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'It's a legend': Roger Federer finally asks Rafa Nadal about tennis myth

Rafael Nadal shrugs as he takes advice from Roger Federer.
Rafael Nadal answered Roger Federer's question on why he plays tennis left-handed despite being a righty. (Getty Images)

Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer have created tennis’ most iconic rivalry and the Swiss maestro finally got to ask the Spaniard a question that had been ‘bothering’ him throughout his career.

Fans are always treated to some special moments when the two living legends chat and this time didn’t disappoint as Nadal started off with an epic fail as he hilariously struggled to invite Federer into an Instagram Live video as the pair isolate during the coronavirus pandemic.

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The friends shared a few laughs before the chat turned to tennis and Federer finally asked his friend and long-time rival a question that has irked him throughout his career.

“One thing I want to ask you because it has been bothering me, it’s that you are a lefty [left handed in tennis],” Federer said as they laughed.

“You know it’s been a problem for me, why when you are a righty, why do you play lefty?”

The question had Nadal in stitches and he tried to put Federer’s mind at ease.

“No, I can not play righty,” Nadal said.

“That’s just a legend.

“My basketball skills are with my right, all my feeling is with my right, but not with tennis and not with football.”

Federer then asked whether Nadal switched hands at a young age, possibly to gain an advantage.

But Nadal again put those rumours to bed claiming when he started tennis at a young age his trainers - including Uncle Toni - didn’t even know what hand was dominant.

“I started with two hands, backhand and forehand, and probably because I was hitting two backhands people didn’t know, but I have always been a lefty.”

Federer laughed: “So it’s a legend. Well I cannot be angry, it’s just natural so that is fine.”

Nadal and Federer have played each other 40 times on the ATP tour with the Spaniard leading the head-to-head 24-16.

Nadal’s hilarious technology fail

He may have 19 Grand Slam titles, one shy of Federer's all-time men's record, but when it comes to IT skills, he resembled a Sunday morning park hacker crumbling under pressure.

With 40,000 viewers logged on, a flummoxed Nadal stared into cyberspace, trying to figure out why the Swiss maestro, isolating at home in Switzerland, refused to appear.

Eventually, to Nadal's obvious relief, the great man popped up to share a few minutes of chit-chat about how each is dealing with the shutdown of tennis because of the coronavirus pandemic.

“Finally!” Nadal said to a chuckling Federer.