When Rafael Nadal officially bid farewell to professional tennis in November last year, his words rang clear and cold after retirement: “The truth is I don’t miss it. In fact, I miss it zero.” After a legendary 23-year career, it seemed the Spaniard was ready to turn the page completely! Since his emotional retirement and the headline-making not missing the court remark in April, Rafael Nadal had stayed away from the court until just days ago, when he made a heartfelt return to his cherished Roland Garros for a special tribute at his iconic “fortress.” Now, whispers of a comeback are beginning to swirl, not for a full-fledged return, but for something far more sentimental and possibly iconic.

According to Spanish outlet CLAY, Toni Nadal, Rafa’s longtime coach and uncle, recently hinted at a surprising development during an interview with CLAY and RG Media. He teased the possibility of Nadal stepping back onto the court, not alone, but with none other than his greatest rival and closest friend off the court, Roger Federer. “I imagine that he would like to do some exhibition soon with Federer to be able to give back a little bit of everything that tennis gave him and what tennis has meant to him. For people it would be very special to see the three of them playing again. And yes, I think they will have to do something, because I suppose that people will be motivated to see them play later on,” Toni revealed.

Toni went deeper, offering insight into why Rafa might return for these exhibition matches despite his emotional retirement. “I think I’ve been close enough to him to get to know him a little bit and know that he would be excited to be able to play with Federer. Tennis has been a big part of his life… and you don’t completely erase it from one day to the next. After these months away from the courts, I think that at some point he will want to train again and feel that he touches the ball well. I’m convinced that soon, quite soon, he’ll be playing,” Toni reflected, indicating that we might very well see him back in his form in 2026.

To provide context for their renowned rivalry, from 2004 to 2019, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer cultivated one of the most significant rivalries in the history of tennis. Their iconic duel, shaped by contrasting styles and immense significance, resulted in 24 wins for Nadal and 16 for Roger Federer. It all began at the 2004 Miami Masters, where a 17-year-old Nadal shocked the world by defeating the then top seed in straight sets. Their last encounter came 15 years later at the 2019 Wimbledon SF, with Federer claiming victory in four sets.

Moreover, the speculation around Nadal’s return to the court has been swirling ever since his retirement in November, which ended a legendary career featuring 22 GS titles. But even with his competitive days behind him, the 38-year-old has found peace away from the sport. During the recent tribute at Roland Garros, Nadal shared that although he hasn’t picked up a racquet since retiring, he plans to return for exhibition matches in the future.

“I didn’t [touch] a racquet yet after my retirement,” said Nadal. “It’s eight months without being on a tennis court, but I will. I will be back at some point, because at some point I will prepare myself to play an exhibition or something like this. Even if I had a lot of opportunities, I need to give myself a time of disconnection.”

Now, with his uncle and long-time coach Toni Nadal hinting at a 2026 return alongside Federer, the buzz around a reunion match is growing louder. 

Adding to the emotional weight of this chapter, Rafa also recently admitted to crying after what he called a terrible mistake at the Paris Olympics, a reminder that even away from the court, his heart remains deeply tied to the game.

(*The interview has been translated from Spanish.)

Rafael Nadal shares his views on the breakdown at the Paris Olympics

The organizers meticulously planned and executed the Paris 2024 Opening Ceremony after months of detailed choreography. Yet, amid all the meticulous orchestration, it was an unplanned moment that captured the world’s attention at that time. As French football icon Zinedine Zidane handed over the Olympic torch, it was Rafael Nadal, unannounced and unprepared, who emerged to carry it on its last stretch. The weight of the moment hit him as he stood, torch in hand, awaiting his cue.

“When I realized the moment I started to cry a little bit and when I started to cry, I said, ‘Shut up, stop it; it is not the moment to cry; it’s the moment to enjoy.’ Try to not be too emotional, just enjoy the moment. Let’s go out, do the thing, and let’s have fun,” Nadal said to Andy Roddick on a recent episode of “Served.” And in that very Nadal way, he stepped into the spotlight, carried the flame, and created another iconic moment, perhaps his final one on such a stage last year.

Now, with whispers of Nadal returning to the court for exhibitions, possibly with his long-time rival Roger Federer, fans are left to wonder: could this return signal the beginning of one more chapter in the Federer vs. Nadal saga? What do you think?