Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer share a very good relationship off the court. Recently the Spaniard revealed that the 19-time Grand Slam winner will bring his sons to his academy to pledge his support to the cause of helping young professionals realise their dreams.

The Rafael Nadal Academy hosts the Ten Pro Global Junior Tour which has made a promise to help young tennis stars to reach their potential. It is a tournament for young tennis athletes consisting of seven international tournaments that take place in Europe and the United States of America.

Nadal has tipped the academy to be one of his marquee projects. Federer has two sons, Leo and Lennart, who he will be coming to Nadal's academy in due course and help raise awareness.

"Roger Federer said that he would bring his sons to the Rafael Nadal Tennis Academy," Nadal said, as quoted by the Express,

"I would say that it is the most important professional and vital project of my career, it is very special for me," Nadal added. "The Academy is a training centre for athletes where they are given all the possible opportunities so that they can reach their maximum potential, and is equipped with the latest technology applied to sports."

Federer had a disappointing end to the 2017 campaign, losing the ATP World Tour semi-finals to David Goffin, thus ending a fine run, leading to a total of seven titles, including two Grand Slams - the Australian Open and Wimbledon. Nadal also held his own in 2017 with two Grand Slams - the French Open and the US Open - taking his tally of titles to 16, three behind the Swiss ace's 19.

Nadal had the last laugh, beating Federer to the top spot in the year-end rankings despite losing to the Swissman on four occasions this year, in the finals of the Australian Open, the Miami Open and the Shanghai Masters, as well as in the fourth round at Indian Wells.

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal
Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal won a combined 13 titles in 2017 Getty
Rafael Nadal Roger Federer