Another member of the Big Three now retires, leaving tennis fans with endless memories of the most iconic rivalry in the sport industry.
Spanish great and 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal posted a video on his social media handle announcing his retirement from tennis after the Davis Cup knockout stages. Many tennis stars like Roger Federer, Carlos Alcaraz, and Nick Kyrgios penned emotional notes for the Spaniard.
Meanwhile, Nadal’s arch-rival and 24-time Grand Slam title champion Novak Djokovic also shared an emotional message, praising the Spaniard for his incredible achievements. The years old highlighted how Nadal’s love for the sport has inspired millions of others to follow their passion and given tennis the recognition worldwide.
He wrote, “Rafa, one post is not enough to express the respect I have for you and what you have done for our sport. You have inspired millions of children to start playing tennis, and I think that’s probably the greatest achievement anyone can wish for.“
That’s not all; he even thanked the 38-year-old for pushing his limit on the court and motivating him to become the greatest version of himself. He even promised to attend the Spaniard’s final match in person to give him a proper farewell.
Continuing further, he added, “Your tenacity, dedication, fighting spirit are going to be taught for decades. Your legacy will live forever. Only you know what you had to endure to become icon of tennis and sport in general. Thank you for pushing me to the very limit so many times in our rivalry that has impacted me the most as a player. Your passion for representing Spain has always been remarkable.“
Despite their rivalry on court, Nadal and Djokovic share a good relationship off the court. Even though the two have not considered each other’s as a very close friend, Djokovic’s tribute to the Spaniard speaks on its own. Now that Novak Djokovic is the only remaining active player from the big three, it will be interesting to see how he can face off against the up-and-coming young players.
Roger Federer bids farewell to on-court rival and off-court friend after retirement announcement
Roger Federer was one of the first star to comment on Rafael Nadal’s video announcement.
Federer wrote, “What a career, Rafa! I always hoped this day would never come. Thank you for the unforgettable memories and all your incredible achievements in the game we love. It’s been an absolute honour!”
Roger Federer retired from professional tennis two years ago at the Laver Cup and played his last match alongside Rafael Nadal. During his London farewell, Federer had said, “I can call up Rafa and talk about anything. We enjoy each other’s company. We have a million topics to cover. I always feel like any evening we ever spent together we never have enough time.”
With that being said, there is no denying that despite being each other’s greatest rival for decades, the bond between these two legends will always remain unmatched.