Federer-‘I had no rival for a long time,then Nadal came’

Published 09/20/2018, 11:53 AM EDT

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Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have a rivalry that dates back to the Miami Open in 2004, when Nadal was just 17 years of age and had stunned the entire world by beating Roger, who was world number one back then, in straight sets. And since then, the both have been on each other’s heels, challenging each other, pushing each other, and improving each other. However, the fans all around the world were treated to a real surprise when the two of them put their rivalry aside, and decided to play doubles together at the Laver Cup.

 

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Federer revealed that around ten years ago Nadal had proposed a doubles match together, which Federer turned down. ‘Rafa asked me to play doubles in I think it was Madrid indoors or so, but then I think our rivalry was so intense, I just felt like it was the wrong thing to do,‘ said Federer. ‘As you say, could be like a conflict and not something we should be doing. It would have been great for the game, but I think it would have been a bit of a curveball for everybody. It was a fierce rivalry, now all a sudden they’re being friendly.’

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However, the Swiss maestro did take their rivalry lightly when they teamed together at the Laver cup, to beat Nick Kyrgios and Jack Sock.  ‘Today I think we’re much more laid back, me especially, too, because I didn’t have a rival for a long period of time, and then Rafa came up and there was – it was great, but I just didn’t feel like we needed to play doubles together’, said Roger.

Federer and Nadal have faced off against each other too many times with the Spaniard having an advantage over Federer, with a head to head record of 23-15.  ‘I would see myself playing with Rafa. It’s just if I do play, I want to play with my friends from Switzerland, help those guys out, and I don’t know, play with other top guys. I could imagine myself doing that’, added the Swiss maestro.

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Federer also revealed how he turned around his backhand to make it into a weapon. Read it here : Roger Federer- ‘Backhand Was My Weakness’

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