Has Rafael Nadal‘s friendship with Roger Federer taken a toll? Well, the Spaniard’s recent remarks over the nature of his relationship with the Swiss Maestro during an interview with ‘laSexta’ have created dark clouds in the skies of ‘Fedal’ fans. A few weeks back, they were on cloud nine, seeing Federer and Nadal posing together with bright smiles at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca. What happened suddenly?

Rafael Nadal said that although he still maintains a good relationship with Roger Federer, they aren’t friends. Moreover, when asked to pick the best player in tennis, he named the current World Number One in men’s tennis.

Has the Serbian magic forced a change in preference for Rafael Nadal, or is there something else?

Well, numbers don’t lie. Rafael Nadal recently ended the most debatable topic in the tennis world by calling Novak Djokovic the best player in the history of racket sport. During the interview with ‘El Objectivo de laSexta’, the 37YO Spaniard said, “I think he (Djokovic) is a good person. When I see someone else so successful, I don’t like getting angry. I would say he is the best in history. He has had a better body than mine and that also counts for something.”

Nadal also spoke a little bit about the public perception of Novak Djokovic. Nadal admitted that it is true that the Serb projected an image that made him look worse than who he really is. Taking about perceptions, well is there something cooking between Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer?

Speaking on his long-time rival, Nadal said, “We have helped each other. We have also taken away a lot from each other. We have achieved a level of self-demand that is difficult to repeat because we knew that we could not afford to fail. That competition pushed us to the limit. I wouldn’t consider him a friend. But someone familiar, with whom I have a great relationship.”

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These words from the whole interview have taken away all the limelight and sparked a flurry of reactions on social media. But do you recall that moment from last year when Rafael Nadal said he speaks with Federer regularly?

Nadal spoke about Federer after the latter’s retirement

Roger Federer took his retirement from tennis in September 2022 after teaming up with Rafael Nadal at the Laver Cup. And, last year while giving an interview with the Spanish newspaper ‘Diario AS’, Rafael Nadal spoke about Federer. Nadal said, “He is happy, enjoying life, delighted. We talk regularly. We have a very good relationship and he is doing things. He was in Tokyo and other places. I have spoken with him regularly and well, the truth is, he only has to fix the knee.”

Both of them cried together sitting beside each other after the match. That moment marked the end of an era of complete dominance in the tennis world. That picture is still deeply engraved in the hearts of every Fedal fan. They now hope Nadal didn’t mean what he said yesterday.

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