‘It means a lot’ – Rafael Nadal ‘honoured’ by Roger Federer’s congratulatory message
Rafael Nadal has said he and Roger Federer share “an amazing relationship” and feels “it is a great honour to be part of his era.”
Nadal made history at the Australian Open when he came from two sets behind against US Open winner Daniil Medvedev to become the first player to claim a record-breaking 21st Grand Slam title.
This miraculous comeback came after a five-month-long absence due to a long-standing foot injury and a Covid-19 infection.
As a result, the tributes began to pour in from everyone involved in the sport, from fans to fellow professionals and pundits.
Amongst this outpouring of congratulations were fellow Grand Slam competitors Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, whom he pipped to the impressive title of 21-time Grand Slam champion.
Despite being deported from Australia just one day before the first Slam of the season got underway, Serbian icon Djokovic called Nadal’s win an “amazing achievement.”
Whilst Federer wrote in a lengthy Instagram story that he is “proud to share this era” with Nadal and is “honoured” to have played a part in spurring the Spaniard on to greatness.
However, Nadal remained as humble as ever and recently revealed that he doesn’t feel it matters who ends their career as the most successful male player to ever grace the court as all three have achieved their wildest dreams as well as much more.
Similarly, such circumstances and performances led seven-time Slam ace John McEnroe to call the Spaniard’s win “the greatest comeback in 38 years.”
After receiving numerous congratulatory messages from his peers, in response to Federer’s message Nadal said “we have an amazing relationship – we did amazing things together. For me it’s a great honour to be part of his era.
“Together we have enjoyed and lived amazing moments of the history of our sport. To receive a message like this from him (Federer) means a lot to me.
“I wish him well, he knows, and I really hope that we will be able to play again in important stages.”
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