17-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer said that he’s happy to see rival Rafael Nadal win another Grand Slam title last weekend.
“I was very happy for him because it’s tremendous what he proves on clay every year,” Federer said this week in Halle, Germany. “You have to raise your hat to him.”
Nadal entered the French Open tournament as a heavy favorite but his four consecutive losses to Novak Djokovic made the latter also a heavy favorite to win his first title in Paris and potentially completing a career Grand Slam. It was not meant to be after Nadal overpowered Djokovic in four sets.
“For me, it was clear before that he is the favorite,” said Federer, referring to the Spaniard. “Now, everybody says that it was evident that he’ll win. But before it was said that he can’t play tennis anymore because he had lost on clay twice. Therefore, I think it’s nice that he proved them otherwise.”
Both Federer and Nadal are in Halle for the Gerry Weber Open.
