Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have been enjoying one of the fiercest rivalries in tennis history. Back in the days when both were in (or close to) their prime their matches were always considered as a huge event.

Now that both players are in the last part of their stellar career, Rafa and Roger are more “relaxed”, and they are becoming a bit closer. Last year they put up a great show after they teamed-up for Team Europe in the Laver Cup in doubles for the joy of the tennis fans.

Roger Federer was elated with playing with his “old enemy”; however, the Swiss sensation revealed that he refused to play doubles with Rafa almost 10 years ago.

Why Federer refused to play doubles with Nadal.

During a recent interview, Roger commented

“Rafael Nadal asked me to play doubles I think it was Madrid indoors or so, but then I think our rivalry was so intense, I just felt like it was the wrong thing to do.

As you say, could be like a conflict and not something we should be doing. It would have been great for the game, but I think it would have been a bit of a curveball for everybody.

It was a fierce rivalry, now all a sudden they’re being friendly. I don’t think the press would have enjoyed that so much.

They want to put us against each other, not with each other. But today I think we’re much more laid back, me especially, too, because I didn’t have a rival for a long period of time, and then Rafa came up and there he was.

It was great, but I just didn’t feel like we needed to play doubles together.”

Federer and Nadal playing doubles at the Laver Cup