Federer v/s Nadal rivalry movie: Roger names actors he would want to play him on screen

Roger Federer doesn’t think a movie on his rivalry with Rafael Nadal would be made anytime soon. However, he did not shy away from sharing who he thinks would be a good actor to portray him on the silver screen. 

‘Borg vs. McEnroe’- a movie based on the famous rivalry between Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe was released at a film festival in Zurich recently.

At the premiere, 19-time Grand Slam winner Federer was quizzed on whether he thought a movie would be made on his own iconic battles with Spaniard Nadal.

The duo have shared a competitive rivalry while playing each other 37 times with Nadal leading the head-to-head 23-14 with an astounding 35 Grand Slams coming between them.

While Federer maintained chances of that happening were slim, he did have a nice little list of actors that could play him in said motion picture.

“I doubt there ever will be a movie about Rafa and me,’ he said. ‘But if there is, I’d like Matt Damon, Leo DiCaprio or a James Bond like guy to play me,” he said. 

When queried who Federer would like to play as an actor, he narrowed down the list to just one. “I would like to be Leonardo DiCaprio. He recently won an Oscar and makes great films. I think it’s pretty good right now,” said Federer referring to DiCaprio’s first Oscar for The Revenant.

Federer also compared his rivalry to that shared between Borg and McEnroe who differed significantly in mannerisms while playing out four Grand Slam finals with both winning two apiece. Swede Borg remained a calm and cool customer while McEnroe was a brash and loud player both on and off the court. And yet, both have been good friends off the court.

“They have incredible stories,’ said the Swiss. “It was more rock and roll, let’s be honest. Today it’s very professional—but still we have a good time. But it’s also very similar to some extent. We can be rivals and yet get along, and I think me and Nadal have shown that, as McEnroe and Borg did.”