It has been two years since Federer officially retired from tennis, playing alongside Nadal in a doubles defeat to Jack Sock and Frances Tiafoe at the 2022 Laver Cup in London.
Since then, the 20-time Grand Slam champion has steered clear of appearing on court in any sort of exhibition, instead taking on a behind-the-scenes role masterminding the Laver Cup.
He was front and centre at the event in Berlin this week, but could we see him face his most enduring rival on a tennis court sooner rather than later?
Federer and Nadal famously contested a ‘Battle of Surfaces’, split between grass and clay, back in 2007, while the charity ‘Match for Africa’ back in 2020 set a new record for the world’s largest tennis crowd.
Over 51,000 people were in the stands for that match, but that record could be broken if rumours about a special match at the Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid eventually come to fruition.
He said: “Since Roger retired he hasn’t wanted to play another match as long as he doesn’t feel physically well.
“To my mind comes the record of spectators that they beat in South Africa.
We like to do big things. If there is an option to beat that one day, I’m sure Roger will consider it.
“They both like to collaborate and I like working with Carlos Costa [Nadal’s agent]. I have very good memories.
We did the half-grass, half-earth exhibition in Mallorca…. Anything is possible in the future.”
All eyes will be on if and when any potential announcement is made, though a lot may ultimately depend on Nadal.
