Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are planning to join forces in a new tournament

Federer and Nadal

Danny Moloshok/Reuters

Perhaps no rivalry in tennis carries the same amount of name recognition than Roger Federer vs. Rafael Nadal, in which Nadal holds a 23-11 advantage.

But in preparation for the inaugural Laver Cup (named for Australian tennis legend Rod Laver), the two will put their differences aside to team up in doubles competition, according to The Washington Post's Des Bieler.

The tournament, which will debut in September 2017, will pit Europe against the rest of the world, with Federer and Nadal, who hold 31 Grand Slam titles between them, on the same side of the net.

"It's gonna be very special to be on a team with Roger," Nadal said. "We have been like rivals for all of our careers, so to be on the same team and even play some doubles together will be something very special, and I'm very excited about it."

"I think it's going to be absolutely unbelievable — to be on the same side of the net as Rafa finally is a great feeling," Federer told The Post. "I was facing the big forehand and now I can actually support it, and tell him to hit one more and actually get joy out of it."

It may be the first and last time we get to see two of the greatest tennis players of all time compete with each other.

NOW WATCH: A dentist reveals the most effective way to whiten your teeth

See Also:

• These are the 20 best-selling books of 2016 so far

• 25 things we wish we'd known before moving to London

• Here's the only thing you need to know about Mars being 'the same size' as the moon on August 27