News > ‘My friend and rival, I wish this day would have never come’

‘My friend and rival, I wish this day would have never come’

After Roger Federer announced his retirement on Thursday, Rafael Nadal wrote an emotional note to his on-court rival and off-court friend saying that the duo have “lots of things to do together” in the future. 

Nadal wrote: “Dear Roger, my friend and rival. I wish this day would have never come. It’s a sad day for me personally and for sports around the world."