Picture Credit: Twitter
22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal said he misses Roger Federer at Wimbledon 2022. When the Spaniard was asked about how it feels playing without Federer, he said it feels negative. Notably, for the first time since 1998, Wimbledon is taking place without Federer as the Swiss underwent knee surgery last August and he hasn't played since 2021 Wimbledon.
“Well, it’s a negative thing,” Nadal said. “But the life, that’s the circle of life, you know. Time happens, and the watch, the clock never stops. This kind of stuff we need to get used to. But in a personal way, of course, my personal relationship with Roger have been always great, and probably my greatest rival.
“At the same time all the things that we shared together on court is something difficult to describe, the emotions, all the things. And of course I personally miss him in the tennis tour, and tennis of course miss him, tournaments, fans, everyone," he said as per per Tennisbuzz.
Now, a picture of the two greats hanging out together has gone viral.
Federer is important in every single tournament: Nadal
Roger Federer has not played much tennis over the last two and a half years due to his knee surgeries. The 20-time Grand Slam champion went two times under the knife in 2020 and played five tournaments post that surgery. However, he underwent another surgery and has been out of action since then.
Talking about the same, Nadal said that Federer’s presence is necessary for all tournaments. . "No, no, we can’t create a story just about Wimbledon," Nadal said. “I think Roger Federer is important in every single tournament. Not only Wimbledon. He is a well-missed player in every single event of tennis, without a doubt”.
Notably, it’s reported that Federer is recovering well from his surgery and is slated to be back in action with Laver Cup in September.