The inaugural Laver Cup is taking place in Prague this weekend.
Pitching Team Europe against Team World, it is a mixed bag of singles and doubles matches between some of the most prominent figures in men's tennis.
Respectively captained by Björn Borg and John McEnroe, with a comparative majors count of 36 - 0 in Europe's favour, it was never necessarily going to be an exhibition of competitive tennis.
With the Europeans leading 9-3 going into the last day of tennis today, success seems all but assured for Borg's 6 team.
However, one particular pairing - contributing all but one of those 36 majors between them - has nevertheless managed to capture the imagination last night.
Direct competitors throughout the bulk of their singles careers, Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal became doubles partners for about 81 minutes last night.
Staying up for the Federer/Nadal doubles match!!!#FedalUtd #LaverCup pic.twitter.com/MPsykJm2hZ
— Bay Lau 💚🎀 (@baylau16) September 23, 2017
Facing two Americans in Sam Querrey and Jack Sock, the European pair would see out a 2-1 victory in the best of 3 match.
Wintour is here.#LaverCup #FedalUtd @voguemagazine pic.twitter.com/hMdZDzcXJG
— Laver Cup (@LaverCup) September 23, 2017
With a combined age of 67, it wasn't necessarily smooth throughout though.
There were a few moments where each player's instincts seemed to override the dimensions of a court they were now sharing.
Federer & Nadal: Like poetry in motion 🤣#fedal pic.twitter.com/UQBsTEyDTV
— (((𝙰𝚌𝚝𝚞𝚊𝚕 𝙷𝚞𝚖𝚊𝚗™))) (@lynnlovestennis) September 23, 2017
Winning the opening set 6-4, Team Europe was then pegged back in the 2nd - Querrey and Sock impressively claiming a 6-1 win.
Yet, in the tie-breaking set, some of the pair's class shone through and they established their 1-0 professional record as doubles partners.
They seemed content with their evening's work.
Not many things in sports seem novel these days. Federer & Nadal on the same side of the net? That's different pic.twitter.com/YFUd3gaeHv
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) September 23, 2017
What a debut! @RogerFederer & @RafaelNadal claim 2 points for #TeamEurope with a 6-4 1-6 [10-5] win vs Querrey & Sock. Tennis is the winner. pic.twitter.com/XRvcVclKcq
— Laver Cup (@LaverCup) September 23, 2017
The outstanding highlight of the weekend's schedule, it isn't known whether this duo will ever play together again.
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