Tennis world in frenzy over Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal news

Tennis fans are frothing over the prospect of seeing Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal teaming up to play doubles one last time.

The tennis legends, who both hold the men's record of 20 grand slam titles alongside Novak Djokovic, are currently sidelined with injuries and won't play again in 2021.

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They were absent from Team Europe's side that thrashed Team World at the Laver Cup in Boston last week, although Federer was in attendance and watched from the stands.

Federer and Nadal famously teamed up to play doubles together at the event in 2017, a rare occurrence that had tennis fans around the world in awe.

And they've sent fans into a frenzy once again after raising the possibility of playing doubles together one final time at the Laver Cup in 2022.

After the European team's victory on Sunday, Nadal sent a call-out to his great friend and rival.

Taking to Instagram to congratulate the European players, Nadal wrote: “@rogerfederer doubles next year?”

If that didn't get fans excited, Federer's response certainly did.

“Bringing back the old Fedal in London would be amazing,” he wrote.

Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal sidelined with injuries

Speaking at the Laver Cup, Federer revealed he's still "a few months" away from a return to the ATP tour, making it highly unlikely that he'll be ready in time for the Australian Open in January.

The 40-year-old had two knee operations in 2020 that kept him out of the tour for more than a year.

He returned to action in March but injured the knee again during the grass court season and said he needed more surgery in order to resume playing.

"I've got to first walk again properly, run properly and then do the sidesteps and all the agility work and then eventually I've got to be back on the tennis court," he said.

"But it's going to take me a few more months and then we'll see how things are at some point next year. I've got to take my time. I don't want to rush into anything at this point.

"This is also for my life. I want to make sure I can do everything I want to do later on. There's no rush with anything, so I'm actually in a really good place. I think the worst is behind me. I'm really happy."

As for Nadal, the 35-year-old hasn't played since losing in the second round in Washington in early August and won't step foot on the court again this year.

Nadal skipped Wimbledon and the Tokyo Olympics after suffering a foot injury in the French Open final against Novak Djokovic in June.

He then re-injured the foot in Washington and was forced to miss the US Open before deciding to sit out the rest of the 2021 season to recover properly.

Fans are holding out hope that Nadal will be back in action at the Australian Open.

"I am (determined) to do whatever it takes to regain the best possible shape, to continue competing for the things that really motivate me and the things that I have done during all these years," he said.

"I am convinced that with the recovery of the foot and obviously a very important daily effort this can be achieved. I will work as hard as I can to make it happen."

with agencies

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