A blast from the past: Roger Federer relives Big Three era during visit to refurbished Rafael Nadal Museum

One upon a time Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal were two of the best tennis players in the world, constantly battling each other on court and clashing in the biggest matches for the most coveted titles. Their rivalry was legendary, but now that has been subsided, and a new friendship has come in place built off respect. Following a round of golf earlier in the week, Federer took the time out of his busy schedule to have a look around the new refurbished Rafael Nadal Museum at the Spaniard's academy.

Created all the way back in 2016, it was created to celebrate the past glory and triumphs Nadal regularly enjoyed on court, and there were quite a few. 22 Grand Slam titles with 14 coming at Roland Garros showcased his prowess on clay among the other surfaces as he was one of three dominant forces who ruled tennis in the 21st century.

While Novak Djokovic would come along later, Federer was the first one to rise above the rest with their incredible longevity meaning they would regularly face off on court over a period lasting almost two decades.

Fans have long remembered some of their best and most cherished encounters, regularly highlighting them in conversations when the two are mentioned. Both with different but eye-catching styles of tennis, their legacy has lived on way past their retirements from tennis.

A great way of recounting Nadal's tennis history would be going to his museum. Located at the Rafael Nadal Academy in Mallorca, Spain, the 20-time Grand Slam champion wandered around the renovated building and rooms that bestowed memorabilia, never-before-seen images, and immersive experiences looking back on Nadal's journey in tennis.

Federer enjoyed his stay and looked in a variety of rooms and location, spending a lot of time in particular in the 'Big Three' room. Details of the rivalry between Nadal, Federer and Djokovic along with personal items and the history of their time battling on court were up for show.

He was guided and accompanied by Sebastián Nadal, Gustavo Marcaccio (Director of Tennis at the Rafa Nadal Academy), and Gonzalo Pérez (Director of the Rafa Nadal Museum) while his wife, Mirka, also attended. Following his tour, he was full of praise for the venue.

"It's wonderful to discover all this," he said. "It's magnificent. You can feel there's an enormous amount of work behind it, but above all, it's a place filled with emotion. I remember what it was like at the beginning, but today, it's truly spectacular. It's magnificent, everything is perfectly done.

"It's a very special place. Congratulations to the whole team. I already told them personally: you've done a fantastic job."

This is not the first time Federer has been to this museum, returning after visiting a year ago with Nadal by his side. They were previously in each other's company earlier in the week as they played a round of golf at the Golf Santa Ponsa, a location that formerly hosted an event on the DP World Tour back in 2021.

They played 40 times on court with Nadal leading 24-16. Their last clash came in the semi-final of Wimbledon on the ATP Tour back in 2019, ending in a Federer win. A regular combination in finals of the biggest tournaments up for grabs, the duo have gone their separate ways after retiring from the sport they once mastered but still have the time for each other among tons of respect.