Rafael Nadal value the figure of Roger Federer in COPE’s Great Match. The Balearic tennis player spoke about the emotion he experienced on the Swiss tennis player’s goodbye and about the relationship he has had with him over all these years. In addition, he again pointed out that he is not considering his withdrawal.
Tears at Federer’s goodbye: “I’m a sensitive person, when you see someone you appreciate saying goodbye, it’s hard not to get emotional. It got a little out of hand, and the worst thing is that when I went to the room I just got emotional again. It was hard not to happened because of everything that happened that night”.
Viral image shaking hands: “I have not seen it. I did not grow up with social networks, I look at them from time to time. I do not live all day with social networks.”
Federer: “Making everything so beautiful, winning so much, it would be difficult for it to be repeated.”
Did her excitement have anything to do with her thinking about what her farewell would be like? “No, zero. I know that moment will come within X or X and a little more. At 36 and a half years old, we know that we are in the final stretch of my career, but I did not consider it. I was not excited about that at all, It was just the timing and the person retiring and the admiration for Federer.”
Relationship with Federer: “Like everything, it has its stages. It has been a relationship that was good from the beginning and that has grown stronger over the years. Somewhat normal people appreciate the rival, as long as the rival is a good person. With Over the years, one realizes that something special has been experienced in us, that is how we have experienced it and that is how the world of tennis has also perceived it. Thanks to that, some people who were not interested in tennis have also become interested in tennis. our sport. Our way of seeing the world and the rivalry itself has meant that our personal relationship has probably been more important than the professional one. For some years our friendship has grown stronger. For different reasons we have had to be more united, more in contact and thanks to that we have done good, beautiful things. Because of the work in the players’ council to try to leave tennis in a better position than when we arrived we have had to have a lot of contact, conversations, hours together yes We understand each other well, we have different opinions in some cases of course. A bond of friendship has been created that will last.
Has the relationship always been good? “Our rivalry has evolved as our personal relationship has evolved. When you are young you are focused on winning, on being the best, over the years both of us, obviously we are athletes and we want to win, but both he and I, as we have We had experiences together, joys and sorrows together, we have reached a point in the last 10-12 years that we have especially appreciated what all these games are.
The best match against Federer? “2008 has been the most important and 2017 the second most important, because after a while injured we returned to position ourselves in a privileged place”.
discussions? “On the track no, off the track yes. I think that on the track I don’t think we’ve ever argued. Between us the relationship on the track has always been impeccable. Outside too, but have we ever had different points of view of what we want on the track? our sport and we have discussed, it will only be missing”.
Exhibition against Federer at the Bernabu: “I have no idea about that, I don’t think Madrid is obsessed with it either. If at some point the request comes, I’m sure I’d be excited, then we’d have to talk to the other person.”
Is it true that you used to call him Rogelio? “Sometimes, in small measure.”
Final Roland Garros 2009: “I’m honest, at that time I didn’t want Federer to win the final. It’s the reality. At that time I had options to be number 1. What is true, I am a person who loves sports, and I had won Federer in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008. Someone who is so close so many times deserves to win and for him it was to complete the Grand 4. When he wins I get emotional and cry at home to see someone like Federer win, whom I have a great appreciation for It makes me get emotional and cry. Sportingly it was bad for me to win but it seemed fair and logical to me”.
Hamburg 2007, Federer breaks his streak of 81 wins in a row on clay: “After the game… It was a record that was important to me, 81 games in a row winning on clay. The game ended, they beat me and when we got to the locker room I left, and before going to the press conference I arrived a little later , I saw that he was taking a shower and I told him “could you leave me the shirt you won me with”, and I kept it as a souvenir.
