Federer held the number-one ranking for 237 consecutive weeks, more than any other player in the history of the sport.

His Spanish rival won a record 14 titles at the French Open, a number many believe will never be topped.

Nadal retired from tennis in 2024, upon the conclusion of the Davis Cup tournament, when Spain was knocked out by the Netherlands.

Federer had retired two years earlier at the Laver Cup, an event that saw the pair share their thoughts on one another at a press conference in 2016.

Roger Federer said Rafael Nadal’s ‘spin’ and ‘movement’ were unmatched back in 2016

During a press conference ahead of the inaugural Laver Cup, Federer was asked what made Nadal one of his toughest opponents.

“Well, I think he brought something to the game that we have not seen that much before or not at all,” he said.

“The amount of spin he was able to bring to the game, the physicality and the movement on clay, especially, I think are unmatched really.”

Federer then revealed what he knew about Nadal after playing him for the first time in Miami, 12 years earlier.

“He’s just a champion,” he said.

“From the beginning, I played him when he was coming up in Miami, and it was easy to tell that he was probably going to win at least a French Open if not more. 

“He didn’t disappoint, he did much more than that and became a legend of the game.”

Nadal beat Federer at the 2004 Miami Open, securing the first of his 24 victories over the Swiss phenom.

The now 43-year-old was thankful to have shared a rivalry with Nadal, saying that he would remember their matches ‘forever.’

“So it’s been a real privilege and a pleasure to play against him,” he said.

“We have had so many wonderful matches, especially at the highest of levels: in my home town, at the Grand Slam level, at his favorite tournaments, as well, in Spain or wherever it was.

“We go way back, forever we will look back and having enjoyed some of the moments that we had.”

Nadal was then asked what the ‘unique’ challenges were when facing Federer on the ATP Tour.

“Every one,” he joked.

“I never saw nobody with all the ingredients that Roger [Federer] have, no?

“Big serve, big forehand, unbelievable movements, the slice, backhand, and at the same time with unbelievable elegance.”

He also praised Federer, outlining his importance to the sport of tennis.

“I think what Roger did for the game during all these years, and he is going to keep doing for the next couple of years, is something very important for our sport,” he said.

“He helps a lot to the game to step the game to another level of everything in terms of fans, in terms of interest around the world.

“So just I feel very happy to be part of the same era.”

Roger Federer won five of his last six matches with Rafael Nadal after 2016

Nadal and Federer played each other at least once a year, between 2004 and 2015, before failing to do so for the first time in 2016.

They returned to face off in 2017 and played a further six times before Federer hung up his racket in 2022.

Having lost his first match in six against Nadal at Roland Garros a few months earlier, Federer took on his greatest rival one final time at Wimbledon in 2019.

Entering Centre Court with a place in the final on the line, it was the Swiss star who came out on top, battling through in four sets, 7-6, 1-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Catching up during the latter stages of his career, Federer retired with a losing head-to-head record against Nadal, 16-24.

A legendary rivalry had come to an end at one of the sport’s most legendary venues.