The super-agent and creator of the Laver Cup, Tony Godsick, alongside Roger Federer, spoke in an interview with Marca about the possibility of the Swiss playing an exhibition match at the new Santiago Bernabéu with Rafael Nadal.
Q: Do you see Nadal as the future captain of Team Europe?
A: I hope so. My dream is for Roger to be the captain and Rafa the assistant, and then for it to be the other way around. That way, they would be in charge longer. The rivalry they had on the court was very special, but I believe their friendship off the court is even more special. They are a clear example that all competitors can get along.
Q: Since the new Santiago Bernabéu was built, there have been many rumors about the possibility of Nadal and Federer playing an exhibition match. Is that a real option?
A: Since Roger retired, he hasn’t wanted to play another match until he feels physically ready. What comes to mind is the spectator record they set in South Africa. We like to do big things. If there’s an opportunity to break that record someday, I’m sure Roger would consider it. Both of them enjoy collaborating, and I like working with Carlos Costa. I have very good memories. We organized the half-grass, half-clay exhibition in Mallorca… Anything is possible in the future.
A potential meeting at the Santiago Bernabéu, which has a capacity of more than 80,000, could shatter the previous record of 51,954 spectators set four years ago in 2020, when Rafa and Roger played a friendly exhibition match in South Africa.
A good sign that this could actually happen is that Florentino Pérez, the president of Spanish football giant Real Madrid, had plans back in 2019 to organize a Fedal tennis match at the club’s Santiago Bernabéu stadium.
Follow us to see more useful information, as well as to give us more motivation to update more useful information for you.
Source: The Wall Street Journal
