sports

There's a beautiful side to Federer and Nadal you don't usually see.

Theirs is one of the greatest rivalries profession tennis has ever seen. Come to think of it, it’s one of the greatest rivalries professional sport has ever seen.

Switzerland’s Roger Federer and Spaniard Rafael Nadal.

Between them, the pair have held ‘world number one’ status for more than 340 weeks, trading the title numerous times since they first faced off in Miami some 13 years ago.

As they prepare to take to the court in yet another grand slam final – the Australian Open – on Sunday night, we’re taking a look back at a clip from 2010, one that shows a lighter side of this fierce, 34-match professional rivalry.

LISTEN: Serena Williams schools a journo. (Post continues…)

Sitting side-by-side, the pair dissolve into fits of giggles as they fumble their way through a promo for The Roger Federer Foundation. Their laughter is contagious, their bond obvious.

Speaking to GQ Australia about the clip back in 2014, the maestro said of all the top-seeded players, he’d “done and lived the most” with Nadal.

“I know his family the best, as well. I know his mum, dad and sister,” he said. “Yeah, our bond goes further back than the one I have with Novak or Andy. And for that reason I feel closest and most connected to Rafa.”

The Australian Open Men’s Singles Final airs Sunday night, 6:30pm EDT, on Channel 10. You can catch female finalists Venus and Serena Williams go head-to-head same place, same time tonight.

Video by MWN