After tennis legend Rafael Nadal announced his retirement on Thursday, football icon Cristiano Ronaldo congratulated the Spaniard for an amazing career.
22-time Grand Slam winner Nadal, 38, took to social media to announce the decision and said that the Davis Cup finals in Malaga next month will be his final professional outing.
Rafa Nadal has been an admirer of Real Madrid -- the Spanish footballing powerhouse. Cristiano Ronaldo is the all-time top scorer of the club and a friend of Nadal's over the years. The two sporting greats have featured togther in advertisements and interviews as well.
Soon after the clay court genius made the announcement on Instagram, Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo shared his feelings in the comment session. Reflecting on the achievements and influence of the tennis great's career, CR7 wrote, "Rafa, what an incredible career you've had! Your dedication, passion and incredible talent have inspired millions around the world. It has been an honour to witness your journey and be able to call you a friend. Congratulations on an amazing career! Enjoy your retirement!"
Rafael Nadal announces retirement
Nadal was forced to miss Grand Slam tournaments in 2023 and 2024, owing to his injuries. Nadal also has a rare degenerative condition called Mueller-Weiss syndrome, which affects the bones in the feet.
FULL REPORT | 'Absolute peace of mind...': Tennis legend Rafael Nadal announces retirement
In the video, he mentions that he took a lot of time to make such a difficult decision, but acknowledges that everything eventually comes to an end.
“In this life, everything has a beginning and an end. I think it is an appropriate time to put an end to a career that has been long and much more successful than I could have ever imagined.”
"I leave with the absolute peace of mind of having given my best, of having made an effort in every way.”
The Spaniard was the undisputed 'King of Clay', winning the French Open 14 times—that kind of dominance has never been achieved by any male or female tennis player in any of the Grand Slams.
