Rafael Nadal on his bromance with Roger Federer: ‘It is a rivalry, but at the same time it is a friendship’

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Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal

Their on-court rivalry has spanned for nearly 16 years and Rafael Nadal describes his battle with Roger Federer as “a great story together”.

Nadal and Federer played their first-ever ATP Tour-level match in March 2004 and since then they have faced each other 40 times with the Spaniard leading the head-to-head 24-16.

During the early years it was an intense rivalry, mainly on the court, but they have both mellowed over the years and, while they are still extremely competitive during matches, they have become friends away from their profession.

The duo teamed up in Cape Town, South Africa, for the Match in Africa to raise funds for the Roger Federer Foundation.

Nadal recently took on Grigor Dimitrov in another charity match in Atlanta with funds raised from that occasion going to his foundation, but he was asked about the Fedal story.

“We have a great story together,” he told CBS46.

“We are having very long careers and facing each other in the most important tournaments for such a long time.

“At the same time, I think we create positive things for charity, especially events like we did in Cape Town, South Africa a few weeks ago.

“It is a rivalry of course but at the same time it is a friendship.”

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Rafael Nadal Roger Federer

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