Roger Federer paid an emotional tribute to Rafael Nadal, thanking him for the “unforgettable memories” after the Spaniard announced his retirement.
Nadal said on Thursday he would officially retire after the Davis Cup final in Malaga, with his last match potentially on November 19.
He retires two years after playing doubles with Federer at the Laver Cup in London in the Swiss icon's last tournament before retirement.
Nadal and Federer were once fierce rivals – the duo faced each other 40 times at the ATP tournament – 24 of which were finals and nine were major finals.
But the couple, known collectively as “Fedal”, are now very close friends and have only expressed their love, respect and admiration for each other in recent years.
Following the news that Nadal had hung up his racket, 20-time major winner Federer took to social media: “What a career, Rafa!” I always hoped this day would never come.
“Thank you for the unforgettable memories and all the amazing achievements in the game we love. It was an absolute honor.
Other tennis stars also paid tribute to Nadal, including his former foe Nick Kyrgios, who has had clashes with the Spanish hero in the past.
“We had a falling out but you were a damn good fighter,” wrote Australian star Kyrgios on X. “Best wishes and good luck with whatever comes next.”
World No. 1 Jannik Sinner added: “I think this is difficult news for the entire tennis world and beyond. I can say that I was lucky to know him as well, you know, as a person, and he's an incredible person.
“Of course, the player, we all saw how good he was as a player and, you know, what he taught us, young players, how to behave on the pitch, how to deal with situations on the pitch, in difficult situations. situations.
“Yes, he made us all very emotional when we saw him play. And also stay humble, you know, and at the same time not change with success, and choose the right people around you, and have a great family.
“There are so many wonderful things that he has given us all and of course it is difficult news, but on the other hand everything has a beginning, a beginning and an end. So yes, only he knows how he feels, so yes, it's hard.
However, it is not only tennis players who send messages to Nadal – legendary footballer Cristiano Ronaldo also leaves a comment under his Instagram post.
Ronaldo, an icon of Nadal's beloved Real Madrid, said: “Rafa, what an amazing race you had! Your commitment, passion and incredible talent have inspired millions around the world.
Nadal finishes his career with an incredible tally of 22 Grand Slam titles, 14 of which came at the French Open, where he achieved historic success on clay.
He won the US Open four times, Wimbledon twice and two Australian Open titles, and helped Spain win four Davis Cup trophies.
“I think it's the right time to end a career that has been long and much more successful than I could have ever imagined,” Nadal said. “I'm very excited that my last tournament will be the Davis Cup final and representing my country.”
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