Roger Federer shares his emotionally-moving visit to the Rafa Nadal Museum.
By Richard Pagliaro | Thursday, July 23, 2026
Photo credits: Rafa Nadal Academy
A riveting rivalry was revisited by its iconic champion.
Twenty-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer visited the newly-rennovated Rafa Nadal Museum at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca.
Eight-time Wimbledon winner Federer returned to the Rafa Nadal Academy one year after his last visit and almost a decade after attending its official inauguration in October 2016, although this time Rafa Nadal was unfortunately unable to join him.
During the tour of the new Rafa Nadal Museum, Federer was accompanied by Sebastián Nadal, Rafa Nadal’s father, Gustavo Marcaccio, Tennis Director of the Rafa Nadal Academy, and Gonzalo Pérez, Manager of the Rafa Nadal Museum.
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Federer, who has spoken enthusiastically about reviving the Fedal rivalry in a future exhibition tour, spent time in the gallery dedicated to the Big 3, one of the most representative spaces of the new exhibition. There, visitors can discover personal items donated by Rafa Nadal, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, as well as enjoy exclusive audiovisual content in which the three legends look back on how they experienced firsthand one of the greatest rivalries in the history of sport and the legacy they built together over more than two decades.
Afterward, Federer said he was emotionally moved revisiting the Big 3 rivalry.
“It’s wonderful to see everything. It’s beautiful,” Federer said of the musuem. “There’s an incredible amount of work behind it, but above all, it’s very emotional.”
Next month, Federer will be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island. Seeing some of the racquets he used and apparel and shoes he wore in various Big 3 battles at the Rafa Nadal Museum brought back positive memories for Federer.
The Swiss Maestro was impressed by the transformation of the new Rafa Nadal Museum.
“I remember what it was like at the beginning, but now it’s truly spectacular,” Federer said. “It’s beautiful, it’s really very well done.
“It’s a very special place. Congratulations to the whole team. I’ve already told them personally: you’ve done a fantastic job.”
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Richard Pagliaro. Richard Pagliaro is Tennis Now Managing Editor. He is a graduate of New York University and has covered pro tennis for more than 35 years. Richard was tennis columnist for Gannett Newspapers in NY, served as Managing Editor for TennisWeek.com and worked as a writer/editor for Tennis.com. He has been TennisNow.com managing editor since 2010.