Rafael Nadal has shut down suggestions that he'll return to tennis in the near future to play exhibition matches with Roger Federer as Wimbledon approaches.
The duo had an epic rivalry during their respective careers, winning a remarkable 42 Grand Slam titles between them.
Nadal dominated the French Open for the most part, with 14 of his majors coming on the clay courts of Roland Garros.
As for Federer, he was more of an all-rounder - claiming eight of his own Grand Slams at Wimbledon, six at the Australian Open, five at the US Open and one in Paris himself.
Rafael Nadal has shut down suggestions that he'll return to tennis in the near future to play exhibition matches with Roger Federer as Wimbledon approaches
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Recently, Nadal's uncle and former coach Toni Nadal suggested that his nephew would return to tennis to play exhibition matches with Federer.
"I know him [Rafa] well enough to know that he is excited about the idea of playing exhibition matches with Federer," Toni said.
He added: "Probably, in the coming months or in 2026, he will train hard again to be ready for these exhibitions.
"Tennis has been vital in his life and that cannot be erased overnight."
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Nadal has now, however, appeared to shut that speculation down.
The 22-time Grand Slam winner reflected on the recent French Open, where Carlos Alcaraz defeated Jannik Sinner in a five-set thriller.
Nadal has no desire to swap watching from the sidelines for a return to action, however, with the 39-year-old content with his decision to hang up his racket.
"I do not feel like I would have preferred being there on the court," he stated.
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Rafael Nadal has insisted he 'isn't looking back' despite rumours he'll one day play exhibition matches with Roger Federer
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"I watched the tournament like a regular fan, excited to see a place that has been so important during my career.
"I simply enjoyed tennis from my new reality; I'm not looking back."
Federer and Nadal's rivalry captivated the tennis world during their prime years in the sport.
The duo faced off 40 times, with Nadal winning 24 of those showdowns.
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Their greatest match arguably came back in 2008 when they both contested the Wimbledon final that year.
Nadal raced into a two-set lead, with a rain delay then halting proceedings on Centre Court.
Federer came roaring back to level the scores as the Swiss star looked to reign supreme for the sixth year in a row.
However, Nadal managed to maintain his composure to win in the dark and secure the first Wimbledon title of his career.
Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer played 40 tennis matches against each other during their glittering careers
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Their last Grand Slam final was the 2017 Australian Open.
Federer won in five sets - while he also emerged victorious in their last-ever meeting at Wimbledon in 2019.
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