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packs, stefanos tsitsipas + alexander zverev

Rafael Nadal was a loyal companion to Roger Federer in the last day of his professional career. Although he shied away from the spotlight, his presence was constant, from playing alongside Federer in his last match to steadily supporting him for the rest of his retirement ceremony. Here are a few moments that the cameras missed:

Nadal comforted Federer silently from the back when the latter burst into tears after embracing his other teammates post-match.

During the ceremony, Nadal, who was highly emotional, stood at the back of his other teammates to grieve in private, avoiding the camera.

Post-match, Nadal moved his gear bag from the players' bench he shared with Federer to the team area, giving Federer the opportunity to enjoy his last moments courtside privately.

Federer afterwards went back to stand beside him, seeking comfort as both watched a tribute video to his career being played out.

After the highly emotional on-court interview, Federer, who's still struggling to control his tears, received another comforting embrace from Nadal.

Accompanying Federer on the bench, Nadal turned his face away when his partner began openly crying, equally moved to tears.

Federer held Nadal's hand in a gesture he later admitted as a silent thank you for accompanying him throughout the most difficult day of his career.

Nadal, once again choosing to stay behind his teammates, hid his face in his arms, weeping as he witnessed Federer embraced his family.

Nadal and Mirka Federer (Roger's wife) comforted each other and shared a supportive embrace.

At the end, Federer waited for Nadal, who was the last one in the stadium, to do his final walk off the court with him arm in arm.

Although Nadal later admitted he didn't want to cry or be on camera originally "because it was his (Federer's) moment", Federer only held it all in fond memories, saying he will never forget what Nadal did for him that day. Nadal, who was awaiting the birth of his child with his wife in the hospital, came out of his initial injury break, practiced intensively to prepare for their match, and flew out to London for one day just for Federer.

He was alongside Federer from his last practice, his last presser, his last preparation, to his last walk on and off court in a gentle silence, always there but never standing in his way.

For the pair who shared almost 20 years of life-defining rivalry, it was perhaps the only way of an end imaginable: a wordless comfort, an indescribable need to share the burden and lessen the unfathomable grief;

For it was one who left but two who buried a soul.

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"Some people say that the best stories have no words. (...) It is true that words drop away, and that the important things are often left unsaid. The important things are learned in faces, in gestures, not in our locked tongues.

(For) this is not a love story but love is in it."

-Jeanette Winterson, Lighthousekeeping

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Video source: suziemay212 on youtube

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