Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal will cause fans to 'suffer' - Feliciano Lopez
ROGER FEDERER and Rafael Nadal could write another chapter into their historic rivalry this week at Wimbledon with a potential blockbuster semi-final clash on the horizon.
Wimbledon: Roger Federer praises 'experience' in men's singles
The ATP Tour has arguably enjoyed it's greatest era of tennis over the past 20 years with Nadal, Federer and Novak Djokovic taking the men's singles by storm.
The trio have incredibly won 49 of the last 57 Grand Slam titles, dating back to Nadal's first French Open win in 2005.
While Djokovic has enjoyed the better recent success, both Nadal and Federer are seen as the fan favourites at Wimbledon given their storied rivalry at SW19.
The two competed in three thrilling consecutive Wimbledon finals from 2006 to 2008, the latter of which has been regarded as the greatest tennis match ever.
Federer has been facing questions for several years now about when he will likely call it a day on his illustrious playing career.
But as he approaches his 38th birthday, the Swiss tennis star is still competing at the top of the game with Nadal and Djokovic.
How long that will last remains to be seen with a generation of young talent coming through yet to make the step up.
But Lopez, who has played 26 times against the two tennis legends, believes the day both Nadal and Federer decide to bring an end to their professional careers will be a sad day for tennis.
"I am among those who think that there will be a big void when Federer and Nadal leave tennis," he told La Nacion.
"It will not be an era in tennis as we have experienced in recent years.
"With Rafa, Roger, Novak (Djokovic) and Andy (Murray).
"They said the same with Sampras and Agassi, or Borg and McEnroe, and then came the beasts.
"If you ask me, I think I will not live again and tennis, a level fans will suffer a bit.
"Hopefully the tennis industry will not suffer so much, everyone has to be prepared because all the money that has attracted this generation of animals over the years, thanks to them.
"Tennis has to be prepared to face the moment they are not."