Photo credit should read CHRISTOPHE SIMON/AFP via Getty Images

The rule Roger Federer wanted enforced in 2014 that ended up impacting Rafael Nadal

Originally posted on HITC | By Callum Davies | Last updated Nov 27, 2025 7:53 AM ET

While Roger Federer was known for his calm presence on court, he wasn’t afraid to speak up when he felt something needed to change in tennis.

Roger Federer has long been regarded as one of the sport’s most composed figures, but the Swiss great was never shy about speaking up when he felt tennis needed correcting. Even at the height of his career, Federer pushed for changes he believed would help modernise the sport — and one of those calls ended up shining a light on Rafael Nadal.

During Wimbledon 2014, Federer made an unusually firm appeal for umpires to tighten their policing of the time limit between points. For him, keeping the sport watchable meant ensuring players respected the pace-of-play rules already in place.

Speaking midway through the Championships, Federer stressed that slow play risked driving fans away. “I just think it’s important that we, as players, play up to speed and don’t exceed the time limit,” he said, warning that matches featuring “two points per minute” were unacceptable. His message was simple: no rule change was needed — just consistent enforcement.

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Nadal’s match sparked renewed debate over slow play

Federer’s push came a day after Rafael Nadal had been accused of taking too long between points by Lukas Rosol, reviving a debate that has followed the Spaniard for much of his career. Nadal’s meticulous rituals — from adjusting his shorts to touching his face and positioning his water bottles — have long been part of his identity, but they often bumped against the 25-second rule.

Nadal has admitted he operates slowly but insists the rule cannot apply rigidly in every situation. “I’m slow, I recognise that,” he once said. “But for me, to apply those 25 seconds in all circumstances will affect the quality of the game.”

His pace has even been questioned on-air, including by John McEnroe, who argued in 2022 that Nadal benefitted from leniency. Nadal pushed back, saying he did not receive special treatment and intended to “have a chat” with McEnroe about the claim.

Still, the shot clock era amplified scrutiny on Nadal’s habits — and Federer’s high-profile call for stricter enforcement only sharpened the spotlight. While the Swiss legend’s comments were aimed at the sport more broadly, Nadal ultimately became one of the rule’s most prominent test cases.

This article first appeared on HITC and was syndicated with permission.

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