"If Rafa calls Roger tomorrow and asks him something, he will do it for him": Ljubicic believes Federer and Nadal are on the 'same wavelength'
ATPFriday, 21 July 2023 at 17:30
Ivan Ljubicic has opened up about the relationship between Swiss
tennis star Roger Federer and Spain’s Rafael Nadal.
Both players are amongst the best-ever to have played the
game having won 20 or more Grand Slam titles.
Talking about the relationship between the two, Ljubicic, who was
the coach of the former world number one Federer, explained how the two became
close friends over the years.
"At first they just had a lot of respect for each other,”
he said. “Over time, they realized that they share many special moments. And
that they are on the same wavelength. It clicked. If Rafa calls Roger tomorrow
and asks him something, he will do it for him. Vice versa too. I think it's
beautiful that they have such a good relationship,."
Ljubicic went on to also talk about his experience working
with Federer, especially in 2017 when the 41-year-old went on to beat Nadal in
the final of the Australian Open in a five-set thriller with a score of 6–4,
3–6, 6–1, 3–6, 6–3.
"2017 was wonderful, everything came together,” he
said. “When he hired me, his goal was pretty simple: to win Grand Slams again.
We didn't know if that would be possible. It's one thing to believe in it, but
quite another to do it. How he beat Rafa (Nadal) in the final of the Australian
Open after falling behind with a break in the fifth set, you can't top that.
This is Mount Everest."
Federer ended his illustrious career with 20 Grand Slam
titles to his name. He was also the first to win more than 15 Grand Slams in men’s singles tennis in the Open era.
On the other hand, Nadal is the second-most successful player
in the history of men’s singles tennis, having won 22 Grand Slam titles.
Azeem Siddiqui is a seasoned sports journalist and data analyst with a strong background in both digital media and live sports production.
He began his journalism career working with partners of The New York Times and has since contributed to several leading international sports publications, including Fox Sports Asia, Calciomercato, and GiveMeSport. Since 2023, Azeem has been part of the TennisUpToDate team, where he has played a key role in sustaining the platform’s growth and ensuring tennis fans receive timely and reliable coverage of the sport’s biggest stories.
In addition to his editorial work, Azeem has extensive experience as a data analyst in live sports broadcasting—particularly in cricket—where he combines analytical precision with creative storytelling. He has collaborated with multiple production companies and cricket boards worldwide, delivering real-time insights and data-driven narratives during live match coverage.
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