Now there's only one left as Novak Djokovic remains the only active member of the Big Three still playing and at a high level at that. But a void now goes as Rafael Nadal retires, the Serbian was among the well wishers.
Whilst many including Roger Federer and Carlos Alcaraz responded to his post, Djokovic as he prepares to continue his Shanghai campaign wrote a post dedicated to his great rival.
As the ATP put as a reply. "Moved us to absolute tears. What a rivalry, what a connection, so much respect for both of you" and it sums it up. Djokovic last shared a court with Nadal during the Olympic Games in their highly anticipated final match together.
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A heartwarming affair back then and whilst Djokovic has said that he isn't friends with his Big Three rivals as he is still playing, the respect between all of them is very much palpable and is shown in this case.
"Rafa, one post is not enough to express the respect I have for you and what you have done for our sport. You have inspired millions of children to start playing tennis and I think that’s probably greatest achievement anyone can wish for," said Djokovic on Instagram.
"Your tenacity, dedication, fighting spirit is going to be taught for decades. Your legacy will live forever. Only you know what you had to endure to become icon of tennis and sport in general. Thank you for pushing me to the very limit so many times in our rivalry that has impacted me the most as a player. Your passion for representing Spain has always been remarkable. I wish you best possible farewell in Malaga with Davis Cup team of Spain. I will be there in person to pay respect to your stellar career."
Samuel GillEditor-in-Chief
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of TennisUpToDate.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces across the TennisUpToDate network, playing a central role in the daily operation and development of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has a broad background in tennis media. In his current role, he works closely with editors and writers to ensure coverage meets clear journalistic standards, with particular attention to verification, consistency, and timely updates when new information becomes available.
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