“And I think, physically, he has kept (himself) in shape and if he is able to play in a painless way, I think he is going to come back to compete,” the Spaniard said.

Nadal refuses to be drawn into a debate on Federer’s future

Federer’s growing tryst with his injuries has led many to speculate on his future. Surgery on a troublesome knee kept him away from a bulk of tennis events this calendar year. He did play the Australian Open but missed all the events thereafter.

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However, the Swiss Master has dismissed all talk around his retirement and has reaffirmed his pledge to return to action.

Nadal refused to get drawn into a debate on Federer’s future in tennis. “I don’t know how long he is going to keep on going,” he said. “I think it’s great if you ask me if I’d rather be the one to win the Grand Slam, yeah I would.”

“I think it’s also good for tennis that Federer comes back with a fighting spirit, and we have this rivalry. I think that this makes this sport much larger, looking at it from a global point of view, not from my personal point of view. I think it’s entertaining and good for our sport,” Nadal said.

The tennis world will sure hope for these two giants of the game to rekindle their rivalry before long.