Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have long cast aside their tennis rivalry to enjoy an off-court camaraderie while appearing in a Louis Vuitton advertising campaign.
Federer and Nadal enjoyed a prolific rivalry at the height of their peak. They met 40 times on tour, with the Spaniard edging the great Swiss 24-16 in their head-to-head.
Although Federer set the early pace in winning the most Grand Slams among male players with 17 and then 20, Nadal eclipsed him by winning 22 majors.
Now 42, the 20-time Grand Slam champion is two years into retirement from tennis. Nadal, meanwhile, is set to celebrate his 38th birthday next month and is inching closer to hanging up his racket for good.
But in a recent reunion, Federer and Nadal embarked on a fascinating trek to the Dolomites for an advertising photo shoot for French luxury fashion house Louis Vuitton.
The surreal moments were captured by legendary photographer Annie Leibovitz, who was behind Coco Gauff's shoot for Vogue's April issue.
"There are Journeys that turn into Legends. Louis Vuitton unveils a new chapter in its iconic Core Values campaign with revered tennis champions #RogerFederer and #RafaelNadal photographed by #AnnieLeibovitz."
It's not the first time that Louis Vuitton has engaged two star athletes in joint advertising campaigns. Football legends Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi famously appeared together in a commercial campaign for the luxury brand during the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
In addition to the photo shoot, Federer and Nadal were filmed in a joint video responding to questions about their professional careers and legacies. In a press release, Nadal referred to Federer as his biggest rival and a close friend, while the Swiss shared similar sentiments.
"I know how many important icons have been part of this campaign, so for me personally, being part of it is something that I am very proud of, especially sharing it with Roger (Federer). He has been my biggest rival and now a close friend today."
"It’s a unique opportunity to be working on this campaign with Rafa (Nadal). How we could be such rivals and then at the end of our careers be beside each other doing this campaign has been very cool. And where we are here today, I think it also embodies everything: at the peak of the mountains. For us, it is something meaningful and special."
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