The image went around the world and brought tears to millions of tennis fans: the two legends of the little yellow ball, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, crying and holding handsfor what constitutes the last moments of the Swiss professional career.
A little over a week after this Laver Cup match, the man with twenty Grand Slam titles returned to this last game in an interview with New York Times. And it wasn’t all easy to bring the two legends together at the Laver Cup.
Federer really wanted to play this last meeting with Nadal but he had to juggle family problems and his wife’s difficult pregnancy. “I called him right after the US Open, just to inform him of my retirement”remembers the Swiss who warned him directly of his intention to play one last match, if his physical condition allowed it.“I said, ‘I’ll let you know. You let me know how things are going at home. And we’ll talk again.’ But seizing the importance of the moment, Nadal directly reassured his friend, assuring him to do everything possible to come and play alongside him.
“It shows once again how much we mean to each other and how much we respect each other”continued Federer who could not dream of a better farewell.“I believe it ended even better than I could have imagined. Rafa put in an incredible effort and of course I will never forget what he did for me in London.”
The former world number one then returned to the particular moment between the two men, at the end of the meeting: “I just touched it and I guess maybe it was a secret thank you…” If this moment broke the hearts of many supporters, it is also of particular importance for Federer.“I hope to get the photos one day because they mean a lot to me.”