- Tennis legend Roger Federer announced his retirement from competitive tennis on September 15.
- Hours after the announcement, Rafael Nadal, his longtime opponenent, took to Twitter to pay tribute.
Hours after tennis legend Roger Federer announced his retirement from the sport, Rafael Nadal took to Twitter to pay tribute to his longtime rival.
"Dear Roger, my friend and rival. I wish this day would have never come. It's a sad day for me personally and for sports around the world. It's been a pleasure but also an honor and privilege to share all these years with you, living so many amazing moments on and off the court," Nadal wrote.
—Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) September 15, 2022
"We will have many more moments to share together in the future, there are still lots of things to do together, we know that. For now, I truly wish you all the happiness with your wife, Mirka, your kids, your family and enjoy what's ahead of you," Nadal continued.
Federer, a 20-time Grand Slam champion, announced his retirement on Thursday in a Twitter video.
"My body's message to me lately has been clear," Federer said.
"I have played more than 1,500 matches over 24 years. Now I must recognize when it is time to end my competitive career," he added. His retirement comes after three years of surgeries and injuries.
Nadal, 36, and Federer, 41, have enjoyed an enduring and nearly two-decade-long rivalry as two of the top tennis players in the game. Federer is the third-most decorated tennis player of all time, behind only Nadal (22 Grand Slam championships) and Novak Djokovic (21 Grand Slams championships). Nadal and Federer's off-court friendship has been heavily photographed and documented over the years.
In a 2018 Vogue interview, Federer affectionately referred to Nadal as his "chief rival," saying, "Playing against Rafa for so many years has been amazing — he pushed me to innovate, work harder, and to develop my game. I don't think I would be the player I am today without him as my chief rival."
Federer's announcement comes on the heels of another tennis legend's final competitive days in the sport: On August 9, 23-time Grand Slam champ Serena Williams announced she'd be retiring from the sport. She played her final match at the US Open on September 3.
Federer is set to play his final match at the Laver Cup in London from September 23 to September 25.