Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal played each other 40 times on the ATP Tour, but one exciting match is yet to come to fruition.

The two tennis legends dominated the sport for two decades, alongside Novak Djokovic, who made up the ‘big three’.

Federer and Nadal shared 42 Grand Slams between them and their rivalry on the court helped take tennis into a new era.

As well as their clashes on the ATP Tour, Federer and Nadal often took part in exhibition matches all around the world.

One such match, which was expected to break the record for the biggest attendance in tennis history, fell by the wayside.

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal’s planned match in Spain

Federer and Nadal have long been linked to a match at the Santiago Bernabeu, the home of footballing giants, Real Madrid.

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has been keen to bring Nadal home to his boyhood club to play his biggest rival in an exhibition match.

“We have tried many times to break the Guinness Record of tennis spectators by organising a Nadal-Federer match at the Bernabeu but one of them is injured or cannot play,” he said in 2019.

The biggest attendance ever belongs to a Nadal and Federer match in South Africa, which attracted 51,954 fans.

Despite both men retiring, the match is still reportedly ‘possible’ according to Federer’s long-time agent Tony Godsick.

Speaking in 2024, he said: “Since Roger retired, he hasn’t wanted to play another match until he feels physically ready. What comes to mind is the spectator record they set in South Africa.

“We like to do big things. If there’s an opportunity to break that record someday, I’m sure Roger would consider it. Both of them enjoy collaborating, and I like working with Carlos Costa.

“I have very good memories. We organized the half-grass, half-clay exhibition in Mallorca… Anything is possible in the future.”

The Santiago Bernabeu is still linked to tennis and this year it will be transformed into training courts for the Madrid Open.

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal’s head-to-head record in exhibition matches

Federer and Nadal played 10 exhibition matches between their legendary ATP Tour rivalry all over the world.

Often hitting areas that didn’t have long-time tennis tournaments, Federer and Nadal played in South Korea, India, and Abu Dhabi over the years.

Throughout their ten exhibition matches, Nadal holds the better record over his Swiss rival with seven victories.

Federer, however, won the bragging rights in front of over 50,000 people in South Africa. He beat Nadal 6–4, 3–6, 6–3 in front of the bumper crowd.