Ivan Ljubicic has spoken of the relationship between Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer and suggested both would help each other “right away” if the other needed it.
The Croatian, who coached Federer from 2016 until his retirement in 2022, also argued no player will be able to “come remotely close” to what the Swiss has given to tennis.
Federer ended his remarkable 24-year career last year – partnering Nadal in doubles at the Laver Cup in his final match.
The 20-time Grand Slam champion played his last singles match at the 2021 Wimbledon Championships, losing in the quarter-finals to Hubert Hurkacz.
The 41-year-old won 103 ATP singles titles, second only to Jimmy Connors. His final title was his 10th triumph at his home event at the Swiss Indoors in Basel in 2019.
Ljubicic thinks Federer would have continued competing and winning without the knee injury issues he suffered in the latter years of his career.
“In our second tournament, he tore his meniscus. The knees always gave us problems. First it was the left, then the right. He squeezed the lemon to the maximum. I was impressed by the way he fought and devoted hours and hours to those tedious exercises,” Ljubicic told Tages Anzeiger.
“He worked five hours a day, knowing he wouldn’t be able to get back on the slopes until later. Mentally, you have to be very strong for that, because nobody guaranteed that he was going to play again. He believed until the last moment.
“If he hadn’t been injured, Roger would have kept winning and kept playing. It’s like Rafa. I don’t know if Rafa will not be again, but they love this sport so much that they would continue playing until they can. Until your body says enough. His career could not have ended otherwise.”
The former world No 3 gave his thoughts on the Swiss’ impact on tennis, and the world of sport as a whole, and feels his influence is unrivalled.
“No one will be able to come close, even remotely, to what Federer has given to this sport. He has received the award for the most beloved tennis player 19 years in a row and has won the sportsmanship award 13 times.
“I don’t think there’s been anyone in any other sport who has been as beloved and influenced as many others as he has.”
Ljubicic also discussed the friendship between Nadal and Federer, who shared one of tennis’ greatest ever rivalries.
“At first, they only had respect for each other. Over time, they realized that they had shared many special moments. If Rafa called Roger tomorrow for something, he would do it right away. And vice versa.”
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