There was a special visitor to the Rafa Nadal Academy this week as two all-time tennis greats reunited. Two months after they last came face-to-face at Roland Garros, Nadal and great rival Roger Federer spent time together at the complex in Mallorca.
The campus in Mallorca has more than 50 tennis courts, padel and squash courts, a football pitch, and two swimming pools. The academy also boasts a sports medicine facility and an international school, and annually hosts the Rafa Nadal Open on the ATP Challenger Tour. However, the two icons weren’t there for a training session.
Federer, 43, was joined by his wife Mirka as he strolled across the area in discussions with Nadal. It isn’t clear why the pair were meeting up on the Spanish island, with speculation already swirling over a future partnership.
Nadal took to X to acknowledge the visit, posting a picture of the pair and writing: “@rogerfederer! Really enjoyed our morning together at the @rnadalacademy!”
Nadal, 39, retired from the sport after the 2024 Davis Cup. In May, he was honoured with a special ceremony at the French Open to mark his 14 wins at the Grand Slam event.
Federer’s emotional farewell came at the 2022 Laver Cup, and in Paris he stressed the importance of Nadal getting the send-off he deserved. He said: “I think farewells are important when you have his level.
“And he is a giant of the game, and if we can add a little something by being here with Novak and Andy, and we tied a knot all together, I think it’s a nice thing. I know it meant the world to me that I had all my guys, my players around me when I retired.”
Federer and Nadal met 40 times in their illustrious careers, with Nadal winning 24 of them. The Spaniard also holds the superior Grand Slam final record in head-to-head clashes by 8-3.
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