Watch: Rafa On Relationship With Roger

News

Scores

Rankings

Lucky Letcord Podcast

Shop

Pro Gear

Pickleball

Gear Sale

Popular This Week

Alcaraz: Pain-Free but Unwilling to Hit Forehand wit...

HJTEP 52nd Annual Gala Set for NYC, Tickets on Sale ...

Sabalenka: Watching Men's Tennis More Fun

Nadal: Trying to Give Best, It's Not Always There

Vondrousova Shares Heartbreak of Divorce

Lenglen Gets a Makeover: New Roof Set to Debut on Ma...

Mauresmo: Nadal Seed at Roland Garros Not on the Tab...

Watch: Rafa On Relationship With Roger

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have created one of the most iconic rivalries in sport.

The pair could collide in the US Open semifinals in what would be their first Flushing Meadows clash.

Watch: Nadal Hits High Notes in Quarterfinal Win

How does Rafa really feel about Roger?

Their relationship is strictly platonic.

Asked what he admires about Federer on and off-court, Nadal joked: “I don't want to look like I gonna be his boyfriend, no? We don't want to talk these kind of things before important match.”

After collective laughter from the media subsided, the world No. 1 said he admires Federer’s passion, all-court style and the fact he’s an ambassador for the sport.

“I think (Roger) always have been a great ambassador for tennis and for our sport, with good image, of course, and representing, I think, good values,” Nadal said. “One important thing that is a great example for kids, no, after a lot of years and winning more than nobody, he still have the passion to keep doing what he did during all his career, no? And doing unbelievable well and doing with the right attitude and with the right passion and love for the sport, no?

“So that's something important for me and something that I admire him, and inside the court, I admire of him the same, as you can admire, because everybody knows how complete is him, and he's able to produce all the shots.”

Photo credit: BNP Paribas Open Facebook

Posted: