Roger Federer’s old mentor, Ivan Ljubicic, shared his thoughts on facing Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros and how it compared to playing Federer.
Nadal joined the ranks of retired players after Spain’s defeat to the Netherlands in the Davis Cup quarterfinals. Carlos Alcaraz and Marcel Granollers lost their doubles match against Wesley Koolhof and Botic van de Zandschulp.
In what turned out to be his last professional game, Nadal fell to van de Zandschulp. Despite giving it his all for the Davis Cup, he wasn’t quite himself during that final showdown.
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An emotional farewell ceremony followed Spain’s exit, with heartfelt tributes from legends like Federer, Novak Djokovic, Serena Williams, and Juan Martin Del Potro.
Federer penned a touching message to Nadal on what became his last career day, highlighting their long-standing friendship. Fans might feel a mix of sadness and nostalgia hearing this news.
Memorable Rivalry:
Nadal and Federer had one of sports’ most legendary rivalries. Their epic five-set Grand Slam finals at Wimbledon in 2007 and 2008 and the Australian Opens in 2009 and 2017 are unforgettable.
Their contrasting styles made their rivalry special: Federer’s calm elegance versus Nadal’s fierce intensity.
Ljubicic enjoyed a successful ATP career before coaching Federer. He faced Nadal at Roland Garros but never met Federer at Wimbledon.
In an interview with Eurosport, Ljubicic admitted that while Nadal’s strategy seemed simple, his topspin was impossible to counteract during matches at the French Open.
“Playing against Rafa at Philippe Chatrier is difficult; it’s traumatic,” he said. “I never played Roger at Wimbledon but faced him many times elsewhere—it was tough because he always had answers.”
“Rafa plays straightforward tennis tactically but handling his topspin is impossible,” Ljubicic continued. “Roger always found new solutions; tactically very challenging.”
Ljubicic finds it hard to accept that we’ll never see Nadal compete professionally at Roland Garros again despite understanding why he retired.
“I was surprised by his retirement announcement,” Ljubicic confessed. “But Rafa is synonymous with Roland Garros—it’s tough knowing he won’t play there anymore.”
“Champions aim for victory—not just participation,” he added. “I don’t know about his current form or condition—but he’s not competing like we’re used to seeing him do.”
Nadal’s diminished athleticism in that final match showed why he’s stepping away from top-level competition—but fans will always cherish memories of how incredible he once was.
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