Daily Dose of Social Media: Djokovic, Alcaraz, Kyrgios, and more join in on Rafael Nadal's retirement tributes
Tennis NewsFriday, 11 October 2024 at 08:21
Rafael
Nadal's retirement dominated the day in a new Daily Dose of Social Media, after
the 22-time Grand Slam champion announced he would retire at the end of the
season. The Spaniard shook the tennis world, prompting widespread reactions to
the retirement of one of the greatest legends in the history of the sport.
The
tributes came from his historic rivals like Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic,
as well as current Tour leaders including Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.
From the women's side, Coco Gauff, Ons Jabeur, and Paula Badosa were among
those who paid tribute to Rafa.
Federer and Djokovic lead tributes to Nadal as Big-3 era comes to an end
Federer and
Djokovic lead tributes to Nadal’s career Nadal is the second member of the
Big-3 to retire, following Federer in 2022. The trio dominated tennis for 20
years, amassing a total of 66 Grand Slam titles.
Nadal's
legendary career is intertwined with those of Federer and Djokovic, both of
whom shared their thoughts on social media. Nadal finishes with a favorable
head-to-head against Federer (24-16) and an unfavorable one against Djokovic
(29-31).
“What a
career, Rafa! I always hoped this day would never come. Thank you for the
unforgettable memories and all your incredible achievements in the game we
love. It's been an absolute honor!” Federer commented on Instagram after the
news of Nadal’s retirement broke.
“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 the greatest achievement anyone can wish for. Your
tenacity, dedication, and fighting spirit will be taught for decades. Your
legacy will live forever. Only you know what you had to endure to become an
icon of tennis and sport in general,” Djokovic posted on X.
Sinner and Alcaraz pay tribute to Nadal
Jannik
Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz are seen as the future leaders of the Tour, set to
carry the torch from the Big-3, especially after Nadal's retirement
announcement, leaving Djokovic (37) as the only remaining active member.
Although Nadal didn’t face World No. 1 and No. 2 too often, he leads the
head-to-head against Sinner (3-0) and Alcaraz (2-1).
Undoubtedly,
the 22-time Grand Slam champion has been an important figure in the careers of
both players who now dominate the circuit, particularly for his compatriot
Alcaraz, who has emerged in recent years as Nadal's successor in keeping
Spanish tennis at the top. In addition
to their tributes on social media, a video shows the moment Carlitos and his
team learned about 'Rafa's' announcement.
“From the
child who watched you on television and dreamed of becoming a tennis player to
the one who had the immense gift of playing alongside you at Roland Garros and
representing Spain in the Olympic Games! 🥲” posted Alcaraz on social media. “Thank you
very much for being an example at all levels, your legacy is unrepeatable! ❤️ I have enjoyed you very much, and I will miss
you greatly after the Davis Cup, Rafa!”
“Thank you
@RafaelNadal for everything you have given to the sport,” posted Sinner.
“Having the chance to spend a few weeks training with you a few years ago is
something I’ll never forget. Watching you work as an athlete but also getting
to know you as a person off the court was even more special.”
Thousands of comments on Nadal's video
The video
posted by Nadal was flooded with comments from his ATP and WTA colleagues, as
well as former players and rivals, all sharing well wishes and thanking the
Spaniard for his incredible career and contributions to tennis.
"You
are amazing! It’s been so incredible to witness your greatness and work ethic
and be able to learn from it. Wishing you all the best in the next
chapter," commented Coco Gauff. "Thank you for everything you have
done for this sport. You will be missed in tournaments," wrote Caroline
Garcia.
“Thanks to
you Rafael Nadal. What an impressive career. All passion, the best example for
everyone,” mentioned fellow Spaniard and former World No. 1 Garbiñe Muguruza,
who also recently retired.
"Thank
you for all, Rafa. Amazing career and big inspiration," commented Holger
Rune. "We love you Rafa, gracias por todo!" mentioned Diego
Schwartzman.
Matteo
Berrettini, Gael Monfils, Daria Saville, Francisco Cerundolo, and Casper Ruud
also left their comments. There were also remarks from former players who faced
Nadal during the early years of his career, including Juan Martin Del Potro,
Gabriela Sabatini, Andy Roddick, and Fernando Gonzalez.
WTA Stars pay heartfelt tributes to Nadal: Jabeur, Badosa, and more
Ons Jabeur
has often mentioned that one of her favorite players and biggest inspirations
in her career was Rafael Nadal. The three-time Grand Slam runner-up shared a
photo she took with the Spaniard at Roland Garros: "Thank you @RafaelNadal
for inspiring me and all of us ❤️🙏 You will be missed 😢❤️."
Similarly,
Paula Badosa dedicated her own tribute to Nadal, sharing photos on her social
media. The former World No. 2 fondly remembered her moments with Nadal during
the 2023 United Cup, where both led Spain’s participation in the mixed team
tournament.
On the
other hand, Katie Boulter humorously reacted to Nadal's retirement: "Nope,
I/we refuse this application to retire." Jasmine Paolini also joked about
her admiration for Nadal: "Thank you, @RafaelNadal, for the show and all
the inspiration! Thanks for all you gave to our sport. Enjoy life, you deserve
it! ❤️🎾 (I had two goals during the
@olympics, to win a medal and to get a selfie with you. Only managed to get the
medal! 🤣🤬)."
From rivalry to respect: Kyrgios' emotional farewell to Nadal
Nick
Kyrgios wasn’t left out of the tributes to Nadal, and despite their previous
controversies, the Australian put them behind him to send his regards and
acknowledge that he will miss Nadal on the Tour. Early in his career, Kyrgios
made a name for himself by defeating Rafa Nadal at Wimbledon when he was just
18 years old.
Throughout the years, Kyrgios had several controversies with the Spaniard, with
one of the most memorable incidents being when he hit Nadal directly in the
chest with a ball at Wimbledon 2019, later refusing to apologize when asked
about it in a press conference. However, it seems all is now behind them, as
the Australian shared one of the most heartfelt messages of the day.
“Damn. I’ve
had nightmares that have woke me up about Rafa ☹️ I’m gonna miss them. This was someone that I used to prepare for ☹️ he was a motivation - I guess an inspiration.
Fuck - it’s true- people do bring the best out of you. You were one of those
people 🙏🏽 damn…..”
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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