Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal Shared Such a Funny Moment During Louis Vuitton Campaign

Tim Capurso | May 18, 2024

Roger Federer (left) and Rafael Nadal (right) share a laugh during a Louis Vuitton Core Values campaign at the Dolomites mountain range in northeastern Italy. / Screengrab Twitter @BreakPointBR

Almost two years after Roger Federer announced his retirement from professional tennis, and as Rafael Nadal nears the end of his own storied career, the two longtime rivals recently reunited at the Dolomites mountain range in northeastern Italy for a photo shoot as part of Louis Vuitton's Core Values campaign.

As many tennis fans know all too well, Federer and Nadal, equally strong friends as they were rivals on the tennis court, can rarely get through an interview or commercial without breaking into fits of laughter.

The friendship is clearly as strong as ever, as the two shared multiple laughs during the ad campaign. One funny moment in particular stood out, as Federer and Nadal, who have won a combined 42 majors, recalled the time they first met each other back in 2003.

Rafa Nadal & Roger Federer in a new campaign for Louis Vuitton

“Do you remember the first time you met each other?”

Rafa: “I do remember. Probably not him.”

Roger: “I don’t. Was I nice to you?”

Rafa: “You were a little bit arrogant” 😂

The Fedal reunion we all needed. 🥹 pic.twitter.com/jdQvpXV5Px

— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) May 18, 2024

"I do remember, probably not him," Nadal said. "I don't. Was I nice to you?" Federer asked.

"You were a little bit arrogant," Nadal replied, as the two burst into laughter.

One can imagine that Federer, on the precipice of winning his first grand slam and becoming world No. 1 for the first time, was not initially pleased to see a potential rival in Nadal emerging. But the rivalry between the Swiss and the Spaniard, which tennis fans affectionately refer to as "Fedal," produced some of the best tennis the world has ever seen.

The two GOATs locked horns 40 times, 14 of which were in Grand Slam events, with Nadal holding a 24-16 edge over Federer.

But as tightly contested as their matches were, the rivalry never became a bitter one, as evidenced by this amusing interaction between the two close friends.