It was an acknowledgment of greatness, from one of his fiercest and at times, most contentious rivals of him. For Federer, Nadal was a consistent thorn in his side, challenging him to the highest level at a time when nobody could touch him. Without Federer, Nadal may never have been the 22-time Grand Slam champion he is today, and it is safe to say the same for Federer. For Djokovic and Federer though, there was always heat in between the indifferent handshakes at the net, and the subtly spiteful comments in the press. As far as send-offs go, Federer perhaps got the greatest that one could in professional sports.

Source: Indian Express September 24, 2022 18:45 UTC