“Wouldn’t Even Talk to Each Other,” Rafael Nadal’s Touching 2008 Encounter With Roger Federer’s Father Stirs Up Memories for American ATP Legend

Roger Federer wrote to Rafael Nadal in a heartfelt letter at the dawn of his retirement: “You made me enjoy the game even more.” Their rivalry, which began in 2004 at the Miami Open, took the tennis world by storm. In their first match, Nadal defeated Federer in a fierce two-set battle that only grew more competitive over time. Nadal called Federer “the most important player in my career,” and the Swiss Maestro was indeed that. But alongside Roger someone else played a key role for Nadal.

On the ‘Served’ podcast, Andy Roddick and tennis journalist Jon Wertheim revisited what many call the greatest tennis match ever: the 2008 Wimbledon final between Nadal and Federer. The match, stretched over nearly seven hours due to rain delays, ended with Nadal, then 22, dethroning Federer 6-4, 6-4, 6-7 (5-7), 6-7 (8-10), 9-7 as darkness fell on Centre Court. This was the last of three consecutive Wimbledon finals between these two legends, who together have won 42 Grand Slam titles. Yet, Wertheim noticed another remarkable moment from that epic final.

He said, “One thing I love about this match is, they’ve had this absolute battle. Classic match. They both recognize it. Rafa drops, you know, falls flat on his back. They shake hands at the net. And when Rafa eventually makes his way to his team, one of the first people who touches him, congratulates him, lifts him up is Roger’s dad.” Did you ever notice that?

Tennis: Laver Cup, Sep 23, 2022 London, United Kingdom Roger Federer SUI and Rafael Nadal ESP of Team Europe on court at the opening of the Laver Cup tennis event. Mandatory Credit: Peter van den Berg-USA TODAY Sports, 23.09.2022 13:13:34, 19096613, Rafael Nadal, tennis, Team Europe, Roger Federer PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xPeterxvanxdenxBergx 19096613

Wertheim found the moment when Robert Federer, Roger’s father, congratulated Nadal so surprising because it’s almost unusual. His son had just lost a grueling match. But why did it stand out? Jon explained, “When my kids played Little League, like the Sharks and the Blue Jays would never be on the same side of the backstop. The parents wouldn’t even talk to each other.”

“This was a Wimbledon final, and one of the very first people you have contact with is the father of the guy you’ve just beaten in the seminal match,” he added. Federer was nearly 27 and had ruled the world rankings for 231 straight weeks. Nadal was closing in fast. Just a month earlier, Rafa crushed Federer at Roland Garros 6-1, 6-3, 6-0, winning his fourth straight French Open.

On the other hand, Federer had beaten Nadal in the 2006 Wimbledon final in four sets and again in five sets in 2007. Both chased history: the Spaniard aimed to be the first man since Bjorn Borg in 1980 to win the French Open and Wimbledon back-to-back, while Federer sought a sixth straight Wimbledon title, surpassing Borg’s record.

The stakes were sky-high for these two titans. Rafa has a theory of why their matches were held to such high glory.

Rafa opens up about his mindset when facing Roger compared to other rivals.

Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer’s rivalry defined an era in tennis. Nadal led their head-to-head 24-16, dominating especially on clay, while Federer held the edge on grass and hard courts. In October 2024, Nadal told Spanish outlet AS, “I’ve played Djokovic more than anyone else, but for me, my biggest rival was Federer. When I came onto the circuit, Federer was already there, and he was the first. In the prime years of my career, it was Roger and Novak. But in those early years, which are so impactful, it was always Roger.” Their battles weren’t just about stats-they were about style, strategy, and respect.

In March 2025, on the ‘Served with Andy Roddick’ podcast, Nadal explained why his rivalry with Federer felt more special than with Djokovic. “With Roger, the rivalry was a little bit more attractive for the fans than with Novak against me. Even if I played more times against Novak and we played the same important matches or even more, but with Roger the strategy was more clear.” Nadal called their matches a “chess match,” focused on attacking Federer’s backhand while Federer played aggressively. “For me, his forehand was the best I played against,” Nadal said.

Federer also treasured this rivalry. In 2019, he said it was more special than the one with Djokovic because of its longevity. He added, “They are the guys who pushed me more to the limit.” When Nadal retired, Federer wrote a heartfelt note saying Nadal “challenged” him like no one else and made him enjoy tennis “even more.”

Though Nadal trails Djokovic 29-31, Nadal said in February 2025, “I would say, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer, it’s difficult to choose. My career is linked to both of them, the three of us have pushed each other to be better.”

With Federer and Nadal retired, it’s truly the end of an era. Their emotional farewell at the 2022 Laver Cup showed their deep bond. Nadal ended his career at the 2024 Davis Cup with a first-round exit, while Federer missed that moment. This year, Rafa will get a tribute at the 2025 French Open, and maybe Roger will be there to honor his greatest rival and friend. What do you think? Share your thoughts below!

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