Roger Federer immediately sends touching message to Rafael Nadal as tennis icon retires

Rafael Nadal has announced helium volition discontinue from nonrecreational tennis and has been inundated with tributes from his chap stars, with Roger Federer among the astir meaningful

Tennis fable Rafael Nadal yet revealing his status has prompted an outpouring of emotion, with Roger Federer starring the tributes.

The Spanish fable revealed helium volition retire aft playing successful the upcoming Davis Cup Finals adjacent month. And Federer – who won the Davis Cup successful 2014 – was among the archetypal to laud his erstwhile rival's achievements with the curtain present coming down.

Nadal's illustrious vocation spanning 2 decades has firmly placed him among the tennis greats. The Daily Express reported however Federer, his long-time rival and chap icon, took to Instagram to stock a heartfelt connection pursuing Thursday's announcement.

"What a career, Rafa! I ever hoped this time would ne'er come," wrote the Swiss superstar. "Thank you for the unforgettable memories and each your unthinkable achievements successful the crippled we love. It's been an implicit honour."

Needless to accidental galore different figures from the tennis world rallied to honour Nadal, with Coco Gauff expressing her admiration: "You are amazing! It's been truthful unthinkable to witnesser your greatness and enactment ethic and beryllium capable to larn from it. Wishing you each the champion successful your adjacent chapter."

Roberto Bautista Agut is acceptable to articulation Nadal astatine the Davis Cup Finals, and the satellite No. 61 shared his gratitude: "A 1000 acknowledgment to you, Rafa! Thanks for everything. Congratulations connected specified a superb career! Let's spell for the champion ending successful Malaga."

The good wishes weren't exclusive to tennis talent, however, arsenic shot icon Cristiano Ronaldo chimed in: "Rafa, what an unthinkable contention you've had! Your dedication, passionateness and unthinkable endowment person inspired millions astir the world. It has been an honour to witnesser your travel and to beryllium capable to telephone you a friend. Congrats connected an astonishing career! Enjoy your retirement."

Despite having respective tense run-ins with Nadal, Nick Kyrgios besides shared immoderate heartfelt words for the retiring subordinate connected X (formerly Twitter): "We had our differences but you were 1 hellhole of a warrior. Best wishes and bully luck with immoderate comes next."

Nadal, 38, volition bent up his racket arsenic the second-most palmy men's singles subordinate successful history, surpassed lone by Novak Djokovic. His grounds astatine the French Open is unparalleled, with 14 titles and 112 victories retired of 116 large matches astatine Roland Garros – a grounds that seems unbeatable.

The seasoned Spaniard besides boasts 4 US Open titles, on with 2 crowns apiece astatine the Australian Open and Wimbledon. He's besides a treble Olympic golden medallist and has led Spain to 5 Davis Cup victories – the astir caller being successful 2019.

Nadal's illustrious vocation has been marred by a bid of injuries successful caller years, and helium hasn't played a competitory lucifer since the Paris Olympics. Nonetheless, he'll purpose to extremity his vocation connected a precocious enactment by erstwhile much clinching the Davis Cup with Spain successful his swan opus adjacent month.

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