The off-court friendship between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal is almost as well documented as their on-court rivalry. From the time the two first faced off at the Miami Open in 2004 to their last match at Wimbledon in 2019, the duo were known for not only playing some of the best tennis of all time, but pioneering a style of quiet gentlemanly sportsmanship built on mutual respect that remains unseen in tennis today. Their decade-and-a-half on-court rivalry culminated in them teaming up in doubles for the Laver Cup in 2022 to celebrate Federer’s retirement, with the pair crying and holding hands post-match — to Ellie Goulding’s Still Falling For You, no less.
Now, the duo come together as firm friends, with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal embarking on a journey with Louis Vuitton in a campaign captured by Annie Leibovitz. Moving away from the court and over to the beautiful yet challenging peaks of Italy’s Dolomites mountain range, the campaign follows Federer and Nadal as they make their ascent to the summit, as companions rather than competitors.
With a tagline of “There are journeys that turn into legends,” the campaign depicts the two sharing a climb that mirrors their professional journeys. Federer, with his 20 Grand Slam titles, and Nadal, with 22, including 14 French Open wins, serve as inspirations to the tennis community and beyond not just for their athletic achievements but for their unwavering grit and commitment to the game.
“Being part of [this campaign] is something that I am very proud of, especially sharing it with Roger—he has been my biggest rival and now a close friend,” said Rafael Nadal. “In my career, I achieved more than I ever dreamed of, so at the end of the day, the legacy in terms of human beings is the most important value.”
“It’s a unique opportunity to be working on this campaign with Rafa,” agreed Roger Federer. “How we could be such great rivals and at the end of our careers be beside each other doing this campaign is very cool.”
Leibovitz captures the pair against the background of the alps, with both Grand Slam veterans standing tall on the mountain peak; Federer sporting a Monogram Christopher backpack and Nadal opting for the Monogram Eclipse iteration.
Wondering what the correlation between Louis Vuiton’s monogrammed canvas and the two tennis greats is? Let us explain. The French maison launched its first Core Values campaign 17 years ago, with the series set to showcase the values Louis Vuitton embodies. Those being: the art of travel, a commitment to excellence, and the transmission of dreams.
Over the years, the Core Values campaigns have featured iconic figures known for excellence in their fields; among them, Angelina Jolie, Steffi Graf and André Agassi, and Sean Connery, with each campaign taking place in similarly dramatic landscapes.
While we mightn’t see them on the court anytime soon, it’s good to know the bond between Federer and Nadal extends far beyond the baseline.
Words by Theo Rosen
