Novak Djokovic paid tribute to his long-time rival Rafael Nadal following the Spaniard’s announcement of his retirement from tennis on Thursday.
Djokovic took to Instagram, praising Nadal’s immense contribution to the sport.
“Your tenacity, dedication, and fighting spirit will be taught for decades. Your legacy will live forever,” wrote Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam champion and former world number one.
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Djokovic and Nadal shared one of the fiercest rivalries in tennis history, facing each other 60 times, with Djokovic narrowly leading their head-to-head 31-29.
Their first meeting was at the 2006 French Open, where Nadal emerged victorious, while Djokovic claimed the win in their most recent encounter at the Paris Olympics this year.
“Rafa, one post isn’t enough to express the respect I have for you and everything you’ve done for our sport. You’ve inspired millions of children to take up tennis, and that’s perhaps the greatest achievement anyone could wish for,” added Djokovic, referring to Nadal’s impact as a 22-time major winner.
Nadal is set to play his final tournament at the Davis Cup finals in Malaga this November.
“Only you know what you’ve had to endure to become an icon of tennis and sport in general. Thank you for pushing me to my limits so many times during our rivalry, which has impacted me the most as a player,” Djokovic continued. “Your passion for representing Spain has always been remarkable. I wish you the best possible farewell in Malaga with the Spanish Davis Cup team, and I’ll be there in person to honor your stellar career.”
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