Laver Cup 2022 LIVE: Despite having been great rivals on the court for over the last two decades, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal share a very special bond with each other. Both the legends of the sport enjoy a great friendship and that was there to see on Friday night during Federer’s emotional farewell match at the Laver Cup. Rafael Nadal was reduced to tears at the O2 Arena in London during Federer’s farewell speech and the 36-year old Spaniard spoke more about their special bond during the press conference later. Watch Laver Cup 2022 LIVE updates on InsideSport.IN
Laver Cup 2022 LIVE: Rafael Nadal talks about his special bond with Roger Federer, says ‘We approach the life in a similar way” – Watch Video
Rafael Nadal partnered Roger Federer in the doubles contest for Team Europe in what was the 41-year old’s final appearance on the Tennis court in his illustrious career. It was however not a fairytale end as the pair lost to Team World’s Frances Tiafoe and Jack Sock. Speaking after the match, Rafael Nadal said, “It has been a super long and positive journey. I arrived on the Tour and when I started to be a better player, Roger was always there in front of me. For me he was always the guy to beat. So at some point we were probably the biggest rivals. But always in a very good way.”
Nadal also added that they approach life in a similar way despite having contrasting styles in terms of how they play. “We respect each other a lot. We never had any issues. Every year the personal relationship between us gets better and better. In some way we understand that we have lot of things similar. We approach the life in a similar way.”
“On the court we have completely different styles and that’s what probably makes out rivalry one of the biggest and interesting but in personal life, we approach life not in a different way. That’s why we can trust each other, we can speak very often. Having someone like Roger I feel very confident to talk any personal thing. It’s very beautiful. Very proud to be part of his career. Happy to finish our career as friends after how we shared the courts all these years as rivals, ” he added.
“We’re probably gonna call each other in ten, 15 years from now and be like ‘bro, remember London at The O2’?”
The final doubles pairing to face Roger Federer: Team World’s @FTiafoe and @JackSock92. #LaverCup pic.twitter.com/tcUPbD4uZE
— Laver Cup (@LaverCup) September 24, 2022
Meanwhile, Frances Tiafoe and Jack Sock too had some very special words for Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal after defeating them on Friday. “I don’t think we are really going to understand what happened now. We’re probably gonna call each other 10-15 years from now and be like ‘bro, remember London at The O2’?”
Speaking about Federer Tiafoe added, “Roger is crazy, I mean he is the one. Everyone around the world loves him. What he did for the game is unbelievable. You had a rival crying with him. He showed love to everybody. He came to us twice, didn’t need to give us all a second of his time. Just being on court with him was special. Getting a win against him was huge but at the end of the day it didn’t even feel right”
Laver Cup 2022 LIVE: Rafael Nadal talks about his special bond with Roger Federer, says ‘We approach the life in a similar way” – Watch Video
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