Not way back, roger federer Face off in opposition to Rafael Nadal on prime of a snowy mountain. This wasn’t a far-flung exhibition tennis match; As an alternative, the 2 giants met on the peaks of Italy’s Dolomites to shoot photographs for Louis Vuitton’s long-running Core Values marketing campaign. The picture, taken by Annie Leibovitz and launched at this time, reveals the previous rivals mountain climbing by means of the snow with Louis Vuitton backpacks slung over their shoulders.
So how do you get two goats to hitch forces on a snowy mountaintop? The duty could also be simpler than it sounds, given their relationship, Nadal and Federer solely defined to GQ through electronic mail. As Federer stated, the attraction is the thought and the companions. He wrote: “It’s an honor to observe within the sporting footsteps of Louis Vuitton, which beforehand included Messi, Ronaldo, Pele, Maradona and Zidane. “Rafa shares comparable values and mutual respect and he’s A particular pal and competitor who performed a key function in my improvement as knowledgeable athlete, competitor and individual.”
Nadal expressed comparable sentiments. “To be trustworthy, I felt from the start what a terrific alternative and honor, not solely due to the model itself – one of the crucial iconic manufacturers in France and on the earth – but in addition as a result of it’s a widespread factor “We have been speaking about doing issues lately and that is the most effective alternative at this second. “
Courtesy Louis Vuitton
Their rivalry is exclusive: Whereas they’re answerable for among the most iconic tennis matches of all time (notably the 2008 Wimbledon closing), their relationship has grown since they first competed in 2003 close to. I consider that our competitors has actually raised the bar for wholesome competitors in sport and the way athletes do their finest on the sphere and completely need to win by all means whereas exhibiting a substantial amount of respect for his or her opponents. There may be all the time competitors on the courtroom and we all know that’s all the time the case,” Nadal stated.
In the meantime, Federer defined that their relationship spans on- and off-court actions. “On the courtroom, we problem one another to enhance, enhance and attain heights we might by no means have reached with out competitors,” Federer stated. “Off the courtroom, our relationship has grown from fierce rivals to 1 pushed by our real personalities and Lifelong friendships pushed by shared values.”
The mountaintop setting of the marketing campaign made me marvel: How do every of them view their very own mountaintops? “Successful Wimbledon eight occasions is completely outstanding,” Federer wrote in an electronic mail, citing one of many biggest agility of all time. “However beating Rafa on the 2017 Australian Open additionally held particular significance. After a difficult 2016 season following knee surgical procedure, it was an extended street to restoration. Many individuals (myself included at occasions) doubted I may Getting again into prime kind, not to mention successful one other Grand Slam title, nonetheless, the celebrities aligned and willpower paid off, and with the help of the staff, I received one other Australian Grand Slam title and proved I may nonetheless do it. Competing on the highest stage and enjoying in opposition to my important rival, Rafa, made it further particular.
