Federer’s surprising anecdote about Nadal

Away from the media and from the interviews since he put an end to his career last September, in the Laver Cup, Roger Federer decided to answer this Tuesday, for more than two hours, to the questions of the fans through his Twitter account, several related to Rafael Nadal, the biggest rival of his career. It was precisely with him as a couple with whom he played the last game of his career at the O2 Arena in London, against the Americans Jack Sock and Frances Tiafoe, who won the point for the Rest of the World team, which ultimately won the tournament. .

Among all the questions he answered about Nadal, the funniest, without a doubt, was this: “Share a funny story about the first time you were mistaken for someone else?” “It happened the other day in Formula 1. A guy asked ‘Can I take a picture with you Mr. Nadal?’ I told him that I was not Mr. Nadal. He apologized and left without taking the photo.”, answered the 41-year-old Swiss. They also asked him if he missed playing against the manacorí, and the answer was not wasted: “Yes and no”, next to the wink smiley. Another fan asked him to go for a match played against Rafa, and Federer was nice: “Roland Garros 2008. Four amazing games”he joked in reference to the final that he lost 6-1, 6-3 and 6-0.

There was no shortage of the obligatory question about Nadal’s loss at Roland Garros, and Roger was elegant when answering: “Yes I am going to miss watching him play. French Open + Rafa Nadal = one of the most incredible records in the history of all sports.”. He also consoled a follower of the Balearic Islands, saddened by his temporary withdrawal. “I’m with you, but also happy for him because he’s giving himself the time he needs to come back healthy and do some more magical performances.”. And someone asked him to reveal who told the best father jokes on tour, Nadal, Djokovic or Murray. “Andy Murray was born to count them and then not smile afterward,” he noted.

Past, present and future

Federer also talked about what he did missing from his time as a player and the things he usually does now. “I feel great today. What I miss the most: having a spontaneous dinner with friends after a game or training and of course the big stadiums, the fans and the excitement of it all,” he said. “There were a lot of little things that I didn’t know were creating so much stress for me and they just disappeared, which is really cool. As if a weight was lifted from my shoulders.”he explained, before acknowledging that now in Switzerland he has a coffee and a cake quietly in a cafeteria “all the time”, and that he liked “skiing with the family last winter”. Regarding his relatives, he says that they “miss the trips”, but that they are “happy to have a more constant routine at home”.

In addition, he was enigmatic when answering about a possible return to the slopes. “I never left,” he wrote, although he later acknowledged that he should change the description of his Twitter account in which he defines himself as a “professional tennis player.”. Contrary to what was rumored, the Helvetian clarified that he does not intend to be a commentator for any television this year at Wimbledon. “There are no plans to comment this year.” He did leave the door open to participate in exhibitions. “I would love it in the future and if so, coming back to South America would be amazing.” He also confirmed that he will go to see a Rugby World Cup match and that he will be in Vancouver for the 2023 Laver Cup. Federer acknowledged that he sometimes watches videos of his matches on YouTube. “People still send them to me, especially my father.” He picked the best servers he’s ever played against: “Roddick, Isner, Pistol (Sampras)Schwartzman, Karlovic, Ivanisevic, Raonic, Vavrinec and un tipo calvo de Croacia, Ljubicic (the one who was later his coach)”. And he claimed that he would have liked to play against .