Roger Federer has penned an emotional tribute to Rafael Nadal, joking that he ‘secretly loved’ his long-time rival’s rituals including ‘assembling water bottles like soldiers’ and adjusting his underwear.

Roger Federer says Rafael Nadal "made the whole tennis world proud" during his "epic career" before the Spaniard's retirement.

Roger Federer paid tribute to his retiring rival Rafa Nadal on Tuesday, telling the Spaniard he challenged him like no other player and that he had made the tennis world proud during a glittering career lasting over two decades.