Andy Murray hails Rafael Nadal and reveals what ‘all fans will remember’ about him

Andy Murray has paid tribute to the ‘incredible’ Rafael Nadal and has named the 1 happening ‘all tennis fans volition remember’ astir him.

Nadal played the last nonrecreational lucifer of his career connected Tuesday, ending an unthinkable career successful which helium won 22 Grand Slam singles titles.

The 38-year-old, who hangs up his racket arsenic 1 of the greatest and astir loved players of each time, was celebrated with a peculiar ceremonial astatine the Davis Cup Finals successful Malaga, wherever helium featured for Spain successful his past event.

At 1 point, Davis Cup organisers played a video containing messages from immoderate of the astir celebrated faces crossed some tennis and football.

British icon Murray, who entered status earlier this year, said successful the clip that each tennis instrumentality volition retrieve Nadal for his passionateness and intensity.

‘The passion, the strength that you played with was thing that each tennis players aspire to and what each tennis fans volition retrieve you for,’ Murray said astir the 14-time French Open champion.

‘It’s been unthinkable watching you. Thanks for everything Rafa, bask status mate.’

Nadal, a monolithic instrumentality of Spanish shot nine Real Madrid, besides received a fig of messages from immoderate of his biggest heroes.

Real Madrid fable Raul declared Nadal was ‘the champion sportsman successful history’ and added: ‘Your values connected and disconnected the tribunal person inspired my vocation and my life.

‘The passionateness that you enactment into each point. I deliberation your bequest volition beryllium eternal.’

Nadal’s 2 biggest vocation rivals, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, sent caller messages to the ‘King of Clay’ too.

Djokovic said: ‘Your tenacity, your warring spirit, the vigor that you brought, the power, is thing that volition beryllium studied and thing that volition beryllium transferred to galore many generations that are coming up.

‘I’ve been precise honoured and thrilled to beryllium called your rival. The tennis satellite and the sports satellite volition miss the unthinkable vigor that you brought connected the court. There is truthful overmuch to embrace, truthful overmuch to celebrate.’

Federer added: ‘Congratulations connected the astir unthinkable career, it was specified a privilege to play with you but particularly besides against you.

‘My favourite memories with you Rafa are of people the 2008 Wimbledon final, wherever you got me! I privation you each the champion for what’s to come.’

Manchester City footballer Rodri, who helped Spain triumph Euro 2024 earlier this year, said: ‘Rafael Nadal, I can’t deliberation of anyone other who amended represents the values of athletics and life.

‘Thank you for filling our hearts with your tennis, with your comebacks.’

Serena Williams, meanwhile, added: ‘Gosh, successful my vocation you person inspired maine to person truthful galore wins to support going to combat get better, to improve, to fundamentally play similar you. My goodness you volition beryllium missed.’

Barcelona and Spain fable Andres Iniesta said: ‘It volition spell procreation aft generation, you volition beryllium eternal. Many congratulations.’