Federer on Nadal: ‘He is so incredible’

One of the most special parts of the memorable ceremony honouring Rafael Nadal Sunday at Roland Garros was that Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray was their to celebrate their rival and friend.

The Lexus ATP Head2Head rivalry between Federer and Nadal became not just iconic in tennis, but throughout the sports world. The Swiss superstar had nothing but the most positive things to say about the Spaniard’s legacy at the clay-court major.

“It’s amazing how dominant he has been here,” Federer told Mary-Joe Fernandez on TNT. “He is so incredible, and I am so happy that he got the plaque forever, not just for a year or something like that. And I think it meant a lot to Rafa. So, I am very honoured that I had the chance to play against Rafa on this court.”

Federer was referencing the final surprise for Nadal during the ceremony. Gilles Moretton, the president of the French Tennis Federation, revealed a plaque next to the net with Nadal’s footprint on it. It was an emotional moment to close the show.

“I think farewells are important when you have his level. And he is a giant of the game and if we can add a little something by being here with Novak and Andy and we tied a knot all together, I think it’s a nice thing,” Federer said. “I know it meant the world to me that I had all my guys, my players around me when I retired, and I think it’s also good for closure.

“[It is] respect as well from me personally towards Rafa and his family and his team. We played so long and so good and hard against each other that I was not going to miss it when they asked me to be here today.”

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Read Nadal retirement longform: The warrior next door

The 103-time tour-level titlist Federer explained that the dynamics of rivalries in professional tennis have changed over time, but that it was nice how well he got along with Nadal, Djokovic and Murray.

“That’s nice to see that me, Novak, Andy and Rafa, we all get along really well. You can put us into a room together, and we are going to have a good time,” Federer said. “I think it also sends a nice message out to the world. But then when it is go time, it is strictly rivalry. We want to win. Sure, we’re going to do it fair and how it is supposed to be done. But it is important to also keep that element of big-time rivalry, ‘I want to really beat you’. But then I think after the match we can be very friendly again.”

The first year Nadal lost on the Parisian clay, in 2009, Federer was able to complete his career Grand Slam and lift the Coupe des Mousquetaires.

“It meant a lot to me, because it was the last Grand Slam that I was still missing. For me, I had won all the others by 2004, so I had to wait a good five, six years maybe to win the French Open,” Federer said. “So of course, when I won it finally, on a rainy day here in Paris and I came through in the final, it was a beautiful moment.”

But it was Nadal who almost always reigned supreme on the terre battue. The 14-time Roland Garros champion defeated Federer in all six of their showdowns at Roland Garros, including in four finals and two semi-finals.

“The pressure was immense [the year I won] because I knew, ‘Okay, maybe I don’t have to go through Rafa’,” Federer recalled. “That’s how tennis works sometimes. But the relief was incredible and I never got the chance again. Rafa was there at the door and said, ‘Sorry pal, it is my turn again’.”