What Rafael Nadal said was ‘stupid’ about his rivalry with Roger Federer after he completed the career Grand Slam

Follow us on Google Discover

Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer played out a thrilling rivalry once upon a time, with the two legends having sadly both retired from tennis.

Nadal has backed Carlos Alcaraz for big success, but the latter has a long way to go if he wants to emulate the former.

The King of Clay retired last year with 22 Grand Slam titles to his name, second only to the 24 of Novak Djokovic.

Federer meanwhile sits third in the last with 20, with Pete Sampras the nearest competitor of the Big Three with 14.

Incidentally, the legendary trio of Djokovic, Nadal and Federer have all impressively completed the career Grand Slam.

Rafael Nadal makes ‘stupid’ Roger Federer claim after 2010 US Open final win

And Nadal managed to clinch the feat against Djokovic, when the Spaniard beat the Serbian in the 2010 US Open final.

He was asked after the match what he thought he needed to accomplish to put himself ahead of Federer as the greatest ever, with Nadal replying: “Remain a lot of titles, so that’s no doubt about that, no?

READ MORE: The match Roger Federer won to become world number one for the very first time

“I think I am more than happy that with my titles, for sure… I think is talk about if I am better or worse than Roger is stupid, because the titles say he’s much better than me, so that’s the truth at that moment. I think will be the truth all my life.

“But, sure, for me, always, always Roger was an example, especially because he improved his tennis I think during all his career, and that’s a good thing that you can copy, no?

“So I try to copy this, and I know Roger and me are different, much different styles. Being better than Roger, I don’t think so is the right moment to talk about that, because I am… I don’t think that.”

What Rafael Nadal really thought about his rivalry with Roger Federer in 2010

Nadal bowed out on a high, having proven his worth on all three surfaces at the US Open, with his 2010 title arriving at the age of just 24.

He defeated Djokovic 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-2 in a final that was interrupted by rain in New York’s Flushing Meadows.

READ MORE: The Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras on-court argument that left Roger Federer feeling ‘awkward’

It also represented a ninth Grand Slam title, and saw him become the seventh man to win all four major championships, thus completing the career Grand Slam.

But Nadal was pressed further on his clearly exciting rivalry with Federer as the post-match questions continued, having been asked for his thoughts on it and how long he though it would last.

“I don’t know,” he replied. “Well, now Novak is, too, but he has to defend a lot of points now in the end of the season now, Novak, too. He is going to have his chance to be the year No. 2, Novak, too. But Roger is there, too, to finish No. 2.

“You know, we start every year, and a lot of new players and good players are there like… well, not new, Novak and Andy are not new, Andy Murray, but always come new players, very good players.

“But for the last six years, Roger and me was… we were No. 1 and No. 2, no? So that’s probably a great rivalry since that six years. We will see what happens in the future. I am not a genius.”