3 times Tiger Woods became involved in the lives of tennis superstars ft. Serena Williams, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer

Tiger Woods has been known to enjoy close relationships with tennis stars. Woods has 15 major titles and is in a league where golf legends are discussed. Over the years, Woods has had an elite circle of friends, from movie stars to athletes at the top of their game, including tennis.

Woods' Masters win in 2019 was his first breakthrough in 11 years, and despite not winning anything since then, he has dismissed calls for retirement. The 48-year-old legend has had some tumultuous years in the middle, which have prevented him from being at his physical best. From back injuries to right-leg surgeries after his 2021 horrific car crash, Woods still showcases a never-give-up attitude, hoping to go on till he is 60.

However, people close to Woods have cited that the Americans often become unreachable. His friends usually reach out to him for advice in their careers, and on that note, let's look at the times when Woods has been involved in the lives of tennis' most prominent players.

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#3 - Tiger Woods' relationship with Roger Federer and why they don't speak anymore

Roger Federer (in black) At The 2024 US Open Tennis Championships - Day 9 - Source: Getty

Roger Federer and Tiger Woods were known to be close friends during the early 2000s and were often captured casually playing golf. While it cannot be confirmed if the two legends were ever the closest friends, they are not very near now, as confirmed by Federer. Talking to Express, he said:

"Yeah, once we used to see each other time-to-time for the Gillette (ad) campaign. Even Nike. But that was rare. It was more about wishing good luck. When he faced problems, he disappeared and changed his number.”

As confirmed by Federer, Woods' would often be unreachable when things were tough in his personal life. Being a popular media figure and constantly dealing with attention, Woods has derived a different route in dealing with multiple issues he has faced in the past years, from his public divorce to alleged infidelity, car crashes, and even sexual assault allegations.

Speaking about Woods' return to the game, Federer added:

"Anyway, I am happy that he has come back stronger again. He is doing well again and plays well. I would love to hear from him again; we have some great memories. He supported me a lot. We enjoyed ourselves with the fight for other Grand Slams.”

Tiger Woods has since maintained a reasonably low profile, working on his recovery and not putting too much strain on his body.

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#2 - Tiger Woods' remarks on Rafael Nadal's remaining tennis career

Tennis star Nadal cancels start at French Open - Source: Getty

Tiger Woods added his take on Rafael Nadal's tough few years dealing with injuries and still performing at the top of his game. Nadal has snubbed most of the tournaments this year after his Paris Olympics exit but is quick to decide on his future career. After his second-round exit at last year's Australian Open, Woods weighed in with his comments while talking to Eurosport, saying:

“Well, I think what Rafa, what he's done is extraordinary. I mean, he won the Australian Open on a broken foot. The guy is beyond competitive. He knows that Father Time is here. Every athlete faces it. Although in some sports it happens faster than others, and unfortunately, just like every sport, you get aged out."

Woods further rallied tennis fans to enjoy watching Nadal while he still competes at the top level, as the 38-year-old Spanish legend has limited his appearances on the main Tour significantly since 2022. Nadal has dealt with injuries throughout his career, showcasing unreal fighting spirits for athletes globally. However, his recent left hip injury after the Australian Open in his psoas tendon required surgery, which is another reason why he is spending more time away from the court.

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#1 - When Tiger Woods inspired Serena Williams to keep going during the last stage of her career

Serena Williams at US Open Tennis Championship 2022 - Source: Getty

While talking to Vogue, to whom Serena Williams also gave her retirement interview, she spoke about reaching out to fellow American great Tiger Woods on dealing with the last phase of her career. Woods often attended Williams' matches, showcasing their strong camaraderie.

Williams opened up about how she was considering an early retirement from the sport, looking forward to the next phase of her life, but Woods convinced her otherwise.

Talking to Vogue's Rob Haskell, Williams said:

"He’s Tiger, and he was adamant that I be a beast the same way he is! He’s one of the reasons I’m here, one of the main reasons I'm still playing. So we talked a lot. He was really trying to get me motivated. We were like, ‘Okay, we can do this together.’ It was good, because I didn’t know what I wanted to do. I was just lost, so many questions.”

Williams added that having someone like Tiger Woods was beneficial for getting some clarity and validation on her decisions. The duo enjoy a close bond as Williams looks up to him, and Woods has even presented her daughter, Olympia, with a golf club.