By Richard Pagliaro | Wednesday, December 3, 2025
Photo credit: Rafa Nadal Academy
Champions come and go.
Legends live forever.
Long-time rivals Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer have both suggested they could resume their rivalry with charity exhibition matches, perhaps as early as 2026.
So who will prevail if Fedal reignite their riveting rivalry?
The King of Clay was asked that question in a new interview with AS.com’s Susana Guasch after receiving the AS Legend Award 2025.
A humble Nadal did not hesitate in his response.
“Honestly, him. He’s been training longer than I have,” Nadal told AS.com of Federer. “I think he has something for January, so he has been preparing for some time.
“I already told him in the last conversation we had, that if we have to do something, he should let me know a little bit of time. Don’t make me make a fool of myself on the [court]. If at some point the opportunity arises, let it [please] us both, something good.”
Speaking to CNBC’s Andrew Ross Sorkin in September, Federer was asked about the prospect of reviving the senior tour.
Twenty-time Grand Slam champion Federer delivered an intriguing response, specifically saying “maybe we can create a Fedal Tour.”
The 44-year-old Federer, who looks extremely fit, says he’s been playing tennis fairly frequently and would love to reunite with old rival Rafa.
“Why not? I love Rafa,” Federer told CNBC. “I played four hours of tennis the other day in LA—here in San Francisco, sorry—and then in LA also another hour and a half. So before that I’ve been playing a lot.
“I’ve been trying to keep in good shape. And I know that Rafa is totally open to maybe playing some tennis. It sounds terrible, seniors tennis, to us but maybe we can create a tour like a Fedal Tour or something like that. I mean it would be cool.”
Perhaps we could see Roger and Rafa reunite in Newport, Rhode Island on the historic lawn court ahead of the Swiss Maestro’s 2026 induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
Nadal, who recently hit with Rafa Nadal Academy graduate Alexandra Eala in Mallorca, said he’ll need some time to prepare but suggested a Fedal exhibition “will come out” at some point.
“You never know. I have a very good relationship with Roger, we talk regularly,” Nadal said. “I think that at some point something will come out.
“He’s been out longer and I, in a year, have literally played 45 minutes one day and 45 minutes another, to be honest. To get back on a [court] and not be a horror, I would need a little time.”
A father of two sons, three-year-old Rafa Jr., and three-month-old Miguel, Rafa Nadal was asked if he could envision himself serving as a future “Toni Nadal” coaching his children in sport.
“Man, there is only one Toni. There can’t be two,” Rafa Nadal told AS.com with a laugh. “I don’t even think about it, honestly. I want them to do what they want. With the little one, who is three months old, I try absolutely nothing. Just look at how he does what he can, basically…
“As a child, I was lucky enough to grow up in an athletic family environment. My uncle was a footballer and my father, being the least sporty in the family, I think he is the most fond of sports in general. He lived in a very sporty environment. Sport itself has the capacity to educate, to develop in many ways. That’s why I would like my children to play sports. The oldest is three years old and I have him running all day. If they need me tomorrow, I hope to be there.”
