Rafael Nadal shares Roger Federer's memory of epic battle after Laver Cup retirement

Rafael Nadal has opened up on when he asked Roger Federer for a unique souvenir after one of the Swiss star's most important wins over his rival. It comes after the Spaniard joined the 41-year-old for his final Laver Cup game on Friday as Federer ended his career in emotional scenes at the Laver Cup.

"An important part" of Nadal's life left the professional tennis tour on Friday as Federer played his last career match alongside the world No. 3 in doubles at the Laver Cup. Both men were then in tears when Federer's retirement finally became a reality, with Nadal paying a touching tribute to his friend and longtime rival immediately after the game.

The Spaniard came to the Laver Cup only to bid the farewell to Federer he deserved, retiring from singles and leaving London on Saturday to return home amid personal issues. And in the days since the Swiss star's farewell, Nadal has now shared more memories of their 18-year rivalry, including the one-time memory he took from one of their early battles.

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Federer ended Nadal's record 81-match winning streak on clay in the 2007 Hamburg Masters final - a streak that dated back to the 2005 Monte Carlo Masters, before the 36-year-old won his first Grand Slam title at Roland-Garros. And Nadal has now revealed he asked the 20-time Major winner for his shirt as a token of remembrance of the end of his clay-court record.

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"The main thing I have in mind is how it was after the game," Nadal told Spanish radio station COPE. "Winning 81 matches in a row on clay was a record that was very important to me. He beat me, we went back to the locker room."

And recalling the time he asked Federer for a memento to remember the loss, he continued: "I came back a bit later and before going to the press conference I saw that "He was in the shower. I asked him, 'Can you give me the shirt you beat me with?' I kept it as a reminder."

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Nadal was also asked about...