**Rafael Nadal** has not swung a tennis racket in the six months since his retirement, but his uncle and former coach, **Toni Nadal**, has revealed that the Spanish legend will likely return for exhibition matches against longtime rival **Roger Federer**.
Nadal, who retired after the **2023 Davis Cup Finals**, recently admitted during his tribute ceremony at **Roland Garros** that he has stayed away from tennis, enjoying golf and other sports instead. However, Toni Nadal—who coached Rafa to **16 Grand Slam titles**—believes his nephew will soon pick up the racket again.
In an interview with **CLAY**, Toni stated:
> *"I know him well enough to know that he is excited about the idea of playing exhibition matches with Federer. Tennis has been vital in his life, and that cannot be erased overnight. I have no knowledge about it, but I am convinced he will do it. Probably, in the coming months or in 2026, he will train hard again to be ready for these exhibitions."*
### **Nadal-Federer’s Iconic Rivalry and Past Exhibitions**
The two legends faced off **40 times** in professional matches, with Nadal leading **24-16**. Their last competitive meeting was in the **2019 Wimbledon semifinals**, where Federer won. They have also played **10 exhibition matches**, the most recent being the **"Match for Africa" in Cape Town (2020)**, which drew a record **51,954 spectators**.
### **Nadal at Peace with Retirement**
Despite his absence from tennis, Nadal expressed contentment with his career during his Roland Garros press conference:
> *"I am having fun. I don’t miss much tennis because I feel that I gave all I had. I arrive today with the peace that I can’t be on court—my body doesn’t allow it. I did all I could to have the best career possible, and now I am enjoying this new phase of my life."*
Nadal’s 2023 season was plagued by injuries, limiting him to just **one final (Bastad Open)** and a farewell appearance at the **Davis Cup**.
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