Rafael Nadal admitted that one of his biggest rivals, Roger Federer, wrote him a message after he sealed a 14th career Roland Garros title win at the 2022 Grand Slam.
After winning his 22nd Grand Slam title, Nadal's phone was most likely alive with well wishes and heartfelt messages. The Spanish veteran added to his Grand Slam trophy haul with a straight-sets victory over Casper Ruud, a win which moved Nadal two major titles ahead of Djokovic and Federer in the all-time standings.
Nadal continues to compete at the pinnacle of ATP tennis and the 'King of Clay' once again showed his dominance on the surface at the Roland Garros. The 36-year-old has won five of the last six French Open titles and he bounced back following a disappointing semi-final elimination against old rival Djokovic last season.
While Nadal and Djokovic are still fighting for Grand Slam titles, 40-year-old Federer hasn't played since the 2021 Wimbledon Championships. The former world number one has won 20 Grand Slam titles in his career but has struggled with injuries late in his career.
Despite his lack of recent action on the ATP Tour, Federer was quick to message his fellow competitor Nadal on his most recent major win. After the match, Nadal explained how the pair maintained a good rapport and that Federer got in touch following the victory.
"With Roger we have a good relationship and a special feeling. After the victory he wrote me a message to congratulate me."
It remains to be seen whether Federer and Nadal will face off again on the court. The duo battled at the top of the ATP for most of the 2000s and 2010s and have gone head-to-head 40 times during their respective careers.
The most recent meeting came in the 2019 Wimbledon semi-final, which Federer won before losing to Djokovic in the final. However, when reflecting on Federer's chances of a comeback soon, Nadal was optimistic.
The Spanish player hoped to see the Swiss competitor back in action but also acknowledged how age can play a factor in competing at the top level.
"Federer has been out for a long time and you can always expect something special from him, but we all know how difficult it is to come back, even more so at 40. We’ll see what happens."
"As I’ve always said, it didn’t bother me when we were level, and it doesn’t bother me now that I’m two ahead. I just want to keep competing."