On Tuesday, Rafael Nadal joined Roger Federer in retirement, ending his career after 23 years on the Tour. These two great rivals are linked by their incredible tennis legacy and everything their rivalry gave to the tennis world. Also, there’s another striking similarity between them.
The odds were minimal, but the tennis gods still made it happen! Roger Federer is the ultimate Wimbledon champion, lifting eight trophies between 2003 and 2017. On the other hand, Rafael Nadal is the most dominant figure at a single Major, conquering 14 trophies between 2005 and 2022!
Two legends scored the last victory on their most beloved courts. Roger reached the Wimbledon quarter-final in 2021, and his final ATP victory came on beloved Centre Court against Lorenzo Sonego. On the other hand, Rafa earned his last ATP triumph versus Marton Fucsovics on Court Philippe-Chatrier at the Olympic Games!
Roger Federer, Wimbledon 2021© Stream screenshot
Roger Federer’s last ATP victory comes on Centre Court
Fighting hard to recover his game after a nasty knee injury, the Swiss Maestro entered his last Wimbledon in 2021. The most decorated player at the All England Club stopped the clock and reached the quarter-final as the oldest player in the Open era! Federer faced Lorenzo Sonego in the fourth round.
The veteran scored a rock-solid 7-5, 6-4, 6-2 victory in two hours and 11 minutes, sailing into his 18th Wimbledon quarter-final. The Italian fought well in the opening two sets. However, they ended the match under a roof due to rain, and Federer took charge and sealed the deal in straight sets.
Roger fired 32 winners and 26 unforced errors, losing serve once and delivering five breaks that carried him through. The veteran claimed two points more than his rival in the opening set and prevailed with a late break. Lorenzo struggled on his serve in the middle of the set.
He denied three break points in the fifth game before playing a loose forehand two games later to fall 4-3 behind. Federer served for the set at 5-4 and experienced a blow, losing serve at love and keeping his rival in contention. The eight-time champion stayed focused and made a push on the return at 5-5.
Straight sets, straight into his 18th #Wimbledon quarter-final… @rogerfederer beats Lorenzo Sonego 7-5, 6-4, 6-2 to reach the last eight on Centre Court pic.twitter.com/G8VDVyR0XX
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 5, 2021
Lorenzo missed four game points and faced four break points. They left the court when the rain started and continued under the roof. Federer seized the fourth break opportunity to move in front and serve for the set. He saved a couple of break points and wrapped up the opener 7-5 in an hour.
The Swiss lost five points on serve in the second set and kept the pressure on the other side. He landed a forehand winner at 2-2, earning a break and holding at love at 5-4 to forge two sets to love advantage. Roger gave away four points behind the initial shot in the third set.
He sailed through his service games and kept the pressure on the other side. The Swiss broke his opponent two times for a 4-0 lead and fired a service winner in the eighth game to seal the deal and book a place in the last eight. Federer lost to Hubert Hurkacz in his last singles match in a career.
Roger Federer, Wimbledon 2021© Stream screenshot
Rafael Nadal celebrates his last ATP win on Court Philippe-Chatrier
Like his great friend and rival, Rafa earned his last ATP victory on his beloved Court Philippe-Chatrier at Roland Garros during the Olympic Games. Nadal arrived in Paris following his first ATP final in over two years in Bastad. He injured his right thigh ahead of Paris and gathered dark clouds over his campaign.
Rafael Nadal, 2024 Paris Olympics© Stream screenshot
The veteran faced Marton Fucsovics in the first round and prevailed 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 in two and a half hours. Nadal saved eight of ten break points and delivered four breaks to cross the finish line first. The king of clay made a flying start, dominating on serve and return in the opener and taking it in half an hour.
Nadal forced Fucsovics’ mistake in the second game of the duel with a deep forehand for an early break. Rafa landed forehand winners in the third game, cementing the break and setting into a fine rhythm. The Spaniard added another forehand winner to his tally in the fifth game for 4-1.
Pónganse sus mejores galas porque tendremos Djokovic 🆚 Nadal en #Paris2024 @RafaelNadal eliminó a Fucsovics en un sufrido partido de tres sets y casi tres horas
Los JJOO los disfrutamos en los canales de @Eurosport_ES disponibles en DAZNpic.twitter.com/7DueovQHEQ
— DAZN España (@DAZN_ES) July 28, 2024
The Hungarian missed game points in the sixth game and experienced another break after the rival’s forehand down the line winner. Rafa served for the opener at 5-1 and generated three set points with an ace. He seized the first with a backhand winner, moving 6-1 up after 32 minutes.
Marton responded with a break in the second game of the second set with a forehand winner. He held for 3-0 and closed the fifth game after a deuce for a 4-1 advantage. The veteran fought well in the sixth game, saving two break points and firing a service winner to remain within one break deficit.
Rafael Nadal, 2024 Paris Olympics© Stream screenshot
Fucsovics served for the set at 5-3 and played a loose game. He netted a backhand and suffered a break at 15 to keep Nadal in contention. Rafa could not lock the result at 5-5. He saved two set points before playing a loose drop shot on the third, experiencing a break and allowing his rival to force a decider.
The Hungarian saved two break points at the beginning of the decider and held with a forehand winner. The Spaniard leveled the score at 1-1 with a smash winner and made a push on the return in game three. He missed two break points and a chance to move in front.
Marton Fucsovics & Rafael Nadal, 2024 Paris Olympics© Stream screenshot
It was Marton’s turn to challenge his opponent on the return at 2-1. He drew Nadal’s mistake and generated three break chances that could have sent him over the top. Rafa denied them and fired two powerful shots at deuce for a hold, locking the result at 2-2.
The 38-year-old stepped in on the return in the fifth game, delivering a break after the rival’s backhand error and moving 3-2 in front. Nadal sprayed a forehand error in the sixth game and played against a break point. He saved it with a crafty drop shot and welcomed the rival’s forehand mistake for 4-2 and a boost.
Rafael Nadal, 2024 Paris Olympics© Stream screenshot
Marton cracked a forehand down the line winner in the seventh game, remaining within one break deficit. Nadal held at love in the eighth game for 5-3, keeping the pressure on the other side. Fucsovics served to stay in the match in game nine and held at love for more drama.
Rafa served for the win at 5-4 and generated match points after a forehand attack. He squandered them and brought his opponent back to deuce. However, the Spaniard converted the third match point with a forehand down the line winner, celebrating his 1080th and last ATP victory.
Nadal faced Novak Djokovic in the second round and suffered a 6-1, 6-4 defeat. He announced his retirement and played his last tournament at the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga. Rafa fell to Botic van de Zandschulp, keeping his Olympic Games victory on Court Philippe-Chatrier his last.