"I never heard Rafael Nadal speak about it" - Roger Federer on Spaniard shedding tears for him during Laver Cup 2022 retirement ceremony
Roger Federer recently recalled his farewell, discussing Rafael Nadal's tears from the occasion, before the release of his documentary, "Federer: Twelve Final Days". This Asif Kapadia and Joe Sabia directorial is based on the period between Federer's retirement announcement and his last match at the 2022 Laver Cup.
Federer teamed up with Rafael Nadal but lost to Jack Sock and Frances Tiafoe in a doubles encounter. However, their defeat was secondary to the significance of the emotional moment at the O2 arena in London.
Federer's farewell is remembered for the poignant moment he shared with Nadal following the defeat, where both were spotted shedding tears. Reflecting on the incident, the Swiss revealed that he never discussed it with Nadal after that.
In an interview on the 'Today' show, Federer was asked to speak about Rafael Nadal's emotional reaction after the match. The 42-year-old disclosed that he was surprised to see him cry and speculated that for many including Nadal, their careers flashed before their eyes at that moment.
"That surprised me a lot. I think when the moment it was all set and done, this is then I think everybody started to realise actually how fortunate we still are to actually be playing and competing. And I think this is maybe what Rafa felt," Roger Federer said.
Federer revealed that he hadn't discussed the incident with Nadal who did not speak about it at length.
"I am not sure, I actually never talked to him about it. I never heard him speak about it other than just saying like, I don't know, it was just a hard moment," he added.
Roger Federer bid farewell to professional tennis after an illustrious career that spanned nearly 25 years. He won 20 Grand Slams and 103 ATP titles during his tenure on the court.
Roger Federer has framed the poignant moment with Rafael Nadal from his farewell
Roger Federer recently disclosed that he has framed the emotional moment where he cried with Rafael Nadal.
The Swiss said that the picture reminds him of their friendship as well as their rivalry (via El Pais):
"I don't know, maybe I should ask Rafa, but it's probably more important for me than for him. I have it at home, framed, in a space where I have some images of my career; I don't want photos everywhere, so I have them in a specific area. And when I walk past it, it always catches my attention because it reflects our camaraderie, our friendship and also our rivalry, all in one image." [Translated from Spanish]
Federer, who had three knee operations between 2020 and 2022, was forced to wrap up his career at the Laver Cup. Players including Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Billie Jean King and Martina Navratilova sent their best wishes to the Swiss Maestro after his retirement.