As tennis legend Rafael Nadal prepares to retire from the sport with his final tournament at the Davis Cup in Malaga, Spain this week, he received a tribute from a longtime rival.

Fellow all-time tennis great Roger Federer praised Nadal in a lengthy letter posted on social media ahead of his last professional appearances:

Federer and Nadal first faced each other at the 2004 Miami Open before embarking on an incredible run of dominance at the highest level of the sport. The two of them, along with Novak Djokovic, took home most of the men's singles Grand Slam titles for the better part of two decades. In their head-to-head battles, Nadal earned 24 victories to Federer's 16.

"As you get ready to graduate from tennis, I've got a few things to share before I maybe get emotional," Federer wrote. "Let's start with the obvious: you beat me – a lot. More than I managed to beat you. You challenged me in ways no one else could."

Federer also praised Nadal's prowess on clay courts, which helped him win a record 14 French Open titles out of his 22 career Grand Slam victories.

"On clay, it felt like I was stepping into your backyard, and you made me work harder than I ever thought I could just to hold my ground," Federer stated. "You made me reimagine my game—even going so far as to change the size of my racquet head, hoping for any edge."

When Federer retired from tennis in 2022, he had the opportunity to play alongside his rival in his final match when he and Nadal teamed together to represent Team Europe at the Laver Cup.

"It meant everything to me that you were there by my side—not as my rival but as my doubles partner," Federer wrote. "Sharing the court with you that night, and sharing those tears, will forever be one of the most special moments of my career."

Similarly, Nadal will be ending his career without chasing individual accolades while he plays for Spain at the Davis Cup, which is a team event. Nadal will lead his squad against the Netherlands in the semifinals on Tuesday.

Federer concluded his letter by writing, "Rafa, I know you're focused on the last stretch of your epic career. We will talk when it's done. For now, I just want to congratulate your family and team, who all played a massive role in your success. And I want you to know that your old friend is always cheering for you, and will be cheering just as loud for everything you do next."