The swiss Roger Federerwinner of 20 Grand Slams, praised the career of Rafael Nadal and assured that it has been “an absolute honor” to have competed against him.
Federerwho announced his retirement from tennis in 2022, reacted to the farewell video of Nadalwhich will put an end to his career in the next Davis Cup Finals in Malaga from November 19 to 24
“What a career, Rafa. I have always wished that this day would not come. Thank you for the unforgettable memories and for all your achievements in the sport we love. It has been an absolute honor,” said the Swiss.
Federer and Nadal They completed one of the most beautiful rivalries in the history of sport, facing each other forty times, with 24 victories for the Spaniard and 16 for the Swiss.
Their duels remain to be remembered. Roland Garroshis three finals in Wimbledon, including 2008, considered the best game in history, as well as the legendary image they left in the 2022 Laver Cup in London, the last tournament of Federer’s career, in which both ended up crying holding hands.
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The Serbian Novak Djokovic was grateful to Rafael Nadal for pushing him “to the limit” and praised the Spaniard’s career. In a publication on social networks, he said goodbye to Nadal, who will put an end to his sporting career in the next few years. Davis Cup finals in Malaga.
“Rafa, one post is not enough to express all the respect I have for you and what you have done in our sport. You have inspired millions of children to start playing tennis and I think it is probably the greatest achievement anyone can achieve.” want”, said the one from Belgrade.
“Your tenacity, dedication and fighting spirit will be taught for decades. Your legacy will live forever. Only you know what you had to endure to become an icon of tennis and sports in general. Thank you for pushing me to the limit so many times in our rivalry , the one that has impacted me the most as a player”
Novak Djokovic
Djokovic and Nadal They met sixty times during his sporting career, with 31 victories for the Serbian and 29 for Nadal. The last time they met was in the second round of the Paris Olympic Games, where the Spaniard, despite losing 6-1 and 6-4, evened a 4-0 deficit in the second set.
The rivalry between Nadal and Djokovic It is the longest in the history of the circuit, surpassing the fifty matches between Djokovic and Federer and the 40 between Nadal and Federer.
Novak Djokovic falls in the third round. PHOTO: AFP
“Your legacy is unrepeatable”: the Spanish tennis player Carlos Alcaraz (current N.2) paid tribute this Thursday to his idol Rafael Nadal.
“From the child who watched you on television and dreamed of becoming a tennis player to the one who had the immense gift of playing alongside you in Roland Garros“representing Spain in the Olympic Games,” Alcaraz highlighted in an emotional message published on his social networks, which he accompanied with two photographs with Nadal, first when he was a child and then during his participation in Paris 2024.
“Thank you very much for being an example at all levels, your legacy is unrepeatable! I have enjoyed you very much and I will miss you a lot when you leave after Davis, Rafa!” added Alcaraz, shortly after losing in the quarterfinals. end of Shanghai Masters 1000 against the Czech Tomas Machac (N.33).
Alcaraz He also spoke about the announcement of Nadal from the Chinese city: “When I saw it, it was hard to accept it. I was a little shocked,” admitted the Murcian, who learned the news shortly before taking the field.
“Seeing him leave tennis, even though he loves it, is painful, it hurts me,” added the 21-year-old tennis player, considered his successor.
Alcaraz reaches 200 victories
