Roger Federer 'feels sorry' for Rafael Nadal as tennis legend provides details of recent chat

Federer and Nadal's rivalry enchanted a generation of tennis fans, with the duo both establishing themselves as two of the best players of all time.

Though they often faced each other, they have a good relationship built on mutual respect and admiration.

Federer, speaking to the Today Show, has now opened up on Nadal after the 38-year-old was unable to win a medal at the Paris Olympics.

The Swiss maestro says he 'feels sorry' for his old nemesis, while also saying he hopes Nadal 'can go out on his terms'.

Federer said: "I actually just spoke to him this last week.

"He wanted to ask me something and we had a chat.

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"I felt a little bit sorry for him, that his summer didn’t go as well as planned because at the French Open he had a tough draw.

"Olympics, he had a tough draw as well. He was hoping, I think, to get a medal.

"But you know, overall he can do whatever he wants. He’s been one of the most iconic tennis players we have ever had in our sport and that’s what I told him.

"I just hope he can go out on his terms and the way he wants to, but he’s a great guy, great career."

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Another player discussed by Roger Federer was Jannik Sinner.

Sinner failed two drug tests, after protesting his innocence, was cleared to play.

The Italian claimed an anabolic steroid had entered his system through a massage from his physiotherapist and was cleared by an independent tribunal last month.

That sparked controversy, with some feeling that he was receiving preferential treatment.

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Yet Federer believes questions over the case remain, with the 43-year-old saying: “I understand the frustration of, ‘Has he been treated the same as others?’ And I think this is where it comes down to.

“I think we all trust pretty much that Jannik didn’t do anything, but the inconsistency potentially that he didn’t have to sit out while they weren’t 100 per cent sure what was going on, I think that’s the question that needs to be answered.

“It’s not something we want to see in our sport — this type of news — regardless if he did something or not, or any player did.

“It’s just noise that we don’t want. I understand it’s a tricky situation. It’s the nightmare of every athlete and team to have these allegations and these problems.

“And it lives with you. Every morning when you wake up, you think, ‘Is somebody at the door coming to test me?’.

"So it’s really difficult."