Novak Djokovic's reason why he'll never be friends with Rafael Nadal

Rafael Nadal has announced his status from nonrecreational tennis, with the Spaniard's large rival Novak Djokovic having antecedently opened up connected their relationship

Tennis ace Novak Djokovic erstwhile confessed that a adjacent relationship with Rafael Nadal was disconnected the cards owing to their fierce competitory history.

This revelation comes arsenic Nadal hangs up his racket pursuing an illustrious 23-year career, which saw him nett 22 Grand Slam crowns. The 38-year-old Spaniard bid an affectional farewell to tennis pursuing Spain's quarter-final decision to the Netherlands astatine the Davis Cup connected Tuesday.

Djokovic and Nadal person notoriously butted heads connected tribunal passim their careers. Speaking aft Nadal announced his volition to discontinue past month, Djokovic explained to Corriere Della Sera wherefore it was "impossible" for the 2 players to beryllium adjacent pals.

"Nadal is lone a twelvemonth older than me, we are some Geminis, astatine archetypal we adjacent went to meal together, twice. But adjacent with him, relationship is impossible," helium said.

"I person ever respected and greatly admired him. Thanks to him and Federer, I grew up and became who I am. This volition unite america forever; truthful I consciousness gratitude towards them. Nadal is simply a portion of my life, successful the past 15 years I've seen much of him than my mum!

"We person ne'er been friends. Between rivals, it is not possible, but we person ne'er been enemies. I've ever had respect for Federer, helium was 1 of the top of each time. He had an bonzer impact, but I've ne'er been adjacent to him."

Djokovic besides shared heartfelt admiration for however Nadal's resilience connected the tribunal has been a root of inspiration passim his ain journey. He added: "So we spell backmost a very, precise agelong time. There's a batch of things that animate maine successful his career."

"Definitely the tenacity, dedication, warring spirit. This benignant of champions mentality of ne'er giving up and always, successful the look of adversity, uncovering a mode to win, uncovering a mode to travel back. That's a benignant of a mentality that helium possesses, that I find truly inspiring."

After Spain's decision to the Netherlands was confirmed connected Tuesday, Nadal returned to the packed tribunal to Palacio de Deportes - on with his household - to convey the crowd. His woman Maria Francisca and his manager Carlos Moya were among the galore successful tears

And Nadal starting crying himself during a video tribute from stars including Roger Federer, Serena Williams, Andy Murray, David Beckham and Djokovic earlier a presumption ceremony. Addressing the assemblage afterwards, Nadal said: "The titles, the numbers are there. So radical astir apt cognize that. But the mode I would similar to beryllium remembered much is simply a bully idiosyncratic from a tiny colony successful Mallorca. I had the luck that I had my uncle arsenic a manager successful the colony erstwhile I was a kid.

"I americium a kid who followed their dreams and worked arsenic hard arsenic they could to beryllium wherever I americium today. A batch of radical bash this and I person been precise fortunate to unrecorded the beingness I person due to the fact that of tennis. I privation to beryllium remembered arsenic a bully idiosyncratic and a kid who followed their dreams and achieved much than they thought they could."

The 22-time Grand Slam champion tearfully admitted that helium didn't privation to retire, but had nary different prime pursuing a debilitating build-up of injuries successful caller years. "I person fixed everything I had and I would similar to convey you for the opportunity," helium said.

"I person lived galore important moments of my vocation with those of you who are here, it has been a privilege, we person achieved galore beauteous things and present it is your crook to proceed surviving them, which I americium definite volition come."

"The information is that you ne'er privation to get to this point. I'm not bushed of playing tennis, but my assemblage doesn't privation to play anymore and you person to judge that. I consciousness ace privileged, I've been capable to marque my hobby my assemblage for a agelong time. I besides retrieve my family, my team, you person been an unforgettable portion of my beingness for each these years.

"I americium a idiosyncratic who believes successful continuity and staying adjacent to the radical who person made my beingness amended and that has fixed maine a idiosyncratic narration that goes acold beyond the professional. Thank you truthful overmuch due to the fact that without you this would not person been imaginable and I accidental this from the heart."

Of his 22 large titles, Nadal boasts an unrivalled 14 French Opens, arsenic good arsenic 2 Wimbledon crowns, 4 US Opens and a brace of Australian Opens. The Spaniard sits conscionable down Djokovic, who has notched up a record-breaking 24 Grand Slam titles triumphs spanning 10 Australian Opens, 3 French Opens, 7 Wimbledon titles and 4 US Opens, often defeating Nadal on the way, successful the wide rankings.

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