Rafael Nadal has walked back his admission that he wouldn’t class Roger Federer as a friend – a revelation the tennis icon made publicly known just months ago. The two sporting greats enjoyed a rivalry that is considered by many as the greatest in tennis history, having faced off against each other 40 times in their professional careers.

Having first competed against each other as youngsters, the icons grew old in the sport and with that came a blossoming friendship. The pair famously held hands while failing to fight back at the 2022 Laver Cup – – a competition they competed together in doubles – which spelled the end of the Swiss legend’s tennis career.

Upon the Spaniard’s own retirement from the sport earlier this month, Federer’s poignant message to his former rival drew praise from the tennis community.

Having reached a new level of tennis rarely seen before, Nadal and Federer have seemingly kept close after calling time on their careers as they featured as a duo in a Louis Vuitton campaign called ‘A Legendary Journey to the Top’. The 38-year-old discussed how special it was to take part in the campaign alongside who he called a “close friend”.

“I’m very proud to be part of it, and especially to share it with Roger, who was my great rival and now is a close friend. In my career, I achieved more than I ever dreamt of, so at the end of the day, the legacy in terms of human beings is the most important value,” explained Nadal.

Nadal’s acknowledgement of Federer being a close friend is certainly a major switch from his description of their relationship just three months ago when speaking on El Objetivo de La Sexta.”I wouldn’t consider him a friend,” Nadal surprisingly confessed. “But someone familiar, with whom I have a great relationship.”

Nadal’s admission surely mended a few hearts who were left under the impression that two of tennis’ greatest talents weren’t friends. Federer, 43, spoke of the feelings evoked from their rivalry back in August 2023, saying: “We started respecting the rivalry, we almost miss it, playing each other every weekend. Back in the day we couldn’t stand each other probably for that. He’s a great man. I wish he can come back one more time, but he has shown the tennis world and the fans how good he is.”

Following their campaign, he called the opportunity to stand aside Nadal again a “unique opportunity”. “The fact that we were the greatest rivals and now, at the end of our careers, we are alongside each other has been very gratifying. Being at the top of the Dolomites feels symbolic in many ways. It really captures what this moment means to us – something truly special and meaningful.”