Frances Tiafoe vividly remembers the emotional moment when Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer shared a touching moment during the latter's final match at the 2022 Laver Cup. Despite their loss to Tiafoe and Jack Sock, the pair's display of emotion left a lasting impression on the World No. 16. Tiafoe, a 2024 US Open semifinalist, is set to join Taylor Fritz, Ben Shelton, Alejandro Tabilo, Francisco Cerundolo, and Thanasi Kokkinakis as part of Team World. Tiafoe described the touching scene of Federer and Nadal holding hands and shedding tears as one of his most cherished memories from the Laver Cup.

Tiafoe reveals his favorite Laver Cup Moment 

Tiafoe fondly recalled his childhood memories of watching the two tennis legends compete in every major tournament. He vividly described their final face-off and the emotional moment they shared, highlighting the deep mutual respect they held for each other.

He emphasized that language never hindered their rivalry or their admiration for one another. The extraordinary level of respect they shared was truly remarkable, and Tiafoe felt fortunate to have witnessed their last match together on the court.

“I mean, that’s wild. I’m a kid, like eight, nine years old, watching these guys battle each other. And now, like, you know, at the end, they’re like holding hands, like the respect they have for each other.” - Tiafoe stated.

“One dude, Spanish, was barely speaking English when he first started. Another dude, you think he’s American with how well he speaks English, and he’s so fly and does everything like they’re so different. But they just love each other and the respect they have for each other is insane. So that was probably the coolest thing ever. And I was like, man, it’s just cool to be here. Like, forget what even just happened. It’s cool to be here," Tiafoe added.

Rafael Nadal will not compete in Laver Cup 2024

Rafael Nadal has withdrawn from the 2024 Laver Cup. In a statement, the Spaniard emphasized the importance of doing what was best for the team, expressing confidence in the ability of other players to secure a victory.

The former World No. 1 reflected on poignant memories and conveyed his best wishes to his teammates for the upcoming tour menu.

“I’m disappointed to share that I won’t be able to compete at the Laver Cup in Berlin next week. This is a team competition and to really support Team Europe, I need to do what’s best for them and at this moment there are other players who can help the team deliver the win," Nadal said in a statement.