Williams retired: “The one who inspired me, welcome to my retirement club”
–
Rafael Nadal (36, Spain) expressed regret for the retirement of “tennis emperor” Roger Federer (41, Switzerland).
Nadal expressed regret over the news of his retirement describing Federer as “my friend and rival” via his social media on the 16th.
“I was hoping this day would never come,” he said. “Today is a sad day for me personally and for sports lovers all over the world.”
“It has been an honor and a privilege to be able to share so many great moments with you on and off the pitch,” he said in his tribute to the emperor.
Nadal said: “There will be a lot of things to do together in the future,” he said.
Federer and Nadal, along with Novak Djokovic (35, Serbia) and Andy Murray (35, England), were recently called the “Big 4” of men’s tennis.
Among them, the rivalry between Federer and Nadal has attracted a lot of attention from fans.
Federer was strong on grass and hardcourt and southpaw Nadal was called the “King of Clay”.
In their first fight in 2004, when Nadal was 18, Nadal won 2-0 (6-3 6-3) and the last clash was in the 2019 Wimbledon semi-final, when Federer was 3-1 (7-6 ). 1-6 6-3 6-4) won.
In 40 games, Nadal took the lead with 24 wins and 16 losses, and in the Grand Slam final, Nadal took the lead with 6 wins and 3 losses.
Nadal holds the men’s record of victories in major singles with 22, while Federer is third after Djokovic (21) with 20.
However, Federer scored 20 major victories at the Australian Open in 2018 and Nadal at the French Open in 2020.
–
Serena Williams (USA), born in 1981, the last time she retired from the US Open which ended earlier this month, said on social media: “You’ve perfected tennis” and “I’ve always admired you. “.
“The paths we have followed are very similar, but you have inspired so many people, including me,” he wrote. “Welcome to the Retirees Club”.
International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach (Germany) also encouraged his retirement by saying, “Federer was a gentleman on and off the pitch and a true Olympic champion.”
At the Olympics, Federer won the gold medal in the men’s doubles in Beijing 2008 and the bronze medal in the singles in London 2012.
Billie Jean King (USA), who has won 12 major championships, said: “Federer is a champion among champions. Federer’s retirement was disappointing.
Carlos Alkaras (19, Spain), who finished first in the world’s youngest men’s singles at the age of 19, said: “He has inspired me since I was young.” He expresses the heart of a ‘next generation leader’.
Two-time Wimbledon women’s singles winner Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic posted on social media: “Tennis won’t be the same without you.”
/ yunhap news
–
