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Roger Federer played Rafael Nadal 'on water' using specially designed court and the footage is incredible

Home> Tennis

Updated 15:20 25 Jun 2025 GMT+1Published 15:19 25 Jun 2025 GMT+1

Roger Federer played Rafael Nadal 'on water' using specially designed court and the footage is incredible

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are two of the GOATs of tennis.

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Marcus Chan

Marcus Chan

Tennis legends Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal once played on water using a specially designed court.

Federer and Nadal are two of the best players to ever step foot onto a tennis court.

During their careers, the pair won a combined total of 42 Grand Slam titles.

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Nadal was particularly dominant on clay as he had an exceptional record at the French Open, lifting the title on 14 occasions.

Meanwhile, Federer's best results came on the grass in England, where he has won the Wimbledon title eight times.

Over the years, the pair have been involved in many exhibition events, including playing on a 50-50 court made out of grass and clay.

Back in 2011, prior to the Qatar Open, the pair were tasked with playing on a court that was submerged and floating on the Gulf of Doha. Federer and Nadal were seen hitting rallies in ankle-deep water.

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However, due to the nature of the specially designed court, the pair were only able to hit volleys as the ball would stop completely once it touched the water.

Speaking about the experience, Nadal said: "It was a fantastic experience. For the past three years, we have done a few different things, and this one was a very nice experience."

Federer added: "Good fun. It was so different. You’re always excited and nervous to see how it will turn out. It is always nice promoting an event and an entire tour with Rafa."

Swiss maestro Federer went on to win the Qatar Open that year, beating Nikolay Davydenko 6-3, 6-4, in the final.

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Nadal's bid to win the tournament was stopped by Davydenko in the semi-final stage after losing 3-6, 2-6.

Back in 2022, Federer played his last ever match during the Laver Cup inside the O2 Arena in London.

The then-41-year-old teamed up with Nadal in the doubles, but they were beaten by the Team World pair of Jack Sock and Frances Tiafoe.

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Two years later, it was Nadal's turn to call time on his career.

The Spaniard's last match came in the Davis Cup, which took place in Malaga, Spain.

Similar to Federer, Nadal did not have a fairytale ending as he was beaten by Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp, losing 4-6, 4-6.

Where to buy last-minute Wimbledon tickets

The Wimbledon ballot may have closed for another year, but it’s not too late to buy advance tickets if you know where to look.

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If you don’t mind splashing out on the experience, Seat Unique has the option to book ‘VIP Debenture Behind The Server’ and ‘VIP Debenture Front 5 Rows’ tickets.

These tickets offer 'unparalleled views' of the court, so you won't miss out on any of the action.

As for resale tickets, you'll want to head over to StubHub and Viagogo.

Featured Image Credit: OOPS Magazine

Topics: Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Tennis, Wimbledon

Marcus Chan
Marcus Chan

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