Tennis icon Rafael Nadal has confirmed his retirement at the end of this season, sparking an outpouring of tributes from rivals and fans alike.
Nadal, 22-time Grand Slam champion and widely regarded as the “King of Clay,” will compete for the final time at next month’s Davis Cup Finals in Malaga.
Rivals Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic led the praise for Nadal’s illustrious career. With Novak Djokovic saying: ”You have inspired millions of children to start playing tennis… Your legacy will live forever.”
On his part, Roger Federer said – “What a career, Rafa! I always hoped this day would never come.”
Djokovic confirmed he will attend Nadal’s final tournament in Malaga to “pay respect” to his rival’s remarkable career.
Nadal retires as the second-most successful men’s singles player of all time, behind only Djokovic, with 22 Grand Slam titles and 14 French Open titles.
Nadal’s epic battles with Federer and Djokovic will be remembered for generations to come, including the iconic 2008 Wimbledon final.
