Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal Playing Doubles Together for First Time is Best Tennis Moment of 2017

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, the all-time greatest tennis players are no frenemies. There is pure bromance. But why do we bring up these popular culture terms suddenly about the 14-year old Roger-Rafa relationship? Well, the answer to this is easy as pie. They have played 38 singles matches, making Federer vs Nadal one of the Open Era’s biggest rivalry. However, off the tennis court, they bond like childhood buddies. Hence, when they stepped on the court at the Laver Cup 2017 as doubles partners, the tennis world simply lost their calm. Yes, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal representing Team Europe took on American pair Sam Querrey and Jack Sock of Team World. Guess who won? ‘Fedal’, of course!

Dressed in blue t-shirts and white shorts, Nadal and Federer arrived in style for their first doubles match together at Prague's O2 Arena. They joined forces in defeating Querrey and Sock 6-4, 1-6, 10-5 at the inaugural Laver Cup edition. It was exhilarating to watch men’s singles champions jump in joy at every point they won against their ‘opponents’. After all, the spectators are used to watching them put their best foot forward against each other on several occasions. Interestingly, Nadal who leads Federer 23-15 head-to-head in their singles rivalry seemed to be more excited in celebrating the points. It was a sight to behold seeing Nadal jumps into Federer’s arms and rightly broke the internet.

After the match, Querrey even invented a moniker for the celebrated pair – Fedal. He insisted Swiss master, Federer and Spanish great, Nadal would ‘definitely be (contenders) for four Slams a year’ if they played together regularly. That does not sound inevitable considering the duo is leading the all-time most men’s singles grand slams titles. Switzerland ace has 19 majors title while Rafa the ‘King of Clay’ is trailing on second place with 16 grand slams.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vR5ykbDSV-4

Despite sports fanatics wishing them to pair up in grand slams, Federer clarified of having no such thought. He said, ‘No, that won’t happen. Not from my side.’ Nadal also seconded Roger’s statement on not playing doubles at higher levels. The Manacor-born said, ‘I don’t think it’s going to be a good idea,’ with further adding, ‘I think we are singles players at the end of the day, so it’s tough to imagine that way we keep playing doubles after we stop playing singles, no.’ Nevertheless, Federer did joke about changing his nationality and turning Spanish in order to play with Nadal once he is too old to play singles!

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 29, 2017 06:15 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).