WORDS OF WISDOM
Roger Federer ‘feels sorry’ for Rafael Nadal as eight-time Wimbledon champion opens up on recent chat
Nadal reveals his possible plans for next year below
ROGER FEDERER has revealed that he "felt sorry" for Rafael Nadal after he failed to win a medal at the Paris Olympics.
The Swiss great disclosed details from his private chat with the Spanish icon after he couldn't add to his vast trophy collection this summer.
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The eight-time Wimbledon champ is expected to follow in Federer's footsteps and retire from tennis in the near future.
The 38-year-old is not competing at the US Open despite initially appearing on the entry list when it was announced last month.
Federer, 43, told the Today Show: "I actually just spoke to Rafa this last week.
"He wanted to ask me something and we had a chat.
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"I felt a little bit sorry for him, that his summer didn’t go as well as planned because at the French Open he had a tough draw.
"Olympics, he had a tough draw as well. He was hoping, I think, to get a medal.
"But you know, overall he can do whatever he wants. He’s been one of the most iconic tennis players we have ever had in our sport and that’s what I told him.
"I just hope he can go out on his terms and the way he wants to, but he’s a great guy, great career."
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Eventual Olympic champion Novak Djokovic beat Nadal in the second round of the men's singles in Paris.
While he and Carlos Alcaraz were then dumped out of the quarter-finals to the experienced US doubles pairing of Rajeev Ram and Austin Krajicek, who went on to win silver.
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Nadal won gold at Beijing in 2008, defeating Chile's Fernando Gonzalez in straight sets to secure the top prize for Spain.
Federer and Nadal's rivalry enchanted a generation of fans, with the duo both establishing themselves as two of the best players of all time.
They faced off nine times in Slam finals, with Federer winning three and Nadal winning six.
Their most iconic matches included at Wimbledon in 2008 and the Australian Open in 2017.
But they also became friends early, having competed and trained together since their youth.
Nadal even burst into tears when Federer bid his final farewell to tennis in his last tournament at the Laver Cup in 2022.
The 22-time Grand Slam winner opted to skip the US Open after recognising that he would not be able to perform at his best following a hectic summer schedule.
Earlier this week, Nadal suggested that he could keep playing into next year with the aim of competing at the French Open one last time.
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The 14-time Roland Garros champ said: "It's an option. Right now the goals are over and I'm giving myself time. I'm enjoying training and other things in life.
"I understand that I'm retiring. It's been a long time. I've had a lot of physical problems and the question is normal."
Tennis stars’ new careers
PLENTY of tennis stars have stayed involved in the sport since retiring.
But others pursued very different careers. Here are some of the best…
- I reached French Open and Wimbledon finals as a teenager but I quit to become a nun
- I won Wimbledon mixed doubles with my sister but got fed up with English weather so now run luxury B&B
- I was tipped for stardom aged 12 but retrained to become high-flying lawyer
- I earned £9m and won French Open before setting up bistro with Brazilian model girlfriend
- I’m last Frenchman to win Roland Garros, now I’m singer with six albums hitting No1 in charts
- I'm former world No1 but quit aged 29 - instead I went on to play professional poker and golf
- I was destined for the top but swapped lobs for labs as award-winning Harvard physicist
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